Pretoria-Cabinet spokesperson and Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) CEO, Jimmy Manyi, has again reiterated that the placing of advertisements and editorial independence are not linked.
This comes after media reports claimed that Manyi suggested that government's R1bn a year advertising budget would be given to newspapers that published only favourable stories about government.
Manyi has also met with the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) to discuss the issue and also clarified the matter at the post Cabinet media briefing of 9 June 2011
"GCIS reiterates the point that the placing of advertisements and editorial independence are not linked. The concept of bulk buying is part of the GCIS Communications Strategy which was approved by Cabinet and it will be used to elicit discounts and maximum coverage on targeted audiences.
"Contrary to media reports, there never was any intention to bribe media to write favourably about government, such insinuations are unfortunate," he said.
