'Govt has a problem communicating' - Pahad

The Minister was reacting to several speakers at the International Media Forum held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg who complained about the difficulties in getting access to information in the public and private sectors in South Africa.

One of those was Barry Moody, Africa Editor of Reuters, who said his staff found it more difficult to get information out of South Africa than communist China. Not enough use is made of the communications media working in South Africa. Even when reporting on positive news there is reluctance by top businessmen also, to appear on camera.

Minister Pahad undertook to see what can be done about the problem. He said that the IMF gathering had taught him the media is not just hostile and that the government would have to change its own mindset. There are newsmen out there who are positive and this provides a good platform to build on for the future, he said.

He lauded the Forum for the work it had done and regretted that so few representatives from the Government Communications and Information Service (GCIS) had attended the Forum.

Africa's untold story

Earlier, the head of GCIS, Themba Maseko, said that Africa's untold story is not heard. The continent is on a positive road which is increasingly leading to peace, growth and stability.

Yet, he too admitted to problems - lack of capacity, poor communications and the media definition of what news is. He maintained that good news is also news. There should be a balance: the bad should be reported but also what government is doing about it.

The International Media Forum yesterday concluded a two-day meeting in Johannesburg. It brought together senior editors from the world's most important media with businessmen, government and communications specialists.

The IMF was not just a series of lectures. A working document will be produced to see what can be taken forward practically, said Anton Harber, Caxton professor of Journalism at Wits University when summing up the Forum.

For more details, log on to: www.internationalmediaforum.com.