SABC news judgment 'different'

2002-08-13 13:25

Cape Town - The SA Broadcasting Corporation's news judgment was not the same as the commercial media's and took into account South Africa's welfare, according to Thami Mazwai, the public broadcaster's news programming chairperson.

Speaking during the SABC board's presentation to the Parliament's communications committee on Tuesday, he said: "Our (news) model is not going to be premised on what is happening on the commercially-driven media.

"There is always a tendency to try and compare the SABC with the other media. It's a grievous mistake."

The SABC had an obligation to go to the furthest corner of South Africa, regardless of the cost, to say "these people are now getting water, these people are getting electricity, when they did not get water and electricity in the past".

"It's a big story for the SABC, but it's not a big story for other media. We have to make a clear distinction, that with us it is the welfare of our country, with other institutions its 'how do we make and maximise our profits'," Mazwai said.

He explained how in a democratic South Africa, the SABC as a public broadcaster had to create a new reference framework for its news product.

"We have to create a news model, that takes into account that this is a nation that is looking into the future, with hope and with determination... The creation of a new reference framework is very paramount."

Diversity

This was reflected in the nature of the news that was now seen on SABC TV, he said.

"Where South Africans are beginning to be proud of what they see on the box, of what is happening in their country and how their country is leading the continent and indeed the world in various issues, including human rights, gender equality and so on.

"Our model must reflect the diversity of our national character and how we as a nation can enrich each other."

The SABC had to provide news that was newsworthy and credible.

Mazwai singled out SABC's Special Assignment programme, saying it had blazed a trail and was keeping South Africans glued to their chairs.

Referring to SABC TV2, he said CNN had been removed and the SABC's Africa satellite channel, was being broadcast.

For the first time South Africans were able to catch a glimpse of what was happening on the continent.

Short-sigtedness

"In the past it was not happening. Even to this day you still have South Africans saying why is (President Thabo) Mbeki wasting his time with the rest of Africa, when he should be paying attention to South Africans.

"That short-sightedness is not part of the brief of the SABC. We are enabling South Africans to understand that they are part of this dynamic continent, and they must be part of this continent's march to respectability," Mazwai said.

On the fact that neither news nor society was static, he said: "As a broadcaster, you have to be very flexible when you deal with these issues on a day-to-day basis.

"You can't afford to be driven by old clichés such as objectivity, the right of the editor, and so on. Those are old clichés that no longer address the challenges of the day."

The SABC's Ihron Rensburg told the committee that an audit and review of editorial and programming policies were under way and would be completed by the end of November.

- SAPA