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Presentation SABC Crises: why they really matter SABC Crises: why they really matter SABC Crises: why they really matter SABC Crises: why they really matter Presentation to Parliament’s Ad hoc Committee into the SABC Board

Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

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Page 1: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Presentation

SABC Crises: why they really matterSABC Crises: why they really matterSABC Crises: why they really matterSABC Crises: why they really matter

Presentation

to Parliament’s Ad hoc Committee into

the SABC Board

Page 2: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

About Media Monitoring Africa

• MMA is a registered non benefit trust operating since 1993;

• MMA’s vision is a just and fair society empowered by a

free, responsible and quality media;

• Through a human rights-based approach, MMA aims to

promote the development of:

o Media that is transparent, diverse, ethical and accountable o Media that is transparent, diverse, ethical and accountable

to its audiences;

o Critical and constructive communications by the

powerful, and;

o Informed, engaged and connected citizenry.

• Funded by range of local & international donors – audits – high

levels of accountability.

Page 3: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

About MMA

• MMA has monitored media coverage of all democratic

elections, including being commissioned by SABC to cover

2014 elections;

• MMA has presented to Parliament on a range of

issues, including:

• Transformation in Advertising• Transformation in Advertising

• POSIB Bill

• Broadcasting Amendment Bill

• Film & Publications Amendment Bill.

• Been here before in 2008 – warnings not heard!!

Page 4: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Overview of Presentation

Four parts:

• Crisis at the SABC: How did we get here?

• Research conducted by MMA:

• Failing the people: SABC coverage of the South African

local government electionslocal government elections

• Verwoerd's Ghost: Monitoring of the SABC protest ban

coverage

• Selling the Family Jewels: Perspectives on the SABC &

Multichoice deal

• Conclusions & Requests.

Page 5: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Crisis? What crisis?

3 BOARDS IN 10 YEARS

(EXCLUDING INTERIM

BOARD)

12 SABC CEO’S SINCE

2008

Page 6: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Crisis what Crisis?

Hlaudi Cloud

2016

Page 7: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

SABC Local Election Coverage

• Monitoring period: 1 June – 10 August 2016;

• 73 media monitored:

• including print, broadcast and online

• including SABC and it’s competitors;

• Attention is on how SABC performed during the • Attention is on how SABC performed during the

period;

• Critical that SABC adheres to highest standards, in

diversity, equitable and fair coverage.

Page 8: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Political Party Coverage

• How did SABC cover political parties?

• Have a greater mandate to cover more and greater

diversity;

• Some positive exceptions in elections dedicated

programming - where greater diversity covered;

Generally however - in line with other media, or not as • Generally however - in line with other media, or not as

diverse -i.e failed to meet their public service mandate.

Page 9: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Political Party CoverageBy focusing on bigger political parties, the SABC covered the local

elections as if they were national elections

Page 10: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Political Party Coverage

Page 11: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Whose voices?

• NB: gender - whose voices do we hear?

• SABC has great responsibility to ensure more equitable

coverage and more women's voices heard;

• We already know SABC failed in respect of issues

• e.g. GBV didn't feature

• In voice we see - on par or worse than other media;• In voice we see - on par or worse than other media;

• Failed to meet their public service mandate.

Page 12: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Whose voices?

80% 80%90%

86%76%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Perc

en

tag

e o

f so

urc

es

Male

Female

20% 20%10%

14%24%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

Motsweding fm SABC 1 Isizulu/Isixhosa

News

Ukhozi fm Umhlobo Wenene fm

Global average

Perc

en

tag

e o

f so

urc

es

Page 13: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Was coverage fair?

• Fairness in coverage is key determinant of elections

coverage and role of media in elections period

• Fundamental importance that SABC performs well -

fair coverage - or may impact overall nature of

elections

• Bias is not one item but a pattern over time;• Bias is not one item but a pattern over time;

• For the first time we have found systemic bias in three

programmers

• National tragedy

• Failed to meet their public service mandate &

threatened our democracy.

Page 14: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Was coverage fair?

Page 15: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Was coverage fair?

• SABC 2 Xitsonga/Tshivenda News - 34% biased items

• for every three stories put forward in their 17h30 news bulletin, at least one of them, on average, was identified as biased

Page 16: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Was coverage fair?

• SABC 2 Morning Live - 22% biased items

Page 17: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Was coverage fair?

• For the first time in our democratic history the

SABC has at least on three programmes clearly

failed in its basic duty of balanced and fair

reporting;

• The programmes in question have also served to • The programmes in question have also served to

undermine the mandate of the SABC and its

credibility.

Page 18: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Verwoerd's Ghost:Protest Ban

• 26 May 2016: Mr Motsoeneng announces ban of

coverage of violent protests - came hot on heels of

violence in Vuwani;

• Decision published via press release, disseminated to

staff via instruction from top;staff via instruction from top;

• SABC journalists fired for doing their job;

• Supported by Minister - despite being clear violation of

freedom of speech;

• MMA, SOS, FXI took case to ICASA, CCC - we won;

• SABC Ordered to reverse decision & send Board

resolution. We decided to see if complied.

