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Media & Society Conference

Media & Society Conference. Rural Women in the Media presentation by Manana Monareng Communications Officer National Community Radio Forum (NCRF). Who are we?. The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), is a national, membership-driven association of

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Media & Society Conference

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  1. Media & Society Conference Rural Women in the Media presentation by Manana Monareng Communications Officer National Community Radio Forum (NCRF)

  2. Who are we? The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF), is a national, membership-driven association of CR stations & support service organisations in SA. • formed in 1993 in Orlando, Soweto, • to lobby & advocate for the diversification of the airwaves in South Africa, • to foster a dynamic broadcasting environment in the country through the establishment of community radio stations, • currently 120 CR station projects in its membership (80 on-air 40 waiting to be licensed by ICASA.

  3. Our View 1: Rural Women in the Media • Gender is one of the primary fault-lines in SA politics & media despite the feminists challenge of conventional assumptions about the role of women in society; • The political agenda has become deeply polarized by issues like affirmative action, same-sex marriages and welfare reform – no more space for gender debates; • Less productivity often blamed on the female leadership because of lack of understanding their management style or adaptation phase; • Rural women are often represented by views of their urban counterparts - not always correct;

  4. Our View 2: Rural Women in the Media • media coverage of women in SA reinforces rather than challenges the dominant culture & contributes toward women's marginalization in public life; • because of the above, it can be argued that journalism fails to meet its minimum professional standards. (e.g.: informativeness, truth, accuracy, objectivity, and balance); • media preaches “women empowerment” but lacks development tools for women journos; • the media should be pluralist, reflecting the diversity of society, giving access to various points of view, and avoiding giving offence to minority groups.

  5. Our Work: Rural Women in the Media Because we work with CBOs (most rural) our work focuses on building an enabling environment to contribute in a healthy growth of community radio in SA. We do this by: • Setting standards for the sector and monitoring implementation; • Providing information and advice to membership; • Representing the collective interests of members; • Creating structures and systems that encourage community radio stations to share experiences, skills, best practice models and resources; • Coordinating capacity building in the sector; • Forging strategic alliances and partnerships with key stakeholders to facilitate delivery of services, resources, funding and support to both members and the sector; • Lobbying and doing advocacy work to promote and protect the sector.

  6. Sectoral Focus…since 2001 • national research & needs analysis report looked at: - representation of women @ CRs - experiences of women @ CRs - gender awareness through CR programming - capacity building for women broadcasters - setting up of CR Women’s Network (later called CR Gender Network • “Speak Out” newsletter gave women in CR a platform; • adoption of NCRF Constitutional Amendment making it compulsory that the NCRF Board have a gender ratio of 40:60 or 50:50, i.e. neither gender would have fewer than 40 percent of Board seats

  7. Sectoral Focus…since 2004 • Forging stakeholders relationships – to get support on sectoral issue understanding and lobbying plans (e.g.: WomensNet, FIRE, AGENDA, CGE, Gender Links, DCFRN, etc.); • Capacity Building - training of women on new broadcast technologies, quality content production and giving support to the development of women; • Achieving women representation on the governance structures in the CR sector; • Development of radio programmes that offer women a platform to express their views and take charge of their own development.

  8. Working Together • CR is the communication platform of civil society – allows access to vital knowledge for development of rural and often poor citizens; • Civil society organisations have a responsibility to educate and raise awareness on issues of concern within the community; • CR is merely a tool for communities to use to discuss, debate and find solutions to social ills; • Communities needs to take ownership of the CRS as custodians of community development.

  9. Thank You ! Tel: +27-11 403 4336 Fax: +27-11 403 4314 E-mail: info@ncrf.org.za Website: www.ncrf.org.za

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