The Media Development & Diversity Agency (MDDA) has reaffirmed its commitment to the development and protection of a diverse and pluralistic media environment in South Africa.
The agency made the undertaking when it joined the international community in celebrating World Press Freedom Day 2019 on Friday, 3 May.
The MDDA noted that South Africa has several press freedom advocacy organizations that regularly challenge encroachments on media freedom. The courts and regulatory bodies have consistently reaffirmed freedom of the press and the right to information, handing down judgments and rulings in support of open and accountable government and media independence.
However, the agency said, there is increased concern about press freedom amid recent intimidation of journalists.
The MDDA also acknowledged the importance of community media, particularly community print media.
“Community media are crucial to ensuring media pluralism and freedom of expression and are an indicator of a healthy democratic society.
“As an alternative medium to public and commercial media, as well as social media, they are characterised by their accountability to, and participation of, the communities they serve. They have a greater focus on local issues of concern and facilitate public platforms for debate and discussion,” the MDDA said.
The MDDA has, in its approximately 15 years of existence, supported over 80 community and small commercial print projects to the value of approximately R70 million.
With the contribution of MDDA support, grassroots publications have managed to attain circulation figures of eight million copies per month, over 20 million readers per month and seen Black ownership of non-commercial publications sit at over 70%, with 21% of the publications being owned by women.
Driving transformation
Despite these great strides, the sustainability of community print media remains a serious concern and a threat to media pluralism.
“The print media sector remains largely untransformed, with undue concentration of media ownership in the hands of a few industry players, having a significant impact on media and transformation.
“Transformation, however, needs to be tackled from various fronts. Whilst policy planned at addressing transformation is a good start, it is not enough. How transformation is financed should also be a priority of the government to ensure that transformation becomes a sustainable programme.
“As it stands, the MDDA is tasked with the support of Community Print and Small Commercial Print projects, but financial constraints compromise the sustainability of community print projects and transformation,” the agency said.
All these challenges, the MDDA said, pose a threat to ensuring that community print media remains an alternative voice for those who did not previously have access to information in a language of their choice.
“It is important that there is renewed commitment to support community print media to ensure that community media journalists fill the shoes of many great journalist like Zwelakhe Sisulu, Aggrey Klaaste, Henry Nxumalo and Allister Sparks, who continuously strived for quality journalism.
“This becomes more critical in an era of disinformation and misinformation, which go against the basic tenets of ethical and quality reporting.”
About the MDDA
The MDDA is a statutory development agency, deriving its mandate from Section 16 and 32 of the Constitution Act No. 108 of 1996, thereby providing for freedom of expression and access to information.
As a partnership between the South African Government and major print and broadcasting companies, it promotes and assists in the development of community media and small commercial media in South Africa and the transformation of the media, by providing support (financial, capacity building, etc.) in terms of the MDDA Act No 14 of 2002.
It also aims to raise public awareness with regard to media development and diversity issues, and to encourage media literacy and a culture of reading. For further information: www.mdda.org.za. – SAnews.gov.za
