Coalition to support free speech, led by SANEF
The launch of a coalition to spearhead efforts to promote and entrench freedom of speech across all levels of South African society has been announced today, Tuesday, 31 August 2010, by the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF). The Coalition for Free Speech will champion a collective drive by media, big business and civil society to amplify the importance of free speech as a pillar of our democracy and not just a matter which concerns media.
Combined approach
At a summit of members of SANEF held in Johannesburg yesterday, Monday, 30 August 2010, this combined approach was adopted with the aim to challenge the current secrecy legislation and the ANC's proposed media appeals tribunal.
In response to a need for a united front against the secrecy legislation, SANEF set up a series of committees tasked with drafting and implementing strategies to counter the threats to people's right to know.
Additionally, SANEF plans to embark on a proactive campaign aimed at illustrating the importance of the principle of "more information is better than less" in issues relevant to all South Africans.
"Collective and representative body"
Says SANEF chairperson Mondli Makhanya, "This combined effort will reach out to all sectors of society that are potentially affected by the proposed legislation, so that we have a collective and representative body driving our campaign.
"We feel it is important that the current debate on media freedom be contextualised within the framework of a broader free speech culture in South African society,"
According to Makhanya, the committees charged with critical objectives and deliverables will begin work immediately.
For more:
- Bizcommunity special section: special focus on media freedom
- Bizcommunity Twitterfall: #ZAmediafreedom
- SANEF: www.sanef.org.za
- Google News Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
- Twitter Search: #ZAmediafreedom
- Google Blog Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
