Summit of Editors-owners-managers: “ THE BOTTOM LINE …”

1. Summit of Editors-owners-managers:“THE BOTTOM LINE …” Background to a Sanef initiative

2. Background • Industry funds SANEF, but … • MAPPP-SETA refund • Downsizing • Dismissal of Mathatha Tsedu • Not a union of editors • History: Tony Heard, Raymond Louw, Allister Sparks, Lawrence Gandar • Peter Bruce – UDM, etc.

3. A: Changes in decade • Since Richard Steyn: downgrading of editors so don’t report to a Board; • Squeeze on newsroom sizes; • Tensions over editorial independence & commercialism (Vusi Mona’s chickens) • Editor abuse of position (Vusi Mona’s conflict of interests, politics) • Transformation issue: Africanisation, but keep white audiences • Reduced time for actual editing.

4. Significance • Editors not secure • Face too many imperatives • Chasing tails • Sanef suffers • Media credibility in long term? • Gives govt & others a stick to beat us.

5. B: SUMMIT OBJECTIVES • Exchange views in focused and frank way; • Assess the state of mutual relations in a general (non-personalised) sense; • Probe and try to explain problems – which are fundamental; which are just communicational; • Do recommendations to improve relations; • Possibly: statement of general principles for future guidance.

6. C. DRAFT PROGRAMME • International experience (eg. Bill Kovacs) • How problems manifest themselves – • commercial focus; advertising relations and content integrity; market-tailism – eg. chasing audiences at the expense of leadership; ownership styles; staff reporting resources; line-accountable reporting systems; editorial charters and policies. • Different and shared interests of editors, managers and owners.

7. C. DRAFT PROGRAMME • Is the media industry like any other business, or should it be considered unique? • “Triple bottom line” - should there be a 4th bottom line that reports on performance as regards the quality of journalism and its social value?

8. C. DRAFT PROGRAMME • What do we share in terms of industry as a whole vis-à-vis convergence, the continent, the politicians and advertisers? • What do we understand by the “transformation” challenge? A media charter? Advertising industry’s recent bid to score media placements in terms of BEE credentials).

9. D. TIMING & ORGANISATION • Date: before another Sun City summit with Government, recommended - March 2006. • Duration: commence with a guest international speaker on the opening evening, conclude late pm the following day. • Industry participants: Connie Molusi, PMSA, NAB, boards • Planning: organising committee - two Sanef members, one PMSA rep, and one NAB rep, to draw up the programme and guest list. • Venue: Outside of a major centre

10. D. TIMING & ORGANISATION • Costs: Each pay own way, + industrypay R1000 towards Sanef organising costs & expenses of guest speakers. • Procedure: Proceedings should be not for attribution, so as to enable a robust exchange of views. • Follow-up: A general minute should be compiled and circulated broadly beyond the participants. If there is a declaration, it should be publicised widely.

11. E. EDITORS’ VIEWS 13 responses 4 away

12. 1. Who do you think editors should report to? MD, CEO, board? Why? • Board, board, board • Board – not so focussed on short-term • Board – strategy & perform assess • Board – but not as director • Ceo, ceo, md • Ceo – board won’t make diffs to resources • No diffs, either • Ceo & board

13. 2. How much time spent on activities other than editorial & staff? • 90% (a web editor) • 60%, 55%, 50% • 45%, 40% • 35%, 30% • 20%, 20%, 20% • 10% (delegated other to deputy)

14. 3. Internal threats to your editorial independence? • Cost-cutting; cost-cutting impact on quality. • Budget, Budget, fierce budgets. • Too few resources, personnel, low salaries • Ad:editorial ratio. Managerial involvement. • Politicians phoning management. • Time in searching for black staff. • Poaching of staff. • Juniorisation, juniorisation, incompetence. • Downgrading jobs. None; none

15. 4. Socio-political contribution? • Economic transformation, ditto • Neutral meeting point around news • Keep SA informed, Public service • Bridge between communities • Raise awareness on poverty • Affirmative uplifting stories; hope • Well-being of elites, Project SA’s image • Moral regeneration • Hold politicians, business accountable • Investigate, push envelope, debate

16. 5. Problems with owners/managers • Managers undermining editors on staff grievances, hiring. • Lack of understanding of editorial • None, none, none, none, blank • Money, purse, rigidity, pagination too tight • Merit increases, retention • Access: hard to see them, hierarchy

17. 6. Short-term financial gain at expense of long-term investment in quality and sustainability? • Managers also being pushed • Continuous argument needed, balancing • Difficult to do new projects • No; no; no; previously but not at present • Yes; yes; yes – but is it for survival? • Definitely, but it is justified (fierce competition) • Yes – for political, rather than economic.

18. Is there a Sanef position? • on a summit? • on the outcomes? • on reporting to the board? • on editorial independence? • on time for editing? • on resourcing for editorial? • on a role greater than business?