Online publications could easily find themselves in the cross-hairs of the proposed Media Appeals Tribunal as the distinction between them and print media becomes blurred, says Raymond Louw, deputy chairman of the SA National Editors Forum's (Sanef) Media Freedom Committee.
“Essentially, newspaper Web sites are carbon copies of what they have in their print editions. So it makes sense that whatever is proposed will extend to online publications,” Louw says.
The Protection of Information Bill will affect online publications anyway, he notes, as it specifically mentions Web-based publications.
“Right now, the ANC and government appear to be targeting mainly the print media and we still don't know what the actual proposals are. For instance, we don't know if the Media Appeals Tribunal will include broadcasting as well,” he says.
The ANC has raised a storm of protest from journalists, business and politicians from across the political spectrum, with its proposal that Parliament invest setting up a tribunal that will replace the Press Ombudsman. The argument in favour of such a tribunal is that the current system of self-regulation does not work.
Commentators have also said these measures are a throwback to the apartheid regime's model of strictly controlling the media.
ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu has stated that he sees a system “...where journalists will be jailed and publishers receive heavy fines”.
Louw says the Media Appeals Tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill will be difficult to implement because of the speed in which information can be spread using modern technology.
“What these measures will do is ban information. This means that they have to classify information and then ban it from being published in SA. However, people find a way around this and then what is to stop them from publishing it on the Internet from another country,” he says.
Louw says countries such as China and Iran, which have imposed strict censorship laws and controls over Internet access, have found it very difficult to control.
The editor's forum has requested meetings with the ANC and President Jacob Zuma's office; however, Sanef executive director Femida Mehtar says they have no idea when these will occur.
Image worry
Yesterday, Cabinet spokesperson Themba Maseko said government's highest decision-making body reaffirmed its commitment to meet with Sanef to discuss the perception that government is bent on muzzling the media.
Maskeo said when the two meet, government will confirm that there is neither a plan nor an intention on its part to limit media freedom, because muzzling the media would be contrary to the principle of freedom of speech that is enshrined in the Constitution.
“This meeting is expected to take place as soon as a mutually convenient date is found. Contact has already been made with Sanef to try and find a suitable date. Part of what that meeting must achieve is the creation of an environment for rational and less emotional debate on media freedom,” he said.
Maseko also said government was becoming concerned about the country's image over the debate raging around the Media Appeals Tribunal and Protection of Information Bill.
"We do acknowledge that the negative stories are beginning to migrate to the international sphere. We are obviously concerned about that. We think this is something that both Parliament and Cabinet will take into consideration,” he said.
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