President of SOECA,

CEO of SOEPF

CEO of Community Newspapers Initiative

Members of the Executive Committee of different institutions present

SOECA Advisory Panel Members

Directors-General present here

CEOs from the SOEs

Our Strategic Partners

Members of the Media

 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

When I received the invitation to address this august function, under the theme: “The impact of community newspapers in deepening democracy as well as strengthening the living legacy of Dr Nelson Mandela,” I felt deeply honoured and privileged for the opportunity to share my views and perspective on this important topic.

The theme is critical in more ways than one.

Firstly, it comes just six days before the imminent local government elections and secondly, it comes nine days after the world celebrated our global icon who led South Africa into its first non-racial democratic elections Tata Nelson Mandela.

Let me start at the beginning!

Our unshakeable belief has always been that community participation and access are the major tenets that characterise and upon which community media are credited. Other tenets also include issues of ownership, control and funding which are rooted in the hands of community members and they empower them to have control over the communication systems.

EMERGENCE OF COMMUNITY MEDIA
The history of community media in South Africa and elsewhere shows that the emergence of this sector was a result of a demand to break away from repressive regimes which were worsened by the dominance and monopoly of mass media.

In South Africa, the apartheid regime ensured that the majority of citizens were disadvantaged and marginalised in the interest of the white minority. The apartheid regime used the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) as a monopoly that controlled the broadcasting industry.

The Jabulani Freedom of the Airwaves Conference held in Netherlands in August 1991 played a crucial role in putting the issue of community media on the South African media policy agenda. At the conference the definitions of ‘community’ and ‘community broadcasting’ were adopted. However, the definition of the word ‘community’ was problematic especially in the South African context. A more correct definition was adopted to mean “people in a particular local area who share similar problems and interests as a collective”.

This definition was influenced by the realisation of the crucial role that community media play for the disadvantaged sections of society that is “the empowerment of the people by giving them the means to inform and be informed within a participative communication medium”. In short, community media if put to good use, can become an effective arena for a whole range of freedom of expression and can allow access to any kind of information so that members of the community have the information they need for their own development and that they are fully informed of what is happening in their community.

Community media serve to empower marginalised communities to define and manage their own development. As such, community media are driven by democratic principles which are socially oriented and not profit driven. These factors make community media different from commercial, public, or private media.  At the same time, community media are not for bankrupt either, I will elaborate this point later.

During the apartheid era “community media emerged as the voice of the oppressed and played a significant role in informing and mobilising communities at grassroots level, against apartheid”. However, in the democratic era which we are in today, the role of community media has changed to that of being a catalyst for development. Therefore, it is expected that today’s discussion is a continuation of the debates surrounding the role and impact of community media in the overall developmental project  in South Africa as community media strive to provide an alternative to mainstream media.

The State Owned Enterprises Communicators Association (SOECA) and the State Owned Enterprises Procurement Forum (SOEPF) should be congratulated for this initiative which brought all of us here today as well as for having previously committing themselves by pledging their support for community and small commercial media as defined by the MDDA Act of 2004, in a meeting held in Pretoria two (2) years back.

The support that these organisations are bringing is in twofold:

• access to information on SOEs and an increase ad spent targeting community and small commercial media to ensure long-term financial stability of the sector; and
• Procurement of services that would include ad spent within the sector; skills development and further growth of the sector.

We are therefore not surprised by the pride and patriotism shown by SOECA, SOEPF and CNI for setting up this type of an event where there is sufficient appreciation of the role played by community media, especially the community newspapers in this case. Community media has become a necessary alternative because it is made and controlled by the people.

THE CURRENT DEBATES ON DIGITAL JOURNALISM AND FORGOTTEN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY MEDIA- GEO- SOCIAL COMMUNITY MEDIA

Programme Director,

The importance of geography is reflected in a set of journalistic news values recognised as the strongest expressions of how media shape the news across mainstream and local media outlets. “Proximity” or events which are geographically close to readers is considered among a series of important news factors which overlap and are shared across news organisations.

