STATEMENT: National of Action Day for the Right to Communicate

National of Action Day for the Right to Communicate

R2K statement for immediate release: 15 October 2014

The Right2Know Campaign will be holding a National Day of Action for the Right to Communicate on Saturday 18 October 2014. In Johannesburg we will march with the SOS Coalition from Naspers/Media24 to the SABC highlighting challenges facing public broadcasting, media ownership, and digital television. In Cape Town we will march from Naspers/Media24 to Vodacom and Independent Newspapers highlighting issues of press freedom and access to telecommunications. In Durban we will hold a mass meeting on media freedom and diversity.

• CAPE TOWN: March from Naspers/Media24 (outside CTICC) to Vodacom & Independent Newspapers, 10am
• JOHANNESBURG: March with the SOS Coalition from Naspers/Media24 to SABC, 10am.
• DURBAN: Mass meeting, St Philomena’s, 92 Rippon Rd, 10am

The Day of Action commemorates Black Wednesday – the day on 19 October 1977 when the Apartheid state banned a number of black consciousness aligned newspapers and arrested prominent journalists – it seems appropriate to reflect on media freedom in South Africa today. The government at the time declared that these publications were “publishing inflammatory material that threatened the nation’s security”.

Today South Africa is a democracy with freedom of expression entrenched at the foundation of our constitution. However growing unemployment and inequality are pushing social cohesion to its limits and again we see government acting to suppress the free flow of information in the name of ‘national security’[1].

 

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

Beyond the high profile threats to media freedom like the Secrecy Bill[2] or proposed Media Appeals Tribunal[3], journalists in South Africa face on-going intimidation and legal threats from government. Most recently Minister Blade Nzimande called on the Broadcasting Complaints Commission to censure a caller to SAFM who claimed the country had an “entirely corrupt Cabinet”.

Limits to journalistic freedom also come from media owners who set broad editorial policies that dictate the type of stories journalists should cover. The most outrageous example being Dr Iqbal Surve’s firing of the Cape Times editor[4] for printing a story he did not like.

While journalists are in the business of informing the public, commercial media owners are in the business of business. This means increasing profit by cutting costs and increasing advertising. Most owners aim to cut their costs by retrenching journalists. The remaining journalists have to do even more work with less time and resources. These working environments produce less courageous journalism and more conformity to the needs of the owners and their advertisers.

Most people in South Africa receive their information from the SABC. On-going mismanagement and political interference at the public broadcaster is of great concern. The greatest structural threat to the SABC’s independence remains the Articles of Association that give the Minister of Communications the powers of a sole shareholder. Government must amend the Articles to remove the powers of the Minister.

The Right2Know Campaign is committed to defending and expanding editorial freedom so journalists can fulfil their vital democratic responsibility of keeping the public informed. We call on media owners to work with journalists to adopt Editorial Charters that limit the editorial influence of management and ensure journalistic freedom of expression.

 

MEDIA TRANSFORMATION

Right2Know has consistently argued that media freedom and diversity are two sides of the same coin. Without media freedom the media would become the voice of the government, without a diversity of ownership and economic models (non-commercial and commercial) the media would be the voice of an economic elite.

South Africa needs a media that can serve the information and expression needs of our diverse population. Yet the structure of our media still largely reflects our Apartheid past with over 80% of our population dependent primarily on the SABC while only 16% have access to a range of publications and stations that are characterized by highly concentrated commercial ownership.

The South African print media remains dominated by four big corporations[5] that control over 80% of all newspaper and magazine circulation (with Media24/Naspers controlling over 40% alone). Community and small independent newspapers cannot grow, because the dominant corporations either buy them up or engage in corporate bullying that puts local independent media out of business.

South Africa needs a media transformation that goes beyond changing the race and gender of the people sitting on the boards and staffing the dominant corporations. Transformation must ensure that the media reflect society (especially the majority working-class and poor) at the levels of ownership, staff and product.

It is only by extending access to the ownership and control of media production that we will ensure media freedom exists as a right in South Africa and not a privilege concentrated in the hands of a few who essentially share the same social and economic interests.

Many democracies around the world have passed laws to limit the size of media companies and ensure appropriate public funding[6]. These laws are not understood as an attack on media freedom, but rather a democratic effort to protect the media from corporate control.

We call on Parliament to revive their stalled Media Transformation Indaba and explore anti-trust and public funding options to roll back the media monopolies and create an enabling environment for a diverse media.

 

DIGITAL TELEVISION & FREE SET TOP BOXES

The migration from analogue to digital television will determine the communication landscape for years to come[7]. It has the potential to ensure everyone receives a vastly increased number of TV channels, transform ownership patters, as well as free up valuable spectrum that can ensure greater access to high-speed Internet.

