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SABC independence questioned
17/10/2007 15:27 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Concern is growing about the deteriorating standards of independence and quality of reporting in the SABC newsroom, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) said on Wednesday.
Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa said there were clear indications that the SABC had become an active participant in ANC internal processes.
Kodwa said: "There has been a clamp-down on those the SABC does not agree with, including harassment of journalists within the corporation who dare exercise their independent thinking and analysis."
The struggle for media freedom and the struggle against apartheid were connected and the defeat of apartheid also meant freedom for the press in SA, he said.
The ANCYL were calling for changes at the SABC as it was the national broadcaster.
Kodwa said: "The SABC needs to remain true to its editorial policy, it must report fairly without fear or favour and prejudice.
"But more importantly, the SABC must guide and protect itself against being used or misused to promote factional agendas at the risk of compromising its editorial independence."
According to the ANCYL, media freedom has been infringed upon and this needed to be stopped especially with Wednesday being "Black Wednesday".
"In remembering Black Wednesday, in 1977, we should re-affirm and re-commit ourselves to the fundamental values of media freedom as enshrined in the constitution," said Kodwa.
"Black Wednesday" is a reference to October 19 1977 when the National Party government imprisoned or banned journalists and closed some newspapers.
- SAPA
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