ANC: editors need help from media tribunal, which ordinary people support
11 Aug 2010
On Tuesday, 10 August 2010, journalists were told the ANC's proposed media appeals tribunal wouldn't limit freedom of speech (because it is impossible for the ANC or Parliament to do so), and would, in fact, be a great help to editors who are powerless to control their journalists. And seeing as everyone, except newspapers, think it's a good idea, it's time for the media to get with the programme.
It's not a pretty picture Jackson Mthembu, ANC spokesman and head of it its main policy body on communications, painted on Tuesday afternoon. Out-of-control journalists running amok, doing grave damage to the reputation of ordinary, blameless citizens who have no recourse against them unless they are rich. Hapless editors able to do nothing, but apologise after the fact, and a Press Ombudsman who can only endlessly repeat the same admonitions to the same guilty parties, only to be ignored.
Clearly, something has to change. Thus the ANC comes to the rescue - though with no impact on freedom of the press, of course.
Continue reading the full story on www.thedailymaverick.co.za.
For more:
- ANC.org.za: discussion paper on media transformation, ownership and diversity
- Bizcommunity special section: special focus on media freedom
- Bizcommunity Twitterfall: #ZAmediafreedom
- Google News Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
- Twitter Search: #ZAmediafreedom
- Google Blog Search: Protection of Information Bill media appeals tribunal
About Phillip de Wet: @phillipdewet
Phillip de Wet is associate editor at the Mail & Guardian. He used to be deputy editor of Daily Maverick (www.dailymaverick.co.za), its live-tweeting specialist (@phillipdewet, @dailymaverick) and the editor of First Thing, the morning email from Daily Maverick. He writes primarily on politics, business and technology, and also deals with persistent trolls.
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