Page 19: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Protest Ban Policy: Research

• We set out to see if SABC had indeed complied with

the order by ICASA

• Given the attitude of arrogance with which ruling was

met - and that no communication issued to staff

seemed likely not adhered;seemed likely not adhered;

• We found in run up to elections protest ban was in

place - chilling effect on news.

Page 20: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Protest Ban Research

• Monitoring period over 3 separate weeks:

• 23 – 30 July 2016

• 8 – 13 August 2016

• 1 – 6 September 2016

• 95 news bulletins with a combined total of 950 news stories were monitoredwere monitored

• 6 SABC television news channels monitored:

•SABC 1 IsiZulu/IsiXhosa

•SABC 1 SiSwati/Ndebele

•SABC 2 Xitsonga/Tshivenda

•SABC 2 Sesotho/Setswana

•SABC 2 Afrikaans

•SABC 3 English

Page 21: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Violent Footage?

Page 22: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Protest Ban Conclusion• Protests were covered on SABC TV

• BUT violent protests < non violent protests both in terms of

prominence and number of stories (despite several violent protests

taking place)

• Footage was used in reporting of violent protests

• BUT in all but one item, NO images of actual violence were shown• BUT in all but one item, NO images of actual violence were shown

• AND footage of aftermath was shown

• These findings are in line with the SABC protest ban and demonstrate

that the SABC is in violation of the ICASA order.

• SABC did not adhere to the Order, and deceived SABC staff, the

regulator (ICASA), parliament and the people of South Africa.

Page 23: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Dodgy deal: SABC & Multichoice

• MMA & SOS are currently involved in Competition case

• We opposed it as it changed fundamental policy & sold

off archives - and all too cheaply!

• Already clear from evidence that deal was not in best

interest of the SABC, (e.g. opposition from Board);interest of the SABC, (e.g. opposition from Board);

• SABC not willing to hand over relevant documents to the

court e.g. lost or don't have documents

• Meanwhile Multichoice maintains that it is an ordinary

deal.

Page 24: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Dodgy deal: SABC & Multichoice deal

• But if it was an "ordinary" deal:

• Why was there a clause about concerns about

regulator? (Clause 20.2)

• Why include a clause stating that the SABC CEO and

the Multichoice CEO will meet annually to discuss the Multichoice CEO will meet annually to discuss

‘matters’? (Clause 19)

• Surely Multichoice would be happy to share the details

if it was an “ordinary” deal?

Page 25: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Conclusion & Requests

• Research shows how SABC has failed to meet its public service mandate especially in one of the most crucial periods ie. run up to democratic local elections

• Systemic bias on SABC programmes is a clear threat to our democracy

• Failure and/or refusal to obey ICASA order to reverse public protest ban shows SABC board & senior management not accountable to public

• Vested interests, including big bonuses - saw dodgy deal signed.

Page 26: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Conclusion & Requests

• The evidence our research all clearly point an institution not

only in crisis - but one that has gone rogue

• Those responsible must be fired & held accountable

• Need a full investigation into the deal with Multichoice• Need a full investigation into the deal with Multichoice

• Parliament needs to act too - beyond the hearing to change the

law - we drafted changes in 2008! - or we will merely start a

new cycle of crisis.

• Need to ensure SABC independence protected – Chapter 9

Institution

Page 27: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

“For this reason, public office-bearers ignore their constitutional

obligations at their peril. This is so because

constitutionalism, accountability and the rule of law constitute

the sharp and mighty sword that stands ready to chop the ugly

head of impunity off its stiffened neck. It is against this backdrop

that the following remarks must be understood:

‘If these values are not observed and their precepts not carried

out conscientiously, we have a recipe for a constitutional crisis out conscientiously, we have a recipe for a constitutional crisis

of great magnitude. In a State predicated on a desire to

maintain the rule of law, it is imperative that one and all should

be driven by a moral obligation to ensure the continued survival

of our democracy.’”Introduction, Cases CCT 143/15 and CCT 171/15 Mogoeng CJ

Page 28: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Thank You

William Bird (MMA, Director)

[email protected]

Thandi Smith (MMA, Head of Policy)

[email protected]

Page 29: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: What were stories about?

• What was election coverage about?

• This helps us understand diversity but also to see if

core issues covered;

• Again some exceptions with dedicated elections

programming where greater diversity of topics but;programming where greater diversity of topics but;

• In general followed same trends - follow the leader -

events not issues;

• Failed to meet their public service mandate.

Page 30: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: What were stories about?

Page 31: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: What were stories about?

Page 32: Media Monitoring Africa: Presentation to SABC Inquiry

Key Findings: Topics