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INDABA Newsletter | March 2011

Networking forum

Thank you to Absa for hosting the club’s networking forum on 24 March. The forum coincided with the Annual General Meeting and it was a most enjoyable evening.

Report-back at the Annual General Meeting – from left – Martin van Niekerk, Treasurer, Jos Charle, Deputy Chairman, Yusuf Abramjee, Chairman and Tanya de Vente-Bijker, PRO.
Happy Ralinala of Absa addressed members at the March networking forum.

April’s networking forum will be an evening with a difference. It will be held on Saturday, 30 April at the Carousel Casino north of Pretoria, with a performance by ZamaJoe � definitely an event not be missed! Particulars will be announced soon.

Newsmaker event a football feast

The National Press Club has hosted a number of newsmakers over the past few weeks.

The National Press Club � Aon South Africa 2010 Newsmaker of the Year event on 14 March was a veritable football feast.

Held at the SA Reserve Bank Conference Centre, flags of countries that participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup welcomed guests and the familiar sound of vuvuzelas could be heard throughout the evening. The menu was just as much fun, with dishes typical of South Africa, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany and Uruguay.

FIFA Secretary-General received the award on behalf of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, while Danny Jordaan, CEO of the Local Organising Committee received the award in person.

Press club chairman Yusuf Abramjee said the annual newsmaker award is made on the grounds of impact, news value and media attention. “FIFA and the Local Organising Committee did us and the world proud and we salute our newsmakers.”

Members of the National Press Club exco with the 2010 Newsmakers of the Year, J�rome Valcke of FIFA (on behalf of Sepp Blatter) and Danny Jordaan, and Tshwane�s Executive Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa.

Journalist of the Year � winners announced

The National Press Club � North-West University Journalist of the Year winners were announced at the recent Newsmaker event.

The overall Journalist of the Year for 2010 is Graeme Hosken of the Pretoria News, who was also the winner in the category Print Media � in-depth features for his Haiti portfolio and a joint winner in the category Print media � news for ‘City tender can of worms’ and ‘Tshwane Metro Police.’

The category winners are:

  • Media Liaison Officer of the Year � Barbara Jensen for the Gautrain project
  • Print media � news � Graeme Hosken, Mogomotsi Magome and Patrick Hlahla for ‘City tender can of worms’ and ‘Tshwane Metro Police’
  • Print media � photography � Masi Losi of the Pretoria News
  • Electronic media � radio news � Mandy Wiener of Eyewitness News for ‘Lolly Jackson’
  • Electronic media � in-depth features � Melini Moses of SAfm for ‘Out of pocket’
  • Electronic media � TV news � Mia Willemse of eNuus for ‘Renoster’ and ‘Danville’
  • Electronic media � TV in-depth features � Joy Summers and Bernadette Cook of Carte Blanche for ‘Acid mine drainage’ and ‘The rhino files’ respectively
  • Electronic media � online � Taurai Maduna of Eyewitness News for ‘Jub Jub protests’

Ferial Haffajee of City Press was named Editor of the Year.

Congratulations also to Herman Scholtz of Rapport, Mandy Wiener of Eyewitness News and Julie-Anne Reid of Carte Blanche for being commended in their respective categories.

Dr Theuns Eloff, Vice-Chancellor of the North-West University said: “As a university that has a long-standing involvement in the training of journalists, we sincerely believe that the quality of the South African media is comparable to the best offered in the rest of the world. In light hereof, congratulations to all the winners of tonight’s prestigious awards � your determination, continuous hard work and dedication bear testimony of your commitment to your profession.

“It is of the utmost importance that we continue to acknowledge media freedom, independence, high standards of ethical journalism and an on-going quest for truth. The NWU will continue to support you fully in this noble endeavour.”

New members

The National Press Club welcomes the following new members and hopes to see them at club events soon:

Clement Motsepe � freelance, Annemarie Bijker � student, Cecile Vigneav and Matthew Wate � Embassy of France, Eugene Botha � It’s a Wrap Productions, Marc Lewis � Eyewitness News, Fanie van Rooyen � Beeld, Mandy Wiener, Colin Cullis and Aletta Gardner � Primedia Broadcasting, Taurat Maduna � Eyewitness News, Achieve Ubisi � Unisa, Lisa Dewberry � Eastern Times/Northern Times, Peter Groenewald � Active Blue Productions, Erita Santosa � Cap-Net International, Marcus Motlhatlhedi � Dept of Public Enterprises, Sana Ebrahim � Al-Ansaar Foundation, Shireen Mohamed and Kim Hawkey � Law Society of SA, Kallie Kriel of Afriforum, Ludwe Fani – Business Connexion, Mohammed Asad � Apna News TV, Elizabeth Trudeau – US diplomatic mission to SA and Dot Field – Dot Field Consulting.

Feedback

Please send any news, suggestions or information for this newsletter to Martin van Niekerk at the secretariat on martin@junxionpr.co.za, +27 (0)12 804 5199. Visit the website at www.nationalpressclub.co.za.

