Is the Press Freedom Commission DOA?

18 Jul 2011

The formation of the Press Freedom Commission is the latest effort by South Africa's media industry to investigate best practices in self-regulation. But, given the PFC's genesis and its limited mandate, will the ANC take its recommendations seriously when evaluating whether a media appeals tribunal is a good idea? All indications suggest not.

... According to its website, the primary objective of the PFC is "to ensure press freedom in support of enhancing our democracy which is founded on human dignity, equality and freedom". The secondary objectives are: "review[ing] best practice locally and globally re: the regulation of specifically print media"; "[developing] recommendations on the way forward... [to be] published to the stakeholders and in the public domain" and that "the process for the finalisation of the recommendations will be completed by the end March 2012".

Media Monitoring Africa director William Bird told Daily Maverick: "I think [the PFC is] a nice idea, but I'm not clear on what it's going to be doing that's so different from what the Press Council was doing, other than that they've got eminent people to look at much the same issues."

Read the full story on www.thedailymaverick.co.za.

Source: Daily Maverick

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Theresa Mallinson

About Theresa Mallinson

Theresa Mallinson has lived and worked as an itinerant writer, subeditor and sometimes teacher, plying her trade in such exotic destinations as Vaduz, Dubai, and Cape Town. But that's all changed since she became a journalist at the Daily Maverick (www.thedailymaverick.co.za) and managing editor at Free African Media. For now, she's very happy to be living in Jozi. Follow her on Twitter at @tcmallinson and contact her on moc.liamg@nosnillam.asereht.