Who we are
Media Monitoring Africa (formerly the Media Monitoring Project) has promoted democracy and human rights through the media since 1993. It acts in a watchdog role to promote ethical and fair journalism that supports human rights.
What We Do
Media Monitoring Africa engages in a range of activities that aim to promote human rights and the democratic role of media. We utilise our research results to engage with media, government and civil society to improve practice and understanding around the importance of media ethics, quality and freedom.
Current Projects
Media Monitoring Africa is currently wrapping up the South African elections monitoring project and a review of community and small commercial media’s coverage of race and xenophobia. We are gearing up to analyse all contributing countries results for the 2009/2010 Global Media Monitoring Project under WACC.
Contact Us
For comment on current media issues or any other information contact us on:
Tel: +27 (0) 11 788 1278
Fax: +27 (0) 11 788 1289
Email:
Latest
- Children play Star-ring roles reporting on Confederations Cup
For Youth Day on 16 June 2009 The Star undertook a novel project to have children write on the Confederations Cup. In the Youth Day edition of the newspaper, the project took the front page, in the article “Budding reporters were on the ball” by Jabulile Ngwenya, which included a quote from one of the children. The stories, under the headline “Confederations Cup: Ke nako for SA youth”, were published in the paper, taking up a full page (16/06/09, p.8). This initiative got them nominated for a MAD OAT Glad award.
- Media has its own legal and ethical responsibilities towards children
Saturday Star’s article, “Schoolboys to answer to severe assault charges” (13/06/09, p.4 [1]) is one to get mad about. The article was about a 14-year old boy who was allegedly severely assaulted and robbed on a school bus, after school, by other learners. His mother reported the incident to the police, and opened a complaint of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Saturday Star directly identified the child who is a child witness. In doing so, they contravened the Criminal Procedure Act, and failed to protect the best interests of the child.
- SABC in crisis but still broadcasting
Our public broadcaster is in crisis, nothing new there. The SABC manages to confound and amaze, nothing new there either really. It amazes because despite all the crises we really do need to give credit to those who ensure that it is still ticking over.
- Saturday Star takes government to task on child abuse
During Child Protection Week, Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula announced that the new administration was considering re-introducing specialised units to deal with child abuse cases. In the wake of this announcement, Candice Bailey explores the police’s capacity to deal with child abuse cases in the article “Child abuse is a specific crime” (Saturday Star, 06/06/09, p.15). Accompanied by a photograph of a child victim of rape, which protects the child’s identity, the article is written from a child rights perspective, reiterating that child abuse is a priority crime that cannot be treated like any other. Bailey accesses a number of expert sources, looking at the problems, as well as solutions, posed by the government’s restructuring of the police units. Thus the article deserves a glad nomination.
- City Press educates about child carers
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) would like to commend City Press and Mokgadi Seabi for the article “Surviving a hellish life with parents” (07/06/08, p.35) which addresses the issue of children who become carers to parents with drug or alcohol abuse problems. It was nominated for a MAD OAT Glad for addressing an issue affecting many children, in terms of their development and wellbeing.
- “An Act of Compassion” in covering child justice
Mail & Guardian is arguably South Africa’s premier newspaper when it comes to issues of social development. Despite this, children seldom feature in the pages of the newspaper (although education often does). This is unfortunate considering that children are a significant and growing portion of our population and development issues affect children sometimes most acutely. However the edition published on 29 May 2009 covers the Child Justice Act, an important piece of legislation, which generally garnered little coverage elsewhere.
- City Press highlights the possibility of adoption
City Press’ “Open your heart and your home” (24/05/09, p. 34) addresses a subject seldom touched on in the news media - adoption. The article, written by Refiloe Serai, is one to be glad of.
This article is well-researched, accesses a number of sources, gives practical advice and is generally a great piece. Media Monitoring Africa commends both City Press and Refiloe Serai and hopes that many children will get homes through this article.
- Coalition urges mass protest against SABC crisis
A coalition of industry bodies and trades unions issued a letter yesterday, Monday, 25 May 2009, urging companies, unions, schools, organisations and individuals to come together in a day of protest action on Thursday, 4 June 2009.
- Molefe’s mission impossible to ‘exorcise’ SABC News
SABC acting news director Phil Molefe has embarked on what many see as one of the impossible missions of his life: to ‘exorcise’ the news division of demons of bias, political favouritism, dictatorship and blacklisting inflicted upon it by former news boss Snuki Zikalala.
- Children affected by strikes too
The metro bus strikes, and other strikes, in May 2009, have affected many in these trying times of global recession, including children. In reporting on these strikes, City Press’s Lumka Oliphant (“We’re sitting on ticking time bombs”, 24/05/09, p.5) and Sowetan’s Gertrude Makhfola (“Commuters feel the pinch”, 20/05/09 p.7) do not exclude children.
