The ‘Save our SABC’ Coalition is sending a letter to the Chair of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications, Ismail Vadi to object to certain proposals to amend the Broadcasting Act Amendment Bill suggested by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).
Wednesday 22 October, 2008 - 15:48
We’ve had more than enough of this stupid nonsense! Earlier this month a national newspaper published what has to be one of the stupidest articles I have ever read. Not just stupid – blatantly pathetic, discriminatory and damaging.
The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) has warned that censoring or banning slogans such as “100% Zuluboy” and militant songs such as “Umshini Wami” in the African National Congress (ANC) will not solve any problems, but can only deepen the divisions within the ruling party.
Wednesday 22 October, 2008 - 9:26
After months of media reports about crises at the SABC and stories detailing feuds between the Board (or sections of it) and senior management (or certain members of the executive), media activists eagerly awaited the release of the public broadcaster’s annual report and financial statements. We wanted to see if the Corporation’s claims that the public has no need to worry are indeed true.
The report, released on 10 October 2008, certainly does not alleviate concerns about the health of our public broadcaster. Rather it raises even more alarm bells.
Monday 20 October, 2008 - 14:36
Civil society activists have strongly criticised the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) latest annual report for its apparent vagueness on crucial detail.
Spokesperson for the Save Our SABC coalition, Kate Skinner, has been quoted as saying that the most glaring omission of the report is the lack of detail on how it is fulfilling its public mandate, its day-to-day obligations to the public and its central objective as a public broadcaster.
Thursday 16 October, 2008 - 11:09
Today the National Council of Provinces will be holding deliberations on the Broadcasting Amendment Bill. The “Save our SABC” Campaign, representing COSATU, the Treatment Action Campaign, a host of NGOs and CBOs including the Freedom of Expression Institute, the Media Monitoring Project, and the Media Institute of Southern Africa have welcomed the Bill. We believe that it deals with major gaps around the removal of Board members in the present Broadcasting Act, 1999.
Wednesday 15 October, 2008 - 12:14
ActionAid Nigeria has developed guidelines for Nigerian journalists reporting from conflict areas.
“Conflict and Niger Delta Reporting” includes recommendations for fair and balanced reporting and urges journalists not to promote the escalation of violence.
“Within the limits of what is going on in the area, journalists have done well. But we feel that they have enormous responsibility…and if not well managed, could lead to the degeneration of what is going on in the Niger Delta”, says Gbenro Olajuyigbe, advisor to ActionAid on human security in conflict and emergencies.
Wednesday 15 October, 2008 - 11:55
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has published its annual report for 2008.
In a press statement, the public broadcaster says it has made some strides in delivering on its public service mandate, despite facing significant challenges.
The corporation has also expanded its transmission footprint in television and radio to reach more under serviced areas, and it is now reaching over 20 million South Africans through 18 radio stations and four television channels.