However there is a great risk that digital migration will entrench the current communication inequalities or fail completely:

1. Every household will require a new Set-Top-Box (STB) to receive digital TV. The high cost of STBs, estimated between R700 and R1300, will prove prohibitive for many who will be cut-off from television entirely: No one should be cut of from television. We demand Free Set-Top-Boxes for all.
2. Government is proposing a limited STB subsidy for households that can prove their poverty: Apart form the unnecessary expense and bureaucracy involved in administering this proposed subsidy, no one should have to suffer the indignity of proving their poverty.
3. Naspers/Multichoice is using their satellite TV monopoly to offer low-cost DSTV decoders and draw people away from public free-to-air television. We demand that Set-Top-Boxes must be interoperable so people can move between service providers without needing new hardware;
4. New channels could be given to the current dominant broadcasters: We demand that ICASA allocate at least 50% of all channels be public and community TV and that additional channels be allocated to new entrants into the market;
5. The successful take up of Digital TV will depend on new channel offerings that incentivise people to migrate during the dual illumination period. The SABC’s 24 hour news channel (currently available only on DSTV) as well as the Parliamentary Channel and all Community TV stations currently on air must all be made nationally available to ensure take up of digital TV.
6. The electromagnetic spectrum (the airwaves) that the migration process frees up for telecommunications could be given to the existing four telecoms corporations to further entrench their dominance and profiteering practices: This spectrum is a national resource and must be used to increase access to the internet and enable new telecoms companies – including public and non-commercial operators – to offer services.
7. The rollout of STBs will essentially put a basic computer in every home. Government want these to be a ‘dumb box’ with only one piece of proprietary software that allows the passive reception of television. We demand that the STB be a ‘smart box’ that remains useful even when users buy new digital television sets. The STB must use a free/open-source operating system and include sufficient connection ports to become part of a low-cost Internet access point (e.g. for USB keyboards, dongles, a mouse etc).
8. The manufacture of STBs could become another site of tender fraud and corruption, cost increases and delays: The Government must justify its decision to manufacture STBs locally and ensure complete tender transparency.
9. Government has already paid a communication company R756 million to explain digital migration to the public. There is no evidence of any impact. Poor communication and consultation will make the migration to digital television unworkable: Government must ensure total transparency of all cost and price information as well as proper public consultation on migration policy.

If we do not act, it is likely that in the future, South African television will divided along Apartheid lines: Like our education and health already, there will be an expensive private service for those that can afford it, but the majority will have to make do with a poor quality public service, and those most marginalised could be cut off from receiving television completely.

 

COMMUNITY MEDIA

South Africa’s over 200 community radio stations and five community TV stations have a vital role to play in media transformation. For those who live outside major cities, community media is the only alternative to the SABC and is often the only source of media that can focus on local issues and hold local power to account.

There are also hundreds of small independent and community newspapers that – like the broadcasters – could give a voice to the voiceless. But most small media face a daily struggle to survive, failing to deliver on their democratising potential.

In many cases Government is the largest advertiser, meaning that many community media organizations will find it hard to take positions that are independent or critical of government. They survive on crumbs and don’t have the funds to employ skilled and independent journalists, or hold discussions on the burning issues of the day.

If we want a vibrant democracy we must invest properly in community assets like radio stations and community newspapers that give more power to the people, and that are democratically owned by the communities they serve. We estimate it would cost community stations about R3-million year to offer a basic quality service. We must invest in non-commercial media. R2K is campaigning to ensure every local community radio and TV station receives a grant of R3-million a year.

 

THE COST OF COMMUNICATION

More than eight in ten people in South Africa have cell phones that could revolutionise how we communicate. The cell phone potentially brings with it all the advantages of the democratising potential of the internet, including the ability to draw on vast amounts of knowledge as well as the ability to produce and upload content that can give a voice to those most marginalised in society. However, this potential will not be realised with the current high cost of communications.

The government has handed the democratising power of telecommunications to unaccountable profit-making corporations like MTN, Vodacom, Cell C, and Telkom. We pay some of the highest costs in the world for airtime and data. South Africa ranks 128 of144 countries in prepaid mobile rates[8] while mobile companies have profit margins as high as 30% – double the global average.

Today the country is covered in cell phone adverts promising us dramatically reduced call rates (with a confusing range of “free” extras). These rates they are promising in adverts are still high by international standards and way above their real costs. These rates are only rates for new customers or users who upgrade their contract. Most people continue to pay the old exploitative rates on existing prepaid or monthly contracts.

