Jack up governance, stamp out graft, if you want better coverage

21 October 2015 - 02:14 By The Times Editorial

Despite its dominance at the polls, and its control of the SABC, the ruling party seems determined to use the machinery of the state to bring the independent media to heel. The ANC has been threatening to introduce a tribunal to hold journalists to account and to ''transform'' the media since the 2007 Polokwane conference that catapulted Jacob Zuma into high office.The proposal appeared to have been shelved after discussions with newspaper editors and media freedom advocates, who argued that self-regulation, not state control, was the best way to ensure high journalistic standards.Fairly extensive reforms to the Press Council of SA and its adjudication processes were made in 2012 in an effort to ensure greater public participation in the adjudication of disputes involving the media.By and large, the system has worked.But the ANC, which has taken a battering over repeated revelations of corruption and poor governance, and suffered some erosion of support at the last election, appears to have other ideas. Its proposal for a media appeals tribunal was wheeled out again at its recent national general council meeting.Parliament will be asked to investigate the feasibility of establishing such a tribunal, which would have to act in compliance with the constitution - surely an impossibility because our founding charter enshrines media freedom.Creating a state-controlled body to police the media is an incredibly bad idea - akin to suggestions by several ANC luminaries that state advertising be denied to media outlets that are overly critical of the government.A far more sensible way of ensuring better media coverage - and indeed, of winning elections - would be to improve efficiencies at all levels of government, to clean up the rot in many parastatals and to clamp down ruthlessly on corruption, starting at the top.Instead of complaining, the ANC should be boasting about South Africa having a free press and a critical, independent public protector...

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.