SABC editorial decision queried
2012-12-12 21:49
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Johannesburg - An SABC decision to move editorial control
of talk shows on politics and governance to news has far-reaching implications,
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) said on Wednesday.
"Not only for the broadcaster's radio services, but
most importantly, for the listeners, as it adds a new level of bureaucracy to talk
show programmes," MMA director William Bird said in a statement.
"The decision is a significant shift from existing
practice in relation to talk shows and programmes, and is likely to have
far-reaching implications for the operations of the SABC stations and News
Division."
On Tuesday, SABC acting chief operations officer Hlaudi
Motsoeneng said this decision would allow a "centralised way" of
dealing with issues of a political nature in a "coherent and systematic
way" and in line with their editorial policy.
Bird said the classification used by the SABC was broad
and likely to affect most talk shows that discussed political or
government-related topics.
Any debate or discussion on service delivery, police
brutality, government corruption, poverty, inequality, racism, teenage
pregnancy, the public health system, social grants, accountability, e-tolling,
transformation in sport, media, education might not happen, Bird said.
"The concern is that presenters and producers and
show hosts may be tempted to shut down discussions rather than open them up if
they fear violating the new process."
There was also potential for the decision to add to
concerns of editorial interference, Bird added.
He said a letter written by a group of SABC reporters,
presenters and producers highlighted the fears of political interference.
"It is critical that the decision does not result in
presenters feeling they have little option but to resign, or feeling they aren't
able to do their jobs as freely as a result of an additional layer of
bureaucracy," he said.
"While there may be legitimate concern over balance
and fairness of talk shows, it would seem the most appropriate place to raise
these issues and any existing inadequacies in the SABC policies would be when
the SABC conducts its editorial policy review."
The MMA called on the SABC to revoke its decision until a
full, transparent and public editorial policy review had taken place.
Bird said MMA would keep a close eye on developments.
- SAPA
