SANEF probes media sustainability and access to public interest journalism in new report

SANEF

This report seeks to contribute to the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) mission of achieving media sustainability and universal access to public interest journalism, and it forms part of SANEF’s response to the Independent Panel Report in the Inquiry into Media Ethics and Credibility, prepared by retired Judge Kathleen Satchwell, Nikiwe Bikitsha and Rich Mkhondo.

In particular, Recommendation D35 calls on SANEF to ‘[s]upport research into the financial viability and sustainability of all forms of news media, examining international approaches to funding independent media, including but not limited to taxation incentives/exemptions, allocation of public funds, pursuit of royalties, levies on online advertising revenue routed offshore by online platforms, or other such methods’.

In its acknowledgements, SANEF gives its thanks to Izak Minnaar, Dr Kate Skinner and the AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism.

For interviews based on the preliminary draft of this report, SANEF is thankful to Minnaar, Dr Skinner, Nwabisa Makunga, Professor Franz Krüger, Bilal Randeree, Mary Papayya, Adriaan Basson, Mahlatse Mahlase and Sbu Ngalwa.

For reviews on the further draft of this report, SANEF is thankful to all of the participants who participated in the SANEF Ethics and Sustainability webinar on 5 May 2021, and to Professor Krüger, Dr Skinner, Phathiswa Magopeni, Martina Della Togna and Dunisani Ntsanwisi for their comments.

Importantly, SANEF is thankful to and acknowledges the recent research by Dr Harry Dugmore and Reg Rumney, which has contributed significantly to this report.

The report was prepared with the assistance of ALT Advisory.

The full report can be downloaded here.

Watch the webinar here.

The Press Council’s article is here.