President Jacob Zuma will meet with senior editors and media owners "soon" to "quell" building anxiety that plans are afoot within government to "muzzle" the media.

Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, government spokesperson Themba Maseko said that the meeting would be convened by the President's office, and would be attended by Zuma, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and other Cabinet Ministers.

Minister in The Presidency Collins Chabane had been given the task of organising the gathering, which would take place "sooner rather than later". However, no timeframe had been set.

The meeting would take place against the background of fears within the media that there was a concerted effort to crack down on media freedom, and would also follow on from a high-profile arrest of a Sunday Times investigative journalist on Wednesday.

Freedom of expression experts are particularly worried about aspects of a Protection of Information Bill, which, taken together with other legislation, could severely constrain investigative journalism.

Then there is an African National Congress proposal for the creation of a Media Appeals Tribunal to replace the current system of self-regulation. Part of the proposal is the imposition of fines and even imprisonment of journalists found in breach.

Maseko went to pains to stress that the government did not see the media as "an enemy" and that it was keen to engage with the industry to enable concerns to be aired.

He said that Cabinet was concerned about the "perception" that there was a plan to muzzle the media and by the "unhealthy" climate of mistrust that was emerging.

He said that Zuma was keen to have a dialogue with editors and media owners and that, as with previous such meetings, government would be willing to address concerns raised.