Waking up today and delving into my Sunday routine which includes an hour or two on online publications. I just posted a status update about how crazy it is that the government wants to "control" the media but I felt like talking or expressing my opinion a lot more on the matter.
Without boring you, dear facebook friend and fellow blogger, below find some web published articles about the South African Media and what I feel the present government's intentions are with this tribunal. There are media houses that came to existence through funds from mining companies, I think its the best thing the ruling party can do if they want to expand their PR to Newspaper publishing.
They say history repeats itself. Under apartheid this is what the South African media had to contend with.
During the apartheid era, newspapers had to apply for registration if they published more than 11 times a year. An arbitrary amount was also required before registration was approved.
The government also enforced regulations controlling what newspapers could or could not publish, especially relating to articles and comment on activities against the apartheid system. Newspapers were, for instance, not allowed to quote banned organisations and their spokesmen, or report on conditions inside prisons or the activities of the security forces.
At the height of the anti-apartheid struggle in the 1980s, when two states of emergency were declared, censorship regulations were tightened. Newspapers were barred from reporting on any demonstrations or activity against the apartheid government or any of its laws.
For further reading please visit:http://www.southafrica.info/ess_info/sa_glance/constitution/971558.htm
I also came across Professor Guy Burger's opinion piece in "Thought Leader", which I think best explains the intent with this media tribunal. I like the fact that Prof comes with recommendations as well. He did not just write a "nay" piece, it embodies what responsible journalism should be, interestingly enough the juicy bone of contention. Please read this article, to arm yourself when the topic crops up in the kitchen as you all go for the coffee machine to cure what I and a lot of South Africans know as bhabhalas or simply to look smart infront of the boss in your pitch or diary meeting.
You can find it on the link below:
http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/guyberger/2010/08/04/taking-the-anc-tribunal-at-face-value/
mine is, so many facets of our society have fallen victim to scrupulous "tendencies" and taken advantage of by people who sit high up in the political hierarchy. An average South African does not have the time and resources to challenge some of these discrepancies and rape of resources by those who deem themselves worthier of this democracy and wealth. I say it once more, bulldoze your way to controlling the media, but you have one more person to spend the rest of your life quieting and that my "comrade-chief" is every South African with a cellphone and access to social media.
It's a known fact, well at least in the limited "back streets" of my mind that media ownership in this country is still predominantly white. The meeting with editors should be on how transformation can be achieved while growing the sector and its standards to be a reliable and representative voice of the African continent. Malicious, defamatory and gutter practices in any discipline should not be tolerated but dealt with. Free press keeps us all in check so hands off its deck.
That is my opinion and pardon any haemorrhage that the English Language might suffer because of my squeezing sense and meaning out of its body... but then again it is not my moeder taal. Askies William and Liz.
Okay I wish I could write further but I have to jump in the shower and go buy a present for a sweet ol' lady celebrating her birthday today. Happy birthday mam' Sasa.
By the way it is now a couple of minutes before 9pm. This was such a beautiful day. Paid a visit to the ol' lady and then made a turn to a moment I had been yearning for, This was lunch at one of my best friends' place. It was just one of those heart-warming moments. Even before we walked in, the was this sweet sound of toddlers redecorating one of the rooms (if you know what I mean). Then the sight of these faces that helped mould the person I am today through their friendship. My best friends with their partners and wives. The rest of the early evening was spent catching up. Tomorrow, I am back in the studio and await callbacks on some stuff. Oh, got to listen to Kate Turkington on Talk Radio 702 talking about her train ride to Cape Town and also feel like taking one going back to PE on Friday. They funniest thing is, my sister recommended a train ride last week just to clear my mind. The longest journey I had taken by train was from PE to Lurrie (yes, the Apple Express) many years ago courtesy of my parents. Let me sleep on this one.. A beautiful week to you rainbow nation.
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