News
- Coalition urges mass protest against SABC crisis
A coalition of industry bodies and trades unions issued a letter yesterday, Monday, 25 May 2009, urging companies, unions, schools, organisations and individuals to come together in a day of protest action on Thursday, 4 June 2009.
- Molefe’s mission impossible to ‘exorcise’ SABC News
SABC acting news director Phil Molefe has embarked on what many see as one of the impossible missions of his life: to ‘exorcise’ the news division of demons of bias, political favouritism, dictatorship and blacklisting inflicted upon it by former news boss Snuki Zikalala.
- Xenophobic violence: one year on - newsroom lessons
South Africa will this month commemorate the first anniversary of the xenophobic violence, a deadly ‘ethnic cleansing’ directed against African immigrants that made headlines in local and international media last year. The violence prompted some media watchdogs to take a critical look at local media’s ‘xenophobic reporting’ that allegedly might have played a role in the violence.
- Suitability of acting SABC news director questioned
Phil Molefe will be appointed as head of news and current affairs as soon as Snuki Zikalala relinquishes his throne on April 30 until a permanent replacement is found, said the SABC yesterday, Tuesday, 28 April 2009. But, analysts and critics are already questioning the value of Molefe’s appointment - two past editorial incidents could come back to haunt him and ‘melt down’ the credibility of his ‘presidency’.
- Media coverage of election overwhelmingly fair, but lacked depth, say analysts
South African media were fair to all parties while covering the elections, analysts said yesterday. However, coverage tended to lack depth and concentrated on personalities rather than policies.
- Media ‘neglecting plight of women’
South African media are contributing to the disempowerment of women, despite the fact that issues involving gender equality, women’s poverty and health are of primary importance to the country’s agenda, according to research by Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), which was released last week.
- Media’s election coverage confusing and lacks quality - MMA
As the South African general elections draw near, the media has stepped up its coverage. The Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), which monitors media content, has however expressed concern about the lack of quality of election stories that it feels confuse audiences.
- SA media ‘bungles’ elections coverage says MMA
Despite SA media’s wide and consistent coverage of the elections, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) has slammed the media for what MMA perceives to be the former’s election bias and bungling. The MMA says journalists and editors have failed to comprehensively address the ‘supreme’ topics - service delivery and poverty.
- Public editor ‘would give SABC a credible face’
Broadcaster could benefit from new appointment as more interaction with the public is required. THE SABC could address its crisis of credibility through the appointment of a public editor.
- MMA welcomes divorce constitutional court ruling
17 March 2009 - MMA Welcomes Constitutional Court Ruling on Section 12 of the Divorce Act
“The Constitutional Court ruling on section 12 of the Divorce Act 70 1979 is a victory for media freedom and children’s rights to dignity and privacy.” Said William Bird, director of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA).
Resources
- 2009 Election Coverage: Did media assist citizens in making an informed decision?
In Media Monitoring Africa’s final weekly report on the 2009 Elections, we focus on the overall performance of media in terms of their role in enabling South African citizens to fully and effectively participate in their democracy through the provision of relevant and timely information in the lead up to the elections on April 22.
- Submission to ICASA on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Regulations
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA, formerly the Media Monitoring Project) made a submission to the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) on the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Regulations.
The submission addressed the following:
1. MMA’s Constitutional Assumptions.
2. The relationship with the MMA and the Save our SABC (SOS) – Reclaiming our Public Broadcaster Coalition.
3. Areas of concern relating to the draft regulations.
4. Summary of recommendations.
5. Conclusion
- Election coverage 21 April - Prepared voters?
Election press coverage for Tuesday 21 April 2009, the day before the elections, focused on the IEC’s readiness for the elections, and included various pieces in newspapers on the voting process. However, voters are unlikely to have been assisted in making their decision by media’s failure to adopt a citizens’ agenda in their election coverage. Media Monitoring Africa offers an overview on how media performed on various challenges posed in covering elections.
- Election coverage 20 April - Rallies and Daily Sun’s cartoon
Election coverage for Monday 20 April 2009 was dominated by items on the final weekend election rallies of the various political parties, predominantly the main parties. The ANC rally this weekend got most of the coverage. The Daily Sun also encouraged its readers to vote and then provided a cartoon strip that explained the voting process.
