SANEF fights for press freedom

At the AGM, SANEF resolved to work with other like-minded groups in a campaign for public support for media freedom. According to tweets from Prof Guy Berger, The Star and the Sowetan have each pledged R250 000 in support of this campaign, while Berger has committed Rhodes University to R10 000 (contact SANEF executive director Femida Mehtar +27 (0)11 484 3630/17 or email az.gro.fenas@rotcerid).

Tribunal concept

The tribunal concept was debated at the ANC's Polokwane conference and will be tabled at the party's National General Council in September. According to SANEF, the proposed tribunal would go against the existing system of self-regulation which involves the media and members of the public, and would be unconstitutional.

SANEF also reaffirmed its commitment to the Press Council and Press Ombudsman system, which deals effectively with public complaints. It resolved to continue efforts to increase public knowledge of the system and to improve citizens' access to it.

The forum expressed its support for the Press Council Code of Conduct and encouraged editors to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to violations.

At a function on Saturday night, keynote speaker Justice and Constitutional Development minister Jeff Radebe said the Government would not undermine the constitution when it enacted laws: "We will not enact any laws detrimental to your cause... I will ensure that any law that comes into being must be in conformity with our constitution."

Nat Nakasa Award

Veteran journalist Terry Bell was announced as the winner of the 2010 Nat Nakasa Award for courageous journalism, awarded to an individual who displays commitment, fearless report and an unquenchable thirst for the truth.

Pretoria-born Bell was forced into exile in 1965, after he had contravened some of the apartheid laws pertaining to journalism. He was permitted to return to South Africa in 1991. In his 26 years in exile, Bell worked in various disciplines in countries such as the UK, Zambia, Chile, Equatorial Guinea, New Zealand and Tanzania.

"He is not driven by the need for glory or for bylines. In this he shows a quality rare among journalists: an ability to put his own interest aside in the pursuit of the broader objective of informing citizens and building democracy." This is how Alide Dasnois, Cape Times executive editor, described Belly in her nomination letter to the committee.
Print Media South Africa hopes that his achievements will motivate the young and upcoming journalists.

SANEF-Wrottesley Award

The SANEF-Wrottesley Award, a peer recognition award, was presented to Raymond Louw, editor and publisher of Southern Africa Report, for extraordinary commitment to the achievement of SANEF's goals.

The SANEF 2010-2012 Council was elected as follows:

Mondli Makhanya, editor-in-chief of Avusa Media, was elected as chairperson; Mary Papayya, bureau chief of Sowetan in KwaZulu-Natal as deputy chairperson; Gaye Davis, group deputy political editor of Independent Newspapers, as secretary general and Juanita Williams, who joins Zoopy.com as news editor in August, was re-elected as treasurer.

Others on the 2010 - 2012 SANEF council include:

For more:

• Times Live: We must be on our guard against any bid to 'tame' media
  
• Sunday Times: New dog attempting to perform old tricks
  
• IOL: New media law could have dire consequences
  
• Daily Maverick: M&G editor says the proposed Information Bill "criminalises journalism"