A critique of SABC’s political coverage.

1. A critique of SABC’s political coverage. AND: Opportunities that the current political climate offers developmental journalism and the SABC By Guy Berger, 22 November, 2009

2. (Editorial Policies) Broadcasting during elections is a testing time for SABC. A time when commitment to objectivity, accuracy, fairness, impartiality and balance is scrutinised closely. Also a trying time for staff who may feel pressurefrom parties.

3. Coming up • History • The stakes • Your guidelines • The opportunities

4. 1. HISTORY

5. Back in 93... • Historical conundrum: • ANC didn’t trust Nats over SABC pre-election, • Nats didn’t trust ANC over SABC post-election.

6. Historical compromise: • Two parties + civil society • Consensus: take SABC outof political spheres of influence. • (Note: SABC was passive in all this). • Restructuring: • New board • Independent MonitoringCommission • IBA and broadcast pluralism

7. But still political pressures • 1994: separatemeetings with parties just involved SABC being lambasted. • 1996: jointmeeting (in KZN) set limits: • Minority parties would get coverage • Not every function would be covered • Not short notice • Ground rules for debates • Complaints would be dealt with asap • Parties would give up-to-date contacts

8. MEDIA CODE OF CONDUCT • ... FOR POLITICIANS • 12 parties signed in June 1996 • Bishops, editor-in-chief, Electoral Code of Conduct Commission as monitors. The text reads: • To ensure a free, independent news media, commitment is needed from all the main players: • Journalists and editors to professional codes; • Politicians to the following code:

9. “To wholeheartedly help party members understand the role of the media in a democratic society.” “We agree that the rights of working journalists should be respected at all times while engaged in news-gathering. “We undertake to respect and promote the physical safety of journalists to the best of our ability, including:

10. Not incitingattacks on media reps. Not namingindividual journalists at public events. Not verbally or physically interferingwith reporters. Not restricting accessto news sources. Not having no-go zones, but rather letting journalists operate without fear of intimidation.

11. Not to pressure presenters while on air to do ad hoc interviews. Not to try and bribejournalists. Discourage party members and others from making abusive or threatening anonymous phone calls to media. Using existing mechanisms to channel complaints. TODAY: PARTIES’ CODE OF CONDUCT

12. 2. STAKES

13. WHAT ARE ELECTIONS FOR? • Licence a new gang to get a chance to grabhold of the “goodies”? • Elect a government to govern in the public interest based on mass mandate? • Registerpublic sentiment on policies? • Channel social culture into non-violentconflict resolution? • Promote citizenship for post-pollparticipation in political life.

14. The bottom line • Pre-condition for a free & fair election: • = a free and fair media – incl. the SABC. • Free: • Citizens feel free to speak out (& have platform) • SABC is free frominterference • SABC is free to provide diversity and access. • Fair: • Fairness by SABC • Fairness to SABC

15. Take a long haul view Building an unassailable PSB over democratic transition. Setting a role model for the continent. Giving South Africans the best possible outcome from the poll – not least vis-a-vis 2010.

16. 3. GUIDE-LINES

17. The law makes it easy for you • SABC CHARTER confirms: • Your duty to give a plurality of views and news. • Within this, your right to freedom of expression and journalistic independence.

18. What Icasa regulations say: • Fair = equitable, not equal. • Fair = low differential between old and new parties, not pure proportionality based on past and present. • Letting conflicting views be heard does not translate into all parties being heard on any subject. • Right to reply is not to mild or even robust discourse. • Assessment can only be done over time.

19. A caution from Icasa: “Avoid giving policies of governing party greater legitimacy than if the party were not in government.” (Icasa) Avoid the danger of being seen as a “Civil Service” broadcaster – i.e. loyal to the government of the day (it was TM, now KM, tomorrow JZ). Keep an autonomous identity. Learn from MPs who bent with pressure!

20. Critics mustbe asked to show ... • Violations of ICASA code: • Distortion, exaggeration, misrepresentation? • Material omissions? • Summarisation? • Or that opinions or allegations were presented as fact? • Or a controversy ignored a key view? • Or there was no reasonable right to reply.

21. 4. OPPORT-UNITIES

22. What we don’t want Media as a negative factor in an election. Toxic treatment of media in an election. Media used as a scapegoat. Media kicked around as a political football. Media losing credibility.

23. Foreground media roleS • 1. Forum role – what? • Platform for parties – incl debate • ALSO: Platform for parties and public interaction.

24. Be careful... • “Phone in and discussion programmes should not be presented as scientific reflections of public opinion.” (Editorial Policies)

25. From the horse’s mouth “Broadcasters should not rely on political parties to bring information to them, but should actively seek out information.” “Failure to do so will give parties with greater resources inequitable amounts of news coverage”. (Icasa regulations)

26. More media roleS • 2. Watchdog – what? • Scrutinise parties, expose intolerance, irregularities, follow-up on law enforcement.

27. More roleS • 3. Enabling role - what? • Educating audiences (rights, responsibilities) • Involving audiences and 3rd “parties” • Informing about parties and about results.

28. More roleS • 4. Setting the Agenda – what? • Being proactive, doing research. • Political conduct (democracy) • Development – the key issue. • Also: Media issues and Access to Info.

29. Another cautionary • Agendas & intolerance: • “Licensees are reminded generally of the possible dangers of some people imitating violence details of which they see, hear or read about.” (Icasa, revised code of conduct).

30. Development objectives Make development & democracy the main agenda. Put the focus on policies, rather than on the political people and emotion. Educate the public on the poll system.

31. Development objectives Educate the citizens on the poll system. Encourage them to assert their rights. Put pressure on those who don’t exercise their responsibilities as citizens Build respect for independent SABC.

32. Boost credibility Combine all four roles: Forum (pluralistic fairness) Watchdog (SABC active agent) Enabler (educator, accessible) Agenda-setting (leading)

33. 5. IN SUM...

34. History – seize a window of opportunity, an interregnum between powers. Don’t be on defensive, don’t be a football. The stakes are the SABC, and public broadcasting in Africa ... And standards for a free and fair election.

35. Follow, and quote, your “Bibles” Roles: agenda-setter, forum, watchdog, enabler (AFEW) Empower people for the best possible government of, for and by the citizens.

36. Thank you