- Deadly silence - Media election coverage confirms disinterest in the welfare of children
With the exception of a handful of articles by some journalists, election coverage highlighting the serious issues faced by South African children has been extremely disappointing for its absence. In the previous weekly report, it was noted that in media’s role of holding government to account and informing citizens, it was particularly important for media to give voice to the concerns and opinions of the marginalised in society, as so often they remain silenced through powerlessness and political disinterest. It is even more important that media fulfil this role during an election period, when the need for information and potential for influence and change is the greatest.
Blog
- SABC in crisis but still broadcasting
Our public broadcaster is in crisis, nothing new there. The SABC manages to confound and amaze, nothing new there either really. It amazes because despite all the crises we really do need to give credit to those who ensure that it is still ticking over.
- Elections bull driving you mad, politicians full of it? Here’s how you can make a difference
According to figures from the Stats SA website (www.statssa.gov.za – you should go there –it offers really cool ways to play with population data) based on their 2008 mid year population estimate, children account for between 39% and 43% of South Africa’s population.
That seems quite a lot. Seriously. Zambia has more, 52% of Zambia’s population are children, incredible. If we look at news, we certainly wouldn’t have any idea that children make up such a huge chunk of the population.
- Calling on media to adopt an agenda in reporting elections
Tune in to Media @ SAfm
Elections are coming and some say they may be sooner than we anticipate. We say hooray! We love elections at MMA. There is a certain inexplicable joy at the prospect of monitoring a whole lot of media, analysing each news item, tracking the big stories and the little ones too, considering issues of fairness and bias, party coverage and gender equality.
- 50/50 - highlighting the potential of the SABC
50/50 Watch this programme!
Sometimes you aren’t sure about telling people about something good in case it ruins it. Usually in the case of a restaurant if you tell too many people about it, it can get too popular, lose its charm and authenticity and become rubbish. In the current instance, I am thinking of a television programme. My fear isn’t so much about the programme becoming too popular, rather I think if it continues to fly under the radar it may just stay on air.
I’m talking about 50/50, a programme so good SABC marketing people never think to advertise it as a clear example of what our public broadcaster can do.
- Thank you South Africa thank you, the silly season…
If like me you don’t have satellite TV and you had a little more free time than normal over the last few weeks and rather than the wrestling feast that seems to be on e-tv almost 24hours a day… Hang on, I know this is mid sentence but really there is a new programme on etv that makes Cheaters look like good television. It is called Diva Diaries and it appears to be an excuse for scantily clad women to “wrestle.” Now don’t get me wrong I am all for lowest common denominator media, we all need a break from reality and there is a lot to be said about tabloids and mind numbing television programmes but in the case of Diva Diaries it is just mind numbingly bad. Naturalising violence against women, stupidity and sexism in one programme is a minor feat I guess and it makes the other wrestling look like brilliant programming.
- Looking for Hope
I am amazed by two recent media events. Special Assignment last Tuesday (9/12/2008) was a follow-up to their expose of an alleged paedophile. Curiously the programme’s focus seemed designed to be more about staving off a legal challenge from the subject of the programme. Early into the programme the journalist says, “due to ongoing legal threats by his lawyers we decided to do a follow-up story.” The programme then goes on to highlight other issues relating to the story that occurred prior to the expose first being aired.
- Digital migration
On World Aids Day, ICASA held its second day of hearings into Digital Terrestrial Television, and digital migration regulations. When I first heard about them I had no idea what they were all about, whether they were important or what the issues were. Luckily as a member of the Save our SABC Coalition (see here) I attended a session where former ICASA councillor Libby Lloyd gave a presentation on Digital Migration. It was brilliant and I highly recommend you have a look at it as it explains the key concepts in very accessible way. (Libby has kindly given us permission to put it on our website.) Don’t know your Set top Box from your Dual Illumination? Check out the presentation. Libby’s presentation was so effective that it resulted in both the SOS Coalition and MMA making submissions to ICASA on the Digital Migration Regulations.
- Political will and violence
We have entered the 16 Days of Activism campaign of no violence against women and children. Yes it is limited only to the 16 days and yes there are certain difficulties with this. But we also need to acknowledge this for media especially; we need a campaign to ensure that these issues are the major media focus for at least a few weeks of the year.
- Celebrating 15 years in style
We are having a party. Not just because it is the end of the year but because MMP has been monitoring the media since 1993, that’s 15 years. 15 years for a small NGO I think is pretty good, especially when you do what we do, which is monitor the media.
But why have we been doing? Why should you care and how have we managed to stay around doing something some people think involves arriving at the office and reading a newspaper? I will try and answer some of these questions, but before I do I think it is worth looking at what we have to celebrate.