These cell phone adverts are a marketing trick and we demand that all users should be transferred to the lowest rates offered immediately!

This would be a good start, but it is only the beginning of our battle for making telecommunications and the Internet accessible to all. It is the right of everyone in South Africa to communicate. Access to affordable telephones and Internet are vital for the health of our democracy.

 

RETURN TO AN OVERARCHING POLICY REVIEW

Government and its regulators have a critical role to play in democratising the South African communications landscape. We note with great concern that the reconfigured communication related ministries[9] appear to have abandoned the overarching ICT Policy Review[10] process and are embroiled in turf wars and ad-hoc interventions. R2K calls on Government to recommit to an integrated review of all communication related policy with immediate urgency.

Now more than ever South Africa needs a media that is free and inclusive, able to serve the information and expression needs of all South Africans and facilitate the desperately needed but difficult national discussions to find a way out of our current impasse.

The R2K is committed to making the Right to Communicate – to receive and impart information and ideas, Section 16, 1b of the bill of Rights – a reality for everyone in South Africa.

 

### ENDS ###

FOR GENERAL COMMENT:

• R2K National: Murray Hunter, 072 672 5468
• R2K Gauteng: Dale McKinley, 072 429 4086
• R2K Western Cape: Ghalib Galant, 084 959 1912
• R2K KZN: Nomvula Sikakane, 073 537 1777

 

FOR COMMENT ON SPECIFIC ISSUES:

Editorial Freedom vs. Government and commercial control

• Amabhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism: Karabo Rajuili 082 365 6553
• Freedom Of Expression Institute (FXI): Zororo Mavindidze, 073 554 8310
• Media Monitoring Africa: William Bird, 082 887 1370
• Media Policy and Democracy Project (MPDP): Jane Duncan, 082 786 3600
• Media Workers Association of South Africa (MWASA), Tuwani Gumani, 0827433867
• SOS Coalition: Sekoetlane Phamodi, 076 084 8077
• South African Communication Association (SACOMM): Julie Reid, 082 885 8969

 

Concentration of Media Ownership & Community Media

• Association on Independent Publishers (AIP): Louise Vale, 072 477 1081
• Freedom Of Expression Institute (FXI): Zororo Mavindidze, 073 554 8310
• Right2Know Campaign: Mark Weinberg, 084 993 0591
• Media Policy and Democracy Project (MPDP): Jane Duncan 082 786 3600
• Workers World Media Productions (WWMP): Martin Jansen, 082 870 2025

 

Digital Television Migration & Set Top Boxes

• Media Policy and Democracy Project (MPDP): Julie Reid, 082 885 8969
• Media Workers Association of South Africa (MWASA), Tuwani Gumani, 0827433867
• Right2Know Campaign: Jayshree Pather, 082 413 5621
• SOS Coalition: Sekoetlane Phamodi, 076 084 8077

 

Telecommunication Access and the Cost of Communication

• Media Policy and Democracy Project (MPDP): Jane Duncan, 082 786 3600
• Right2Know Campaign: John Haffner, 060 366 5880

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[1] See the Right2Know 2014 Secret State of the Nation Report: https://theright2know.org/2014/09/09/r2k-secrecy-report-2014/

[2] Background on the Secrecy Bill: https://theright2know.org/2012/11/28/guide-why-secrecy-bill-fails/

[3] Media Appeals Tribunal still on the agenda: http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2013-02-05-return-of-the-media-appeals-tribunal-and-other-media-wars/#.VDybelYnL1o

[4] Background on the firing of the Cape Times Editor: https://theright2know.org/2013/12/17/memoraduim-to-sekunjalo/

[5] Background on print media transformation: https://theright2know.org/2013/01/30/r2k-calls-for-transformation-of-print-ownership-staff-product/

[6] See AIP report on “Developing Media Diversity: Baseline Study of State support for Independent Print Media in West Africa, South America and Scandinavia”: https://theright2know.org/2014/08/21/aip-report/

[7] See the R2K/SOS Call for Inclusive Digital Television and Free Set-Top-Boxes: https://theright2know.org/wp-content/uploads/R2KSOS_Call_for_free_STBs.pdf

[8]The Global Information Technology Report 2014: Rewards and Risks of Big Data. World Economic Forum, 2014. http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-information-technology-report-2014

[9] Background on the reconfigured communication ministries: https://theright2know.org/2014/05/26/new-zuma-cabinet/

[10] See R2K’s submission to the stalled ICT Policy Review: https://theright2know.org/2014/03/30/right2know-submits-response-to-ict-green-paper/