Event: Launch of the Press Freedom Commission Report

The Press Freedom Commission started its work in July last year to look for a suitable regulatory system for print media in SA.

The Commission has completed its work and the Report of Recommendations and findings is to be handed to the initiators of the PFC, namely Print Media SA and the SA National Editors Forum on April 25 at Constitution Hill.

The function will also mark the public launch of the Report and will start at 12 noon, after registration and snacks at 11.30. Media and other interested parties are invited.

To attend please RSVP with Ms Jabu Molotsane on

sapresscomm01@gmail.com or

011 482 5706

Press Freedom Commission Press Release: 31 January 2012

Last day of Press Freedom Commission Listening to SA campaign-Johannesburg Day Three

The Press Freedom Commission concludes its Listening to SA Campaign in Johannesburg tomorrow (1 February 2012) having been attended by over 200 people in the first two days of the three day hearings. The last day will see 15 oral presentations from a variety of constituencies including Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, AU Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information Adv. Pansy Tlakula, Principal of Stellenbosch University Dr. Gabriel Botma, Freedom Front Plus (FF+), Independent Democrats (ID), National Council for Women in SA, Caxton  Community newspapers, Business Unity South Africa (BUSA), Wits University, African Methodist Episcopal Church, and a  number of individuals.

The hearings, chaired by Judge Pius Langa, are open to the public and start at 9am. The venue is Braamfontein Recreation Centre, Corner Harrison & Juta street. The full scheduling of the presentations is available on the PFC website: www.pressfreedomcomm.org

The PFC is an independent body of 9 Commissioners from different sectors of society, formed to investigate the best possible regulatory system for the South African print media which would be suitable for South Africa. The PFC is scheduled to complete its final report in March 2012.

The PFC has a facebook page (South African Press Freedom Commission) and twitter @PFCommission. Please keep an eye on these for regular updates and key information.

For further details please contact:

Dr. Phillip Mtimkulu

PFC Spokesperson

0723164899

PFC Office

(Tel) 011482-5706

(fax) 011482-6496

(email) sapresscomm01@gmail.com

(website) www.pressfreedomcomm.org

MEDIA STATEMENT BY THE PRESS FREEDOM COMMISSION ON PUBLIC HEARINGS IN JOHANNESBURG, JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 1, 2012.

The Press Freedom Commission’s “Listening to SA” campaign moves to Johannesburg on Monday after public hearings in Cape Town last week and Durban this week.

The Commission received almost 200 submissions and had set aside two days for public hearings but due to a huge interest even from people and organisations that had not made written inputs, a third days has now been added.

The three days of submissions will see political parties, editors, academics, business organisations, individuals and faith based institutions appear before the nine commissioners, led by former Chief Justice Pius Langa.

Inputs will be heard from political parties such as ANC, DA, FF Plus, PAC, UDM, Azapo and ID. They will share the stage with Chapter 9 Institutions such as Public Protector, Human Rights Commission and the office of the African Union’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, which is a division of the AU’s Commission for Human and People’s Rights.

Editors from Financial Mail, Mail and Guardian, Independent Newspapers and Caxton, while media owners from Avusa, Primedia as well as Caxton will also testify. Academic institutions such as Unisa, Stellenbosch, TUT and Rhodes are also set to make submissions together with a number of individuals (For full details see attached draft agenda).

The hearings will be held at Braamfontein Recreation Centre, Corner Harrison and Juta Streets, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, Tel 011 242 3940.

The PFC was launched in July last year to look at the regulatory framework for print media that would be best suited for South Africa. Commissioners have already visited four countries to look at international best practice and benchmark. It was initiated by Print Media SA and SANEF and is scheduled to complete its work at the end of March this year.

The PFC has a facebook page (South African Press Freedom Commission) and twitter @PFCommission. Please keep an eye on these for regular updates and key information. Also visit the PFC website: http://www.pressfreedomcomm.org/listening-to-sa-campaign/ 

For more information and interviews please contact:

Dr. Phillip Mtimkulu

PFC Spokesperson

0723164899

PFC Office

(Tel) 011482-5706

(fax) 011482-6496

(email) sapresscomm01@gmail.com

(website) www.pressfreedomcomm.org

Press Freedom Commission launches the Listening to SA Campaign -16 January 2012

The Press Freedom Commission (PFC) embarks on its Listening to SA Campaign this week which will comprise of public hearings in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. The Listening to SA Campaign is an integral aspect of the PFC’s work, and is an opportunity for the public to assist in shaping the print regulatory system in South Africa.

The PFC has completed the process of receiving written submissions, which concluded on the 15th December 2011. Over 190 submissions have been received from political parties, trade unions, academics, civil society, individual members of South African society, religious organisations, media houses and Chapter 9 institutions.