Get Mad/Glad
- Children play Star-ring roles reporting on Confederations Cup
For Youth Day on 16 June 2009 The Star undertook a novel project to have children write on the Confederations Cup. In the Youth Day edition of the newspaper, the project took the front page, in the article “Budding reporters were on the ball” by Jabulile Ngwenya, which included a quote from one of the children. The stories, under the headline “Confederations Cup: Ke nako for SA youth”, were published in the paper, taking up a full page (16/06/09, p.8). This initiative got them nominated for a MAD OAT Glad award.
- Media has its own legal and ethical responsibilities towards children
Saturday Star’s article, “Schoolboys to answer to severe assault charges” (13/06/09, p.4 [1]) is one to get mad about. The article was about a 14-year old boy who was allegedly severely assaulted and robbed on a school bus, after school, by other learners. His mother reported the incident to the police, and opened a complaint of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Saturday Star directly identified the child who is a child witness. In doing so, they contravened the Criminal Procedure Act, and failed to protect the best interests of the child.
- Saturday Star takes government to task on child abuse
During Child Protection Week, Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula announced that the new administration was considering re-introducing specialised units to deal with child abuse cases. In the wake of this announcement, Candice Bailey explores the police’s capacity to deal with child abuse cases in the article “Child abuse is a specific crime” (Saturday Star, 06/06/09, p.15). Accompanied by a photograph of a child victim of rape, which protects the child’s identity, the article is written from a child rights perspective, reiterating that child abuse is a priority crime that cannot be treated like any other. Bailey accesses a number of expert sources, looking at the problems, as well as solutions, posed by the government’s restructuring of the police units. Thus the article deserves a glad nomination.
- City Press educates about child carers
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) would like to commend City Press and Mokgadi Seabi for the article “Surviving a hellish life with parents” (07/06/08, p.35) which addresses the issue of children who become carers to parents with drug or alcohol abuse problems. It was nominated for a MAD OAT Glad for addressing an issue affecting many children, in terms of their development and wellbeing.
- “An Act of Compassion” in covering child justice
Mail & Guardian is arguably South Africa’s premier newspaper when it comes to issues of social development. Despite this, children seldom feature in the pages of the newspaper (although education often does). This is unfortunate considering that children are a significant and growing portion of our population and development issues affect children sometimes most acutely. However the edition published on 29 May 2009 covers the Child Justice Act, an important piece of legislation, which generally garnered little coverage elsewhere.
- City Press highlights the possibility of adoption
City Press’ “Open your heart and your home” (24/05/09, p. 34) addresses a subject seldom touched on in the news media - adoption. The article, written by Refiloe Serai, is one to be glad of.
This article is well-researched, accesses a number of sources, gives practical advice and is generally a great piece. Media Monitoring Africa commends both City Press and Refiloe Serai and hopes that many children will get homes through this article.
- Children affected by strikes too
The metro bus strikes, and other strikes, in May 2009, have affected many in these trying times of global recession, including children. In reporting on these strikes, City Press’s Lumka Oliphant (“We’re sitting on ticking time bombs”, 24/05/09, p.5) and Sowetan’s Gertrude Makhfola (“Commuters feel the pinch”, 20/05/09 p.7) do not exclude children.
- Celebrity maintenance stories can cause harm to children
Gossip and juicy stories about celebrities may entertain some, but the media needs to be especially careful reporting where celebrity’s children are involved Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) is concerned about four stories recently published in Sowetan about two male celebrities who failed to pay maintenance for their children ( “[ ] in maintenance row, 23/04/09, p.3 [1]; “Ex-lover drops bombshell against actor”,13/05/09, p.3; “Bounced out of the high life,15/05/09, p.10; “Is ‘sick’ [ ] evading court?”, 19/05/09, p.3) [2]. In all four instances Sowetan is guilty of violating the rights to privacy and dignity of the children involved by publishing the details of their parents.
- Children’s health an important issue for investigation – The Star shows
Media Monitoring Africa nominates The Star for a MAD OAT glad award for its two articles “Drastic action on baby milk” (13/05/09 p.3) and “Under spending robs thousands of children of vaccinations” (12/05/09 p. 5) by Louise Flanagan. The media coverage reveals to the public how government spending can impact negatively on children, and holds the government to account in its responsibilities and commitments.
- Sunday Times applauded for positive approach to education story
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) would like to commend Sunday Times on the article “Learning to break the cycle of poverty” (10/05/09, Review, p.6) by Bienne Huisman. The article profiles Christel House private school, the alternative approach it has taken to education and how it enables children from disadvantaged backgrounds to attend the school for free. The article is not a typical school news story, where children are depicted as nameless learners or victims of poverty. Importantly, it gives voice to the children, who are enthusiastic about going to school, learning and focusing on their studies.
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