News
- A stronger, not weaker, Icasa is needed to sort out the SABC
Much of the controversy surrounding the Public Service Broadcasting Bill has focused on the proposed tax and the role of the minister of communications. Less attention has focused on the implications of the Bill for the regulator, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa).
- 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.
- Media missing big election issues: analyst
The media should ensure that tougher questions are asked to politicians during the run up to the 2009 elections, to hold them accountable for their actions. This was the word of William Bird, Director of the Media Monitoring Africa, who spoke to VOC’s Drivetime on Wednesday, who was analysing the media coverage during this period. In research conducted by the independent body, he explained that it was found that media were not putting political parties ‘on the spot’ and questioning them about promises which they made during their previous election campaign.
- MMP rebrands to Media Monitoring Africa
The Media Monitoring Project has rebranded to become Media Monitoring Africa and relaunched their website, all this coinciding with its 15-year anniversary. The name change represents a realignment of their corporate identity to be more in-line with the work they do.
- Broadcasting Amendment Bill ‘still unworkable’
The battle to ‘save’ the SABC’s soul continues unabated and has entered a crucial phase. Towards the end of last week, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) held its deliberations on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill, which could be soon adopted by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Kgalema Motlanthe. Yet the ‘Save our SABC’ coalition believes that the bill is still unworkable.
- Addressing the state of the media
Following President Mbeki’s state of the nation address, the Media Monitoring Project (MMP) would like to add the following state of the media in South Africa observations. In line with the MMP’s mandate we looked at a number of human rights issues and their relationship to the media. These include press freedom, race and racism, gender, HIV and AIDS, children, and the local government elections.
- Media Monitoring Project’s Wishlist for the Presidents State of the Nation Address
Dear Mister President,
We at the MMP submit the following wishes for the State of the Nation Address on Friday.
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