All members of the SA public are invited to participate in the Listening to SA Campaign. Oral presentations will be made at the respective public hearings. The public hearings will be conducted by the PFC Commissioners, chaired by Judge Pius Langa.

Listening to SA Campaign details

Date	City	Venue
19 January 2012 (Thursday)	Cape Town	Salt River Community House, 41 Salt River Road, Salt River.
23 January 2012 (Monday)	Durban	Pavilion Hotel, Durban, 15 K E Masinga Road, Durban.
30  January -1 February 2012 (Monday - Wednesday)	Johannesburg	Braamfontein Recreation Centre, Corner Harrison & Juta street

Please note the hearings will commence from 10am until 5pm. The full scheduling of the presentations is available on the PFC website: www.pressfreedomcomm.org

It is emphasised that the PFC is an independent body of 9 Commissioners from different sectors of society, formed to investigate the best possible regulatory system for the South African print media which would be suitable for South Africa. The PFC is scheduled to complete its final report in March 2012.

The PFC has a facebook page (South African Press Freedom Commission) and twitter @PFCommission. Please keep an eye on these for regular updates and key information.

For further details please contact:

Dr. Phillip Mtimkulu

PFC Spokesperson

0723164899

PFC Office

(Tel) 011482-5706

(fax) 011482-6496

(email) sapresscomm01@gmail.com

(website) www.pressfreedomcomm.org

Press Freedom Commission Press Release

The Press Freedom Commission extends the deadline for public submissions

The Press Freedom Commission released a call for the SA public to voice its opinion about press freedom and the regulation of print media by 30 November 2011. At the close of this deadline 110 submissions were received. However due to numerous requests from members of the public, the Commission extended this deadline for written submissions to 15 December 2011.

The call invites members of the public and readers of newspapers, online publications and magazines, to help shape the regulatory framework of SA’s print media by submitting their written views about media regulation. Specifically, the inputs should address the questions about which of the following types of regulatory systems (namely Independent regulation, Co-regulation, Self-regulation and  Statutory regulation) they would like to see in SA, and why. Definitions of these four models of regulation can be found on the PFC website homepage www.pressfreedomcomm.org and click on the Regulatory Research tab. They should also tell us their views about the print media’s existing regulatory system of the Press Council of SA and the Ombudsman’s Office, as well as its Constitution, Press Code and Complaints Procedures.

This can be done through written submissions in any of the official languages of this country or through an indication to make oral input which would happen at the Listening to SA Campaign (Go to the PFC’s website www.pressfreedomcomm.org and click on the Listening to SA Campaign tab for key information and regular updates). The call for submissions is being made in an effort to encourage views and participation of as many South Africans as possible. We hope South Africans will take advantage of this exercise to make inputs that will help the Commission fulfil its mandate of crafting recommendations for a gold standard regulatory system suitable for our country and its conditions.

The Commission will, following receipt of submissions, also hold a  series of public hearings around the country in January 2012. Public hearings will be held in the following centres of major print media activity: Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg. Other details will follow in due course. Those who wish to make an oral submission at the public hearings are required to contact the PFC for scheduling in advance. There will also be open sessions which are for the public that have not made written submissions, and who wish to give oral input at the public hearings.

Submissions should be sent to sapresscomm01@gmail.com or PO Box 47180, Parklands, 2121, Johannesburg or send a fax to 0866405255 or 0114826496. 

The PFC Commissioners (http://www.pressfreedomcomm.org/commission-bios/) will be available to answer questions around this public participation process: 

1. Archbishop Dr. Thabo Makgoba-English, Sesotho, IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Isindebele, Setswana, Sepedi (0713628510)
2. Santie Botha-English, Afrikaans (0832126005)
3. Futhi Mtoba-English, Isiswati (0833765888)
4. Derick Elbrecht- English, Afrikaans, IsiXhosa (0826886858)
5. Prof. Kobus Van Rooyen-English, Afrikaans (0828543436)
6. Prof. Kwame Karikari-English (233208170991)
7. Dr. Phillip Mtimkulu-English, IsiZulu, Sotho, IsiNdeble (0723164899)

The PFC was launched on the 7 July 2011, and is an independent body of 9 Commissioners from diverse sectors of society, created to investigate the best possible print regulatory system suitable for South Africa and which is in conformity with the SA Constitution.

Keep an eye on the PFC’s facebook page (South African Press Freedom Commission) and twitter account @PFCommission for updates.  

For further details please contact:

PFC Office

(Tel) 011482-5706

(fax) 08664052552  or  011 482-6496

(email) sapresscomm01@gmail.com

(website) www.pressfreedomcomm.org

Dr. Phillip Mtimkulu

PFC Spokesperson

0723164899