What kind of public broadcaster does the EC need?

Event

The Rhodes University - School of Journalism and Media Studies, in association with the SoS - Support Public Broadcasting Coalition and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA), invite you to their World Press Freedom Day event, which will debate the politics of public broadcasting in South Africa.

In 1991, African journalists and civil society drafted the Windhoek Declaration which promoted independent and pluralistic media. To commemorate this event, the United Nations General Assembly declared May 3 World Press Freedom Day. 2011 marks 20 years of the Windhoek Declaration.

Ten years later, African journalists and civil society met again to develop the African Charter on Broadcasting.

These documents still remain inspirational documents for all countries seeking to transform their media systems.

South Africa has made great strides in transforming its state broadcaster into a public broadcaster. But the broadcaster has experienced numerous setbacks.

As we head up to the local government elections, political parties are making many promises. What are they promising about public broadcasting? Are they making promises that will make a difference to the residents of Grahamstown and the Eastern Cape?

Recently, the SABC held a controversial electoral debate in Grahamstown. Are Grahamstown and the Eastern Cape getting a fair deal from the broadcaster, especially in the run-up to the local government elections?

This debate will involve the local representatives of the major political parties and representatives of key local organisations, and will also include responses to the inputs from the parties from the Support Public Broadcasting Coalition and Media Monitoring Africa.

Panellists will debate the current state of public broadcasting, the gains for public broadcasting as well as the causes of the many recent problems at the SABC. What do political parties think needs to be done to resolve these problems, and what do they think the long term future of the sector should look like?

Issues debated will also include:

• The kind of programming the SABC should be broadcasting.

• Mechanisms for public accountability.

• Mechanisms to ensure editorial independence.

• Appropriate funding models.

Date: Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Time: 18h00 for 18h15

Venue: Eden Grove Blue (Rhodes University)

Enquiries: (046) 603 7108

All welcome!