Relations between the Media and

State structures on communication issues

and prospects for the digital future

Guy Berger, Rhodes University

“Connecting with the media, 2008”

5 September, Port Elizabeth

Media and state

South Africa - still a new kid on the block, in an age of:

GlobalisationGlobalisation New technologyNew technology

The Information SocietyThe Information Society

Shiny constitution

Free speechFree speech Free pressFree press Freedom of infoFreedom of info

But: suspicion, aggro

Uncertainty of new government

This is how many ingovernment

see the media

A Grahamstown story of a failed attempt to

chow the press

Makana’s ad boycott violated: • 4 clauses in the constitution, • 2 laws on municipalities, and • Promotion of Admin Justice Act.

• It’s not only state-media

•We have to remember the people watching us both.

Theydon’twant

to seeoppspass

SouthAfrica

by

We all need to rise above our differences…

Partnerships are critical in the

Information society:

Reflect that:Reflect that: Info = Info = thethe means of means of

production production Growing sector of workforce Growing sector of workforce

In search of better relations, don’t bark up the wrong tree…

Editors dialoging with police

Building info-

flows through Standing Order

156

Any SAPS member can talk to the media :

Within expertise or Within expertise or responsibility;responsibility;

Without jeopardising Without jeopardising police work;police work;

Not on bank robberies, Not on bank robberies, victims, suspectsvictims, suspects, , court cases, wanted court cases, wanted persons and suicides.persons and suicides.

Filtering is limited: Requests for info Requests for info

on national on national investigations, investigations, statistics, crime statistics, crime trends, and trends, and national political national political figures referred figures referred upwards.upwards. General ResultGeneral Result: on all else, media : on all else, media

can get concrete details and can get concrete details and colour colour direct from sourcedirect from source, doing , doing better journalism.better journalism.

Ethics: Police are

•Not to exercise favouritism by giving news to one medium and not another.• Discouraged from giving confidential briefings.

•To keep confidentiality on journalists’ exclusive requests for information.

And they need to upskill:

Eg. www.impacs.orgEg. www.impacs.org

DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE DEVELOPING EFFECTIVE MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS SKILLSSKILLS

Municipalities need to develop similar

protocols to SAPS

Great media liaison…

1. Be Available!1. Be Available! 2. Be Prepared!2. Be Prepared! 3. Feed the beast!3. Feed the beast!

Three principles…1.1. If you don’t know an answer, If you don’t know an answer,

never lie or make it up.never lie or make it up.

2.2. Tell the reporter you’ll get Tell the reporter you’ll get right back to them with the right back to them with the info they want, and do so!info they want, and do so!

3.3. Or, give the reporter a contact Or, give the reporter a contact who does know the answer. who does know the answer.

No one can make good news out of bad

practice

Remember…Remember…

Listen .. Don’t only seek to speak

If you are wronged…1.1. Ask for a correction Ask for a correction

2.2. Ask for the editor or Ask for the editor or producerproducer

3.3. Escalate to Press Escalate to Press ombudsman or the BCCSAombudsman or the BCCSA

4.4. Consider legal action Consider legal action

Also: output your info through other channels

• speeches

• briefings, reports

• in interviews

• govt media

• on Internet

Combat a culture of secrecy:

Many officials Many officials treat the treat the information they information they hold as their hold as their private property, private property, not even not even that of their that of their departmentdepartment

A logistical challenge: Under apartheid, probably Under apartheid, probably

90% of information was 90% of information was controlled. controlled.

In a democracy, 90% is In a democracy, 90% is theoretically available. theoretically available.

How can this become How can this become practically available?practically available?

Availability of govt info

80% unrestricted

10% restricted

10% unrestricted & available

Value of information:

The 10% distributed often has The 10% distributed often has lower value to citizens than lower value to citizens than the other 80%. Why?the other 80%. Why?

Information distributed widely, Information distributed widely, must have general appeal. must have general appeal.

Other 80% of info has more Other 80% of info has more value, because it is more value, because it is more specific.specific.

When a new

tech comes

along

…things

change

Is new media catching us napping?

Summing up Two sides need each other.Two sides need each other. State-side has a major role to play State-side has a major role to play

in realising free flow of info.in realising free flow of info. State-side can strengthen itself State-side can strengthen itself

with basic comms training.with basic comms training. And by e-governance big time!And by e-governance big time!

Towards the golden age?