Media Freedom

Description:

There are substantial opposition to the ruling South African government suggestion to establish a media appeals tribunal (MAT) in an effort to regulate the media.

It is suggested that media houses need to be regulated as they tend to go overboard at times.

In turn the media that says this is a restriction on them as they are the watchdog of the people.

The government believe that the creation of a MAT would strengthen, complement and support the current self-regulatory institutions (Press Ombudsman/Press Council) in the public interest.

On Tuesday, the ANC said it did not want to curtail press freedom with the tribunal, but that the print media did not seem committed to transformation.

The possibility of a media tribunal has drawn widespread criticism.

Press Ombudsman Joe Thloloe has warned that a media tribunal would be an "imposition" on media freedom.

Any system imposed from outside the press itself will be an imposition and in violation of the constitution.

The SA National Editors' Forum has crafted a plan of action to fight attempts to regulate the media, including the proposed tribunal and the introduction of the Protection of Information Bill.

Sanef chairman Mondli Makhanya said there was a "mobilisation against the media", not only on a political level but also amongst communities on the ground.