Are South Africa’s dominant media equipped to serve the information and expression needs of our divided society? . Can they enable the inclusive and informed public sphere our democracy desperately needs to negotiate the many challenges we face?
The highly concentrated nature of media ownership,the commercial business model of the dominant media (including the public broadcaster), and the under resources news rooms dependent on elite sources (largely corporate/government spin) pr has resulted in a largely homogeneous media that tend to focus on concerns of urban and middle-class people at the expense of the marginalised majority.
As we commemorate the banning of anti-apartheid newspapers and Black Consciousness organisations on ”Black Wednesday”, October 19, 1977, we ask: Where are the voices o the oppressed and exploited in the media today?
And while we celebrate the 1996 Constitution that guarantees media freedom there remain government threats to free expression.. The Internet Censorship Act gives the Film and Publication Board teeth to regulate and take down online content,hate speech law is in the pipeline, and the government wants to expand mass surveillance and give more power to the spies.
The Speakers
- Esley Philader: Where are the rural women? Philader is a veteran community and public media journalist. She works for the Trust for Rural Outreach and Education (TCOE) where she supports the building of rural movements
- Dale T McKinley: Who does the dominant media serve? McKinley is a political activist and co-author of the book Tell Our Story: Multiplying Voices in the News Media. He works for the International Research and Information Group (ILRIG).
- Uyanda Siyotula: What threats to M dia Freedom today? Siyotula is a freedom of expression advocate and National Coordinator of the SOS Support Public Broardcasting coalition
The Details
DATE: Thursday 19 Oct 2023
TIME: 2pm – 4pm
VENUE: online
REGISTER: https://peoplesmedia.africa/webinaris-the-media-free-for-all/