World media freedom day was celebrated in Grahamstown at the Albany Museum on Monday with the launch of a newspaper exhibition and a seminar on the future of the press.
The events also marked the 140th anniversary of South Africa’s oldest independently-owned newspaper company, Grocott’s Mail, and the launch of a month-long school education programme by the Albany Museum.
Addressing Rhodes journalism students, academics and community at the seminar, Prakash Desai, representing the Print Media Association of South Africa, said: “What will make print eternal is the quality of journalism.” In this way, newspapers like Grocott’s Mail, published on paper and through the Internet, would long endure, he said.
Adding a global perspective was Mirjana Milosevic, Deputy Director of Press Freedom and Development Programmes at the World Association of Newspapers. She said: “South African newspapers are part of our 18 000 members worldwide, and the history of Grocott’s Mail speaks to the importance of the press for democracy.”
The opening colourful and informative exhibition kicked off of a month-long programme where learners from local schools will explore the history of South African journalism and printing at close-range.
Sponsored by Mondi Shanduka Newsprint and the Legal Aid Board, the exhibition is open to the public for a month, whereafter it will be re-located to the Rhodes University School and Journalism and Media Studies and the Eastern Star Museum.
The exhibition opening also paid tribute to Jeff Grocott, a descendant of the founder of Grocott’s Mail. “140 years of Grocotts resonates in Jeff” said Louise Vale, general manager of the paper.
Representing the local museums, advocate Les Roberts and Prof Malcolm Hacksley recalled anecdotes about Grocott’s history and spoke of the importance of the paper to the city.
Mayor Phumelelo Kate congratulated Grocott family and spoke of the value of the paper, despite “ups and downs” in its relationship with the municipality. In 2008, legal action by the newspaper led the city council to end a politically-inspired 18-month-long advertising boycott.
The seminar and exhibition were timed to follow World Press Freedom Day on Sunday 3 May. The day has been adopted by the United Nations in recognition of a historic seminar by independent newspaper owners and editors in Windhoek 1991.