All Resources
Category: Media Freedom and Performance [REMOVE]
- Independence, ICASA and the Telecommunications Bill
-
The Telecommunications Amendment Bill is currently being debated before the Portfolio Committee on Communication. The majority of the bill focuses specifically on telecommunications and the issuing of licences. (Many of the issues it raises have been discussed in the media and addressed by industry players.) The Bill also deals with, “further provision for certain functions of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa, [and] the repeal of a particular law and the amendment of two others” (Telecommunications Amendment Bill). The implications of the latter strike at the heart of the independence of ICASA and serve to highlight some of the contradictions endemic to ICASA.
- e-news advert - The way advertising news should not be
-
Last night e-tv launched their new one hour news programme. There were many positive elements and changes to the programme for which e-tv are to be commended. Unfortunately the launch was heralded with a highly problematic print media advert depicting dead bodies. The advert makes use of what would conventionally be viewed as a news photograph. The image used depicts a disaster scene. In the background bystanders can be seen observing a building that has been damaged, with smoke coming from the side. A flower patterned couch to the edge of a rubble-covered road makes up the remainder of the background. In the foreground there are three dead people. One is slumped over a bicycle, another lying close by with one of the bicycle wheels close to the persons head. Just a few feet away a third person is lying perpendicular to the other two bodies. Blood from the bodies can be see pouring onto the ground. e-tv’s logo sits in the top left hand corner with the line, “e-news, no one gets you closer.” Bar some fine print outside the frame of the image which contain a small blurb and scheduling details, there are no other advertising elements. No context or explanation of the image is given.
- e News: Closer, but Better?
-
In spite of it being heralded by a highly problematic disrespectful advert (see MMP comment of 06/02/01) last week Monday (05/02/01) e-tv launched its daily hour-long news programme during prime time. The decision to have an hour-long bulletin is a positive one and has the potential to present issues in an in-depth and critical manner. MMP’s monitoring of the first weeks of bulletins has revealed an increased number of items in the report and while visual changes were evident coverage was not substantially different.
- The Way Advertising News Should Not Be
-
Last night e-tv launched their new one hour news programme. There were many positive elements and changes to the programme for which e-tv are to be commended. Unfortunately the launch was heralded with a highly problematic print media advert depicting dead bodies. The advert makes use of what would conventionally be viewed as a news photograph. The image used depicts a disaster scene. This advert contravenes principles for ethical reporting.
- Blind Justice – The JSC’s Decision to prevent e-tv from Broadcasting the Hearings
-
The JSC’s Decision to prevent e-tv from Broadcasting the Hearings Towards the end of last week e-tv reported that they had launched an application to allow the station to broadcast hearings of the Judicial Services Commission (JSC). The hearings concerned interviews for a variety of judicial positions. e-tv are to be commended for lodging the application and for challenging the JSC. Their commitment to public service principles is also extremely positive. e-tv’s application was heard this morning and was rejected by the JSC. The JSC argued that the current procedure was to allow the media access to the hearings but to deny television broadcasts of the proceedings. The JSC decided not to deviate from the current position. The decision is a disappointing one indeed and raises issues surrounding access to information and transparency of the judicial process.
Categories
Subscribe
Keep up to date with the latest MMA news and resources, delivered to your email inbox.
