Plans for 'press club' shelved
2003-12-08 10:13
Polokwane - Limpopo politicians have quietly frozen plans to establish a band 'sweetheart journalists' after realising the scheme will embarrass government.
The province hired a Johannesburg public relations company to create the provincial press club, with automatic 'primary' membership for Limpopo's premier, its 10-member cabinet, all executive mayors, and a host of lesser officials.
Journalists will be significantly outnumbered by political or government representatives.
The initiative is designed to create 'unity' between government and the media, and to "jealously guard against any negative [coverage] of our young democracy".
The scheme has been questioned by the SA National Editors' Forum (Sanef), which worries it might undermine the media's watchdog role and its ability to report objectively on government affairs.
"This sounds like the media is expected to start hobnobbing with government. Recent events prove that the media should guard its independence and remain a separate entity. It is therefore important journalists keep their distance, to ensure that they are free from undue outside influence," said Sanef chair Henry Jefferys on Saturday."
SA National Press Club (NPC) chair Ben Rootman also voiced concern at the central role played by politicians in the initiative.
"Politicians are not allowed membership in normal press clubs, while even public relations officers are usually only allowed associate membership with no executive or voting rights," explained Rootman.
"But, Limpopo's initiative appears to put politicians in the driving seat. While we welcome any initiative to improve communication channels, the media is a cornerstone of democracy that should remain independent from government."
Limpopo spokesperson Thembi Simelane conceded the proposed club could serve as a tool for interference in media coverage, but insisted there was no sinister intent behind the initiative.
"I suppose it could be used to put pressure on critical journalists, but we had intended to build in safeguards against this kind of thing. This was a genuine attempt to reach out to rural journalists, and create a forum for better communication between us," said Simelane.
She also confirmed the proposed club intended launching a provincial media awards scheme, to reward journalists who reported positively on the province. In addition, the politically-appointed club intends vetting all Limpopo nominations for national or international media or communicator awards.
Insisting the initiative is primarily designed to improve the quality and scope of developmental reporting in Limpopo, Simelane stressed that the club would abide by existing professional and ethical codes governing the media.
She added it will also promote access to information, by creating more efficient channels for communication, and will campaign for better training for rural or community journalists.