ANC deputy president for Media Forum

The International Media Forum, to be held at the forum | the campus in Bryanston, Johannesburg on 21 - 22 May 2008, is the second such event in South Africa. It will focus on the international coverage of the country, as well as discussing an effective media strategy.

“The deputy president's presence will be particularly timely, given the rough patch the country is perceived to be going through at the moment,” says organiser Fergal Parkinson.

The international coverage of South Africa is increasingly dominated by news of power cuts, crime, emigration, corruption, low business confidence, high interest rates, poor service delivery and uncertainty about who the next president will be, Parkinson says.

“Now more than ever — and particularly with the 2010 [FIFA] World Cup just around the corner — the picture that the world has of South Africa matters.”

Parkinson is particularly pleased that Motlanthe will be addressing the conference as he is such a key figure in the revamped ANC leadership. His views on the country's international standing, the economy and how it sees the media are certain to attract wide attention.

With its keynote speeches, discussions, interactive sessions and workshops, this conference is being billed as the “essential dialogue” between those who shape South Africa's destiny at home and those who shape her image abroad.

Editors and journalists attending and presenting will include representatives from the BBC, the Wall Street Journal, Aljazeera, Reuters and CNBC Africa. Among the topics to be covered is ‘Media Relations Top Tips' from the communications director at Virgin, how to appeal to journalists by The Wall Street Journal, and discussions on the global interest in Africa from Reuters, as well as six free training workshops.

The organisers of the forum have extended its 15% discount for Bizcommunity.com readers who book before 20 May - a saving of over R1500 per ticket. For more information and to book your seat now, click here. For more information on the forum, go to www.internationalmediaforumsa.com.

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