The role of community journalists

The recent disbanding of the Community Press Association (CPA) will have no bearing on the Forum of Community Journalists (FCJ). In a historical move at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in September 2004, the FCJ decided to move forward as a voluntary organisation. One hundred journalists and editors from around the country attended the AGM.

To stretch their involvement as far as possible, the FCJ also decided to join the Newspaper Association of South Africa's sub-committee for community newspapers. They already have a seat on the new Association of Independent Publishers of Southern Africa (AIPSA)'s board. AIPSA was born when the CPA was disbanded. The FCJ executive will also strengthen ties with the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF) and will continue to make use of the Print Media SA's infrastructure.

For the next 12 months the FCJ plans to:

Compile a new constitution.

Hold a strategic 'bosberaad' indaba in January.

Continue their close relations with Sanlam to present the already very popular annual competition for the community press.

Organise and present regional seminars in all provinces.

Representation on the Press Ombudsman's Committee.

Cooperation with the Tshwane University of Technology to further enhance the journalism course for beginner journalists, that the FCJ initiated eight years ago.

To establish a web page for the community press of Southern Africa.

Continue to publish their quarterly newsletter, Deadline.

To safeguard journalists' interest in cooperation of the Freedom of Expression Institute.

Committee members are Mansoor Jaffer (chairman), Tobie van den Bergh (vice-chairman), Karin Espag, Hennie Stander, Nontyatyambo Petros, Fahdiel Manuel, Hugo Redelinghuys, Marietjie Swanepoel, Zaidi Khumalo and Shirley Govender.