Carrim to engage SABC over editorial independence
The broadcaster's editorial policies are under review and have been through several rounds of public consultation.
The SABC continues to be criticised for its lack of editorial independence‚ with observers saying the recent call by acting chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng for 70% of SABC news to be positive emphasised the issue of editorial independence.
Last week‚ Motsoeneng is said to have instructed the SABC to can the popular Big Debate show. The Big Debate is described on its website as a "show that travels the length and breadth of South Africa‚ holding our leaders to account and giving a voice to ordinary residents and communities".
In reply to a Parliamentary question from United Democratic Movement MP Nqabayomzi Kwankwa‚ who wanted to know what steps had been taken to ensure the SABC did not compromise its editorial independence during the period before the 2014 elections‚ Carrim said: "I have raised this with the SABC board and will continue to do so".
SABC gets 'cold feet'?
Carrim said the editorial independence of the SABC was governed by the Constitution and the Charter of the broadcaster as prescribed by section 6 of the Broadcasting Act. He said when broadcasting the elections‚ the SABC would "adhere to":
• A code of conduct that is issued by the Independent Electoral Commission.
• The election regulations that are issued by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa.
• Its own internal election guidelines that are in accordance with its editorial policy.
"Political parties and other stakeholders use the above (regulations) as a yardstick to measure the SABC's election coverage‚" Carrim said.
Lobby group Right2Know Campaign said it would on Thursday "protest the continuing censorship and lack of editorial independence at the SABC‚ as well as the canning of The Big Debate".
"We are issuing a public call to protest for this Thursday from 12pm to 2pm outside the SABC (offices) in Auckland Park‚" the lobby group said.
"It would appear that the SABC wants to in-source current affairs because the programme producers are too independently minded for the broadcaster‚ and they have developed cold feet with a national election looming".
Source: I-Net Bridge
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