---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Kate Skinner <[email protected]> Date: Mon, Aug 23, 2010 at 11:13 AM Subject: SOS News PUBLIC DEBATE ON MEDIA REGULATION IN SA - TONIGHT, WITS GREAT HALL, Also "Stengthening ICASA Seminar" - this Wed 25 August 2010 - 9am to 12pm To: [email protected]
*REMINDER* * * *HOW SHOULD THE MEDIA BE REGULATED?* * * The Faculty of Humanities at Wits University and the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) invite the media and the public to a debate on the ANC’s proposed Media Appeals Tribunal (MAT). Please pass on to your friends, colleagues and family beyond Wits who may want to attend this lecture. A panel featuring Jackson Mthembu (ANC spokesperson and Chairman of the ANC National Executive Committee sub-committee on Communications), Lumko Mtimde (CEO of the Media Development and Diversity Agency), Jeremy Cronin (SACP Deputy General Secretary), Thabo Leshilo (Chairperson SANEF Media Freedom Committee), Joe Thloloe (Press Ombudsman) and Prof. Anton Harber (Head of Wits Journalism) will debate burning issues pertaining to the MAT and media. *The debate takes place on Monday, 23 August 2010 at 18:00 for 18:30 in the Great Hall, East Campus, Wits University.* “This is a very important debate for South African society today given the critical role that the media plays in sustaining and deepening democracy. The best form of regulation should enable this role and enhance media credibility and accountability,” says Prof. Tawana Kupe, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities. Debate is raging all over South Africa and questions have arisen over the necessity of the MAT when we have the Press Ombudsman and the Press Council. Journalists and some media commentators believe that the MAT is veiled attempt by the ANC to censor the media and that it would undermine the constitutionally guaranteed media freedoms. Fears have been expressed that the existence of the tribunal could also result in self censorship for fear of the punitive action that could be taken against journalists and the media. Questions have also arisen over whether self regulation is still not a better system which does not encroach on media than statutory regulation through an appeals tribunal. Some have also raised the questions as to whether the Press Ombudsman is independent from powerful interests including editors and media owners who fund the Press Council. Equally questions have been raised as to whether the MAT would be independent from powerful interests including the government that want to censor the media to avoid embarrassing exposures of wrongdoing. The debate will also focus on whether the self regulatory system and the Press Ombudsman are effective. Date: Monday, 23 August 2010 Time: 18:00 for 18:30 Venue: Wits Great Hall See you there! ________________________________________ Dear All *INVITATION TO ATTEND AN SOS WORKSHOP ON "STRENGTHENING ICASA - ENSURING THE AUTHORITY ACTS COURAGEOUSLY IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST" * The SOS Coalition invites you to a workshop on “Strengthening ICASA - Ensuring it acts courageously in the public interest*” *to be held on the Wednesday 25th August 2010. ** The aim of the workshop is to empower a pool of resource people to act as media spokespeople specifically on the topic of the ICASA Amendment Bill and broader ICASA issues. All are welcome but community media people are especially encouraged to attend. A key focus of the workshop is looking at ways to ensure that ICASA is strengthened and given the necessary funding and capacity so that it is strengthened to act in the public interest. Critical to democracy and media freedom ICASA has been established as an independent constitutionally established body to, amongst others, “regulate broadcasting in the public interest” (ICASA Act 2000). However, recent moves by government have the potential to erode the independence and effectiveness of ICASA. The ICASA Amendment Bill grants new powers to the Minister. The workshop aims to raise awareness on the issue of ICASA and its fundamental importance to strengthening an independent, accountable system. The workshop forms part of a larger campaign to raise awareness and educate people on key issues relating to ICASA. The workshop will cover: · What is ICASA? And why is ICASA so important? · What is ICASA’s mandated role? · The strengths and weaknesses of ICASA. · The ICASA Amendment Bill - What is the Bill about? Strengthens and weaknesses of the Bill? What problems does the Bill pose for ICASA, its independence and effectiveness? · The ICASA Amendment Bill and implications for community media. The partners for this event are: The “SOS: Support Public Broadcasting” Coalition, Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ). The details of the seminar are: *Date:* 25th August 2010 *Time:* 09h00 – 12h00 *Venue:* IAJ, 9 Jubilee Road, Parktown. Tea and snacks will be provided. Please note that space is limited. Please RSVP - Prinola at *[email protected]* by 24 August 2010 13:00 pm. * * *Yours sincerely* SOS: Support Public Broadcasting Coalition -- You are subscribed to the "SOS News" group of the “SOS - Support Public Broadcasting” campaign. This group is a newsletter only. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<sos-news%[email protected]>or send an e-mail to [email protected] with "Unsubscribe" in the body of the message. Or, use the "Edit my membership" at http://groups.google.com/group/sos-news(where you can also find archives). For e-mail discussion of the “SOS - Support for Public Broadcasting” campaign, please join our discussion forum at http://groups.google.com/group/SOS-relay Please visit the SOS web site at http://www.supportpublicbroadcasting.co.za/ -- Gugu Ndima +27 76 783 1516 -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. 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