Resources - Submissions

This document forms part of the submission by Media Monitoring Africa following a call for submissions from the Press Council on its review focused on strengthening the Press Council system. MMA’s full submission addresses and makes recommendations toward the following other areas:

• Lack of knowledge both on the part of the general public and in the media itself regarding the Press Code and the operation of the self-regulatory system;
• Force of Law and Waiver- challenges arising out of the self-regulatory nature of the system – the legal enforceability of the decisions of the Ombudsman and the waiver;
• Independence of the Press Council, including the criteria for appointing the Press Ombudsman, public members of the Council and the absence of an open and transparent appointment process;
• Finances-Lack of clarity in relation to financial arrangements;
• The relief available- to successful complainants;
• Issues of procedure- ensuring informal, speedy, cost-effective, open and transparent processes;

Strengthening the Press Code - the absence of overriding principles

MMA has identified that while the existing code is in line with several other codes around the world, there are several areas, which if improved, will make the South African Press Code an example of best practice. In our view, the following areas need to be addressed:

• Overall framing of the code;
• Minimising harm;
• Children;
• The public interest; and
• Discouraging “brown envelope journalism”.

Read the document

MMA recommends that it’s submission be read in conjunction with it’s State of the Media Report