Initiated by SANEF (South Africa's National Editors' Forum), the intention is to create a professional lobby to coordinate development strategies for the sector and to campaign for better institutional support from traditional media companies. The forum will form part of SANEF, guaranteeing access to mainstream print and broadcast editors.
Rachel Stewart, SANEF online committee convenor, says the forum will lobby for more appropriate computer-aided journalism training, and will brainstorm on contentious issues like online copyright and publication rights. "The proposed new forum will attempt to bring the online media into the mainstream, and will promote Internet media ventures as legitimate platforms for all kinds of news content."
The Cape Town meeting is open to non-SANEF members, but all members of the envisioned online editors'forum will have to apply for SANEF membership. The meeting will take place at eTV's offices in Gardens, Cape Town, at 4:30pm. Bookings can be made with Rachel Stewart on telephone (+27-11) 714-6661 or via email on .
