Rhodes University commemorates World Press Freedom day

The School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University in association with the South African National Editor’s Forum (SANEF) and the Mandela Bay Media Association will commemorate World Press Freedom Day with a panel discussion about the New Public Services Broadcasting Bill.

The Public Services Broadcasting Bill caused a stir when it was released late last year, as it proposed far reaching changes to the broadcasting sector generally, and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), specifically.

The Department of Communications argued that the Bill was necessary to ensure a sustainable funding model for the SABC, to clarify its mandate and to increase its accountability after the recent governance crises at the broadcaster.

Critics argued that the Bill was a thinly disguised attempt by the Minister of Communications to exert greater control over the broadcasting sector, and also expressed concern about the wisdom of funding public broadcasting from a tax on taxpayer's income.

The Bill will be going to Parliament later this year, and a way forward needs to be found on all these controversies during the ensuing public hearings and deliberations. This seminar brings together key role players on the Bill, and aims to debate and possibly find a way forward on these controversial issues.

The panel members are:
1. Dr. Mashilo Boloka, Director of Broadcasting Policy at the Department of Communications
2. Zola Yeye, SABC Eastern Cape regional manager
3. Prinola Govenden, SOS - Support Public Broadcasting Coalition
4. Mawande Jack, Mandela Bay Media Association
5. A member of the SANEF media freedom committee (awaiting final confirmation)
6. Jane Duncan, Highway Africa Chair of Media and Information Society
7. Prof Hendricks (Chair), Dean of the Faculty of Humanities

The event details:
Date: Monday 3 May
Time: 17h00 – 19h00
Venue: Eden-Grove Blue, Rhodes University, Lucas Street Grahamstown