ANC media policy under scrutiny

“The ANC is faced with a major ideological offensive, largely driven by the opposition and individuals in the mainstream media,” the document says.

“A key objective of this offensive is the promotion of market fundamentalism to retain the old apartheid economic and social relations.

“This offensive against our movement, in its content and form, is part of a global offensive against progressive values and ideas…

“Commercial interests are impacting negatively on editorial quality. These and other related factors constitute the real threat to media freedom, diversity and democracy.”

Public colloquium

The document formed part of a public colloquium held yesterday at Wits University in Johannesburg between media practitioners, various organisations, government, SABC, ANC and ordinary citizens.

“Basically, this forum aims to encourage broader debate in the build-up to the ANC national conference in December,” Wits University's Prof Anton Harber said.

“Perhaps it is a reminder that the question of leadership is not the only burning issue facing us, but other issues such this one will definitely shape our future for many years to come.”

ANC national executive committee member Saki Macozoma, former CEO of MDDA Libby Lloyd and media policy analyst Kate Skinner presented their arguments on media consolidation and diversity.

“We must accept that consolidation is a fact of life and shareholders' expectations have nothing to do with what is happening in society,” Macozoma said.

“As long as the shareholders' money is used to create capital, we will have a problem of media diversity. But media and society need to sit down constantly to find solutions instead of engaging in name-calling and so on.”

Opposition bloc

In the ANC's understanding, editors and journalists form part of an ‘opposition bloc' armed with a ‘dangerous' ideological orientation aimed at undermining the government and crushing progressive voices.

ANC spokesperson and head of the presidency Smuts Ngonyama, Rhodes University's Lynette Steenveld and Mail & Guardian editor Ferial Haffajee were part of the second panel that discussed the media and ideology topic.

Ngonyama said, “People drawn as beetroots, or with showers grafted onto their heads, are increasingly depicted in the same way in the parts of newspapers one expects to find facts and analysis.

“The ideological function of the media may find expression in several ways, and may be subject to various influences, but will tend to do the bidding of the powerful.”

Once again the SABC, as the public broadcaster, was at the centre of the public broadcasting, panelled by minister of communications Ivy Matsepe-Casaburi, SABC group CEO Dali Mpofu, Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) executive director Jane Duncan and Wits University's Prof Tawana Kupe.

“We have not been a cohesive society and we are still at war – the war of illiteracy, poverty, HIV/Aids, racism, sexism, crime and unemployment,” Matsepe-Casaburi said.

“Duty to report”

“The public broadcaster has the duty to report on these issues, capture the images and mood of these wars, and inject the sense of hope and cohesion. It must reach the most disadvantaged community and inject a balanced editorial to forge media diversity.”
Critics often accuse the SABC of being the government's propaganda machine. But the SABC denies the allegations, saying it has the mandate under its ‘Total Citizen Empowerment' vision to inform communities about the government's work.

The ANC media document is available at www.anc.org.za.