Survey highlights ethical challenges experienced by mainstream journalists

According to an independent work environment research survey commissioned by the National Press Club and conducted among mainstream journalists and news reporters across the country, the frequent use of existing codes of ethics in newsrooms is questionable.

Although 69 percent of the respondents indicated that their respective editorial teams have codes of ethics in place, only 21 percent indicated that the code is referred to in the newsroom on a regular basis. The survey further highlighted that only 55 percent of the respondents felt confident that editors have the authority to guarantee work environments that are conducive to ethical journalism and 47 percent agreed that �a culture in our editorial team to discuss ethical issues in stories� seems to exist. Further investigation into the role of the sub-editor in checking facts of news stories was highlighted as work experience and levels of authority were raised as concerns.

The independent survey which was sponsored and conducted in November 2010 by Consulta Research, an associate of Business Enterprises (University of Pretoria), also highlighted the seemingly competitive nature that exists between newspapers, which impacts on ethical standards of news stories.

This perspective, coupled with pressurised journalists and the publication of news stories without proper cross checking of facts, suggests that the emphasis has shifted from news quality to news quantity. Stringent deadline and editorial requirements are additional factors at play.

Yusuf Abramjee, Chairperson of the National Press Club says an immediate and critical action to be taken is to entrench the application of existing codes of ethics across the board as the indicated 69 percent is not good enough.

�This requires a complete buy-in by editorial teams alike, across the country. Enhancing the continuous application of these codes on a day-to-day basis, the National Press Club, in partnership with key representative stakeholder groups, will help promote this important action.�

The work environment survey aimed to provide a snapshot of the current working conditions as experienced by mainstream journalists and reporters nationally.

Prof Adr� Schreuder, Managing Director of Consulta Research says the survey, a first in its kind in South Africa, targeted members and non-members of the National Press Club across print, broadcast and online fields.

�It highlighted work environment areas that are perceived to be both conducive and non-conducive to ethical journalism by mainstream journalists and reporters. �The survey placed strong emphasis on ethical areas as the aim of the research was to establish where and how ethical standards, practices and behaviours – seen from a journalist’s perspective – should be strengthened and supported, especially in the newsroom where both editor and journalist face immense pressure to turn out critical news stories of the day,� says Schreuder.

Other suggestions in regard to critical areas which may lead to the improvement of journalists� workflow in meeting the ethical standards and quality they aspire to in their writing include the need for more resources (hands-on capacity and tools of trade), engagement with senior editorial teams and skills development and training. The appointment of more staff and allocation of resources will relieve some of the pressure caused by deadlines, allowing them to focus more on quality and give journalists more time to check facts regularly.

Respondents also indicated that more control over the use of copy should be given to them. The anticipated establishment of the media tribunal was met with concern as 81 percent of journalists currently perceive the tribunal as limiting the freedom of journalist and reporters.

Although the survey highlighted ethical areas of concern in the newsroom, the majority (56 � 64 percent) felt comfortable with the overall levels of ethics practised in their media organisations, coupled with checks and balances to ensure factual correctness of news stories, overall awareness of ethical issues on a day-to-day basis and the way their companies manage and correct ethical issues in news stories. The availability of senior colleagues for advice and guidance to journalists working on news stories came out strongly, while journalists also experience encouragement to publish/broadcast a correction (knowing who to contact at each platform where something has to be corrected or changed) and raise objections knowing that it will be taken seriously.

Download an electronic copy of the Work Environment Survey results

Note to news editor

  • All interviews were conducted electronically (self-completion questionnaires).
  • Participants received invitation e-mails, which were routed to the Consulta website for online completion.
  • A total of 68 surveys were completed.
  • All interviews were conducted during October and November 2010.

Research sample

  • Geographics: 72% (Gauteng), 19% (Western Cape), 4% (Eastern Cape), 2% (Free State), 2% (Mpumulanga), 2% (North West) — adding up to 101% (need to verify this with Dries)
  • Gender: Female respondents 61%; male respondents 39%
  • Age profile: 20 � 29 years (20% of respondents), 30 � 39% (41% respondents), 40 � 49 (19% of respondents), 50 � 59 (17% of respondents), 60 � 69 (2% of respondents), 70 and older (2% of respondents)
  • Education: 65% of respondents hold post-graduate qualifications
  • Experience: 50% holds more than 10 years� experience in journalism
  • Fields: Print (76%), broadcast (17%) and online (7%)

Issued by Consulta Research in association with the National Press Club

Riana Sinden, Corporate Communication on behalf of Consulta Research, riana.sinden@vodamail.co.za
Prof Adr� Schreuder, Managing Director, Consulta Research, adre@consulta.co.za
Andries Noeth, Client director (Work Environment Survey), dries@consulta.co.za

INDABA Newsletter | February 2011

Networking forum

Thank you to Business Connexion for hosting the club�s networking forum on 24 February. It was a most interesting and informative evening!

The March networking forum will be hosted by Absa at 18:00 for 18:30 on the 24th (venue to be announced).

This will coincide with the club�s Annual General Meeting, so please diarise it!

We continue to host newsmakers

The National Press Club has hosted a number of newsmakers over the past few weeks.

The briefing with Nazir Alli, CEO of