The inclusion of Geo-in Geo-social, seeks to highlight the importance of geography as a specific characteristic of small commercial media without depending on more ambiguous terms such as “community” and “local”, which traditionally have been used to describe the geographic space in which such newspapers serve. For these purposes, geography is considered interchangeable with location or the “absolute point in space with specific coordinates and measurable distances from other locations”, notably a town, city or region.

Section 50 of the Electronic Communications Act, No.36 of 2005 as amended does allow community media which is intended to promote groupings which may not necessary reside in one community.  However, at the same time, new technologies now affect the community media or geo-social news. A new phenomenon has emerged called Digital Journalism that also seeks media sectors’ attention.

In broad, it intends to provide what journals have always offered readers and contributors, which is a place of intellectual companionship, a public discursive space in which common academic concerns can be addressed and in which argument and evidence can be tested, if necessary to destruction.  In short, a place where scholars and researchers can “hang out” or “hang their intellectual hat”.

It also engages different types of journalistic organisations and individuals, embraces distinctive content formats and styles, and involves contributors with divergent editorial ambitions, professional backgrounds, and educational experiences and achievements, who strive to reach diverse audiences.

In addition, community print media including small commercial projects can be classified and defined as ‘geo-social news’.  There are many community print projects which have an online presence today in the country which have now broadened its reach to a cross section of the South African population as well as the international community.

Programme Director,

The shift towards “geo-social” news begins with a view of merging the role traditional newspapers play across print and online platforms. The concept not only acknowledges geography as an important characteristic of such publications but it points to an examination of the wider social spaces in which a small newspaper operates and the constellation of social relations in which individuals come to identify with the “place such newspapers cover’ . Community media in particular both radio and print newspapers, should be served well by mastheads that act as signposts to their geographic identity in an increasingly online world.

“Geo-social” news does not dismiss the powerful role that newspapers play in constructing the idea of community and the local among readers, “geo-social” news can, for example, instil a sense of “local” identity through notices about rites of passage such as births, marriages and graduations but it avoids using community and local to describe geographic space and the people who live there.

It is an invitation to begin reconceptualising how all of us present here today, should consider the impact community newspapers have  in deepening democracy as well as strengthening the living legacy of Dr Nelson Mandela  in the twenty-first century, rather than relying on old popular definitions which must be carefully reviewed and considered in this changing media world.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORT COMMUNITY MEDIA

I must say loud and clear that community media is indeed a democratic media. Vigorous citizen participation is needed from the bottom up and operates according to the needs and wants of the public. By the same token, government has received a fair share of criticism, in respect to support and funding.

Programme Director,

In May this year, during my 2016/17 budget vote speech in Parliament, I made a commitment that the transformation of the mainstream print media remains at the apex of our priorities. The sector has been dominated by the Big four (4), who control almost everything, some of which are detrimental to the community print media’s sustainability, especially on issues of print and distribution costs.  What is it that we must do to ensure that the status quo is transformed, particularly at the level of media ownership? The time for speeches is over and we can no longer continue to pontificate on this matter without implementing the action plans.

Mr President, I am happy to inform you that the work is currently underway to finalize the media transformation policy. As part of finalising this policy, we will also investigate the possibility of pulling government media assets with a view to support the creation of a black-owned media house in the country.

Programme Director,

One of the biggest achievements of the ANC-led Government since coming to power, was the creation of a regulatory environment which ensured that community media flourishes. This was done with an understanding that members in small communities should get content generated by themselves. This is a vital point that cannot be over-emphasised.

The government is well aware of the many challenges facing the media today which include the rapidly changing technologies such as the advent of the internet and social media.

We are also privy of both de-investments by media houses on investing in journalism divisions which has instead been substituted by the greater appetite for sensationalisation of news to create a buying mood and therefore more revenues and less journalism; to the rising of the juniorisation of many newsrooms as a result of experienced and skilled journalists leaving the industry when the powers-that-be implement their rationalisation and cut input costs.

These challenges unfortunately mean media outlets are investing less in the quality of what they do. The focus on making huge profits at the expense of serving the public has led to mediocrity which arguably undermines the public trust.

