How to design a kick-butt media self-regulation system
Self-regulation by the press and access to our courts by complainants need not be mutually exclusive. In fact, annulling the so-called "waiver" for complainants who approach the Press Council will strengthen public perception that it really is a body intent on ensuring the highest ethical standards in journalism in South Africa.
Joe Thloloe, the Press Council's venerable ombudsman, often points out that reforming the self-regulatory structure is not about appeasing the ANC.
He's entirely right - we need to deal with the merits of ANC criticisms separately from any underlying political agendas.
Redressing internal weaknesses will undercut much of the external criticism. But sustainable self-regulation in the longer-term also depends on the system actually improving journalists' adherence to ethics - and, through that, a strengthened press service to society.
Continue reading the full opinion piece on www.thedailymaverick.co.za.
Follow live tweets from the public hearings through the Bizcommunity #zamediafreedom Twitterfall or via Twitter Search (#presscouncilhearings OR #pcph or Press Council public hearings).
For more:
- Bizcommunity special section: special focus on South African media freedom
- Bizcommunity special section: special focus on African media freedom
- Bizcommunity Twitterfall: #ZAmediafreedom
- Twitter Search: ZAmediafreedom
- Press Council of South Africa: Help make journalism in South Africa better
- Press Council of South Africa: Public hearings information to be found in There are no degrees of free speech
- Right2Know: www.right2know.org.za, @r2kcampaign, #right2know and Facebook page
- MediaMattersZA: @MediaMattersZA and page [a Media Monitoring Africa initiative]
- Keep South Africa's Media Free: @safreemedia, #safreemedia and Facebook group
- Free African Media: www.freeafricanmedia.com, @AfricanMedia, #freeafricanmedia and Facebook page [a Daily Maverick initiative]
- SANEF: Media Freedom
- Avaaz.org petition: South Africa: democracy at risk
- Freedomhouse.org: Freedom in the world
- Google News Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
- Google Blog Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
Source: Daily Maverick
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Go to: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/About Guy Berger
Guy Berger is part of the School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University. A long-standing media activist and academic, he has written extensively on the self-regulation vs the media appeals tribunal debate. Follow him on Twitter at @guyberger.
