SANEF champions fact-based journalism to safeguard democracy
SANEF
The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) highlights the critical role that responsible and factual journalism plays in serving the public interest and safeguarding the principles of democracy.
On World News Day today, SANEF proudly supports the global campaign theme, Choose Truth, initiated by our esteemed international partners including the Canadian Journalism Foundation, WAN-IFRA’s World Editors Forum and Project Kontinuum.
This campaign calls on all members of the news industry and their supporters to champion fact-based journalism, which is the foundation of a free and open society.
In a world where misinformation and disinformation can spread at unprecedented speeds, the commitment of journalists to uphold high standards of accuracy, ethics, and accountability has never been more critical.
South Africa’s strong tradition of media self-regulation, upheld by the Press Council of South Africa and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, is key to maintaining the integrity of our newsrooms
These regulatory mechanisms ensure that our journalists operate within a framework that prioritises accuracy and public accountability, fostering trust in the media. This system not only holds journalists to account but also ensures that the public receives information that is accurate, balanced, and fair.
Quality journalism is more than just a profession. It is the backbone of a well-functioning democracy. Journalists dedicate themselves to verifying facts, examining sources, and presenting truth through rigorous investigative reporting. This process ensures that citizens are informed with clarity and certainty, empowering them to make sound decisions in public discourse and governance.
As Nwabisa Makunga, Chair of SANEF, aptly stated at the 2024 Nat Nakasa Awards in Durban in September, ‘What I believe should anchor the work we do is earning public trust’.
‘For us as journalists, the work we do can only have an impact and be effective if we largely enjoy the trust of those we serve.’
SANEF believes that building trust through truth-based journalism strengthens the social contract between the media and the public, ensuring transparency and fostering accountability in all levels of society
On World News Day, Martha Ramos, President of the World Editors Forum, reminds us, ‘Quality journalism offers that and more’.
‘[Today], we come together as citizens to remember why such journalism matters and why it’s worth supporting ethical, trustworthy, and truth-seeking news media.’
Similarly, Kathy English, Chair of the Canadian Journalism Foundation, notes, ‘Journalism matters’.
‘Facts matter. Truth matters. Without the verified facts that can reveal truth, freedom and democracy can fail.’
As we celebrate World News Day 2024, SANEF calls on all South Africans to support quality journalism that values truth and integrity. Let us ‘choose truth’ and continue to advocate for a media environment that safeguards the public’s right to know.