Fortunately, community media is in a pole position to mitigate those effects and indeed, trends in the developed world have proven the resilience of the community media sector. The economic model of the local community newspapers is highly-geared for sustainable products that enjoy trust with their readership and audience. This is in contrast to the profit-chasing media owned by conglomerates.

Programme Director,

In as much as the local government is at the coalface of grassroots service delivery, community media enjoys this proximity to the communities they serve.

Therefore, the question arises as to how do we link this wonderful achievement to Dr Nelson Mandela’s legacy and how best can we utilise community media to ensure that our democracy continues to thrive?

Nelson Mandela encouraged the creation of a society where the voiceless would have a voice, where dialogue takes place even in the most remote places. He said through community media, we have an obligation to defend, advance and deepen democracy.

He further cautioned that despite the successes we have scored in democratising South Africa, it did not mean that anti-democratic forces of counter-revolution no longer exist in our society.

To quote him verbatim  “Indeed, one of the reasons why we have not seen these forces raise their ugly head more forcefully, has been the fact that our programme of reconstruction and development is at its early stages. Consequently, because we have just begun, the process of fundamental social transformation has not yet impacted seriously on the apartheid paradigm which affects all aspects of our lives. This process has therefore not yet tested the strength of the counter-offensive which will seek to maintain the privileges of the white minority,” end quote.

We have recently seen such forces attempt to usurp the legacy of Nelson Mandela for their narrow political ends, hopelessly oblivious to the fact that he was persecuted for holding the exact same views of opening up the democratic space and branded a terrorist.

Programme Director,

Let me touch on the issue of support of community media by the government and I hope I will say this for the last time. There is absolutely a case for SOEs to increase their use of community media or alternative media in order to communicate their messages. When I was serving as a Member of the Communications Portfolio Committee in Parliament, we recommended that the executive arm of government should not neglect community media in their choices of where or through which medium to communicate, in fact, we encouraged the GCIS in its efforts to increase government’s ad spend towards community media.

Since assuming office in government, we have been consistent in our support to community media and just three (3) weeks ago I was addressing the similar gathering of community media stakeholders. Clearly my undying love and passion for community driven initiative remains unshaken and so is support to community media.

Programme Director, I am also aware that SOECA is currently negotiating with the SABC to earn  36 slots in order to provide SOEs with a platform to share and provide accurate information about their institutions. I am also aware that you have created a portal system and your own publications that will enrich and facilitate the flow of information within the SOEs as well as government.

We must tell our own stories from our own framework of reference. Journalists may be at the centre of reputable media environment but they are not the only ones chronicling the world around them.

This is where the idea of “Owned media” becomes relevant. You should not be apologetic about telling your own stories. State Owned Entities Procurement Forum must become an enabler to achieve that historic mandate. They must not sit there and create stumbling blocks, claiming this cannot be done and instead they must offer solutions on how it can be done. We need a pro-transformation procurement forum that speaks loud and clear transformation agenda. No excuse!

The relationship between my ministry with SOECA, SOEPF and CNI is duly cemented. You must continue to believe in your vision because a positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.

Programme Director,

In conclusion we cannot rest now; we have a responsibility to protect our democracy and defend the image of our country, especially from those who profit from manufactured chaos often served with our breakfast or at supper during the evening bulletins. Let us honour Madiba by going out to vote on the 3rd of August and make him proud. Despite the predictions of many doomsayers, the majority of South Africans have always risen to the occasion when called upon to practice their democratic right to exercise their hard-fought right to elect credible leadership with clear programmes to transform this country for the better. Therefore, consistency of our message has to be sacrosanct, therefore we have to sing from the same hymn book.

It would be irrational to assume that people know what we are doing. This session only marks the beginning of more activities yet to come being rolled-out by you.

I would like to end with a quote by our stalwart, the longest-serving president of the ANC, O.R. Tambo who said: I quote “The fight for freedom must go on until it is won; until our country is free, happy and peaceful as part of the community of man, we cannot rest”.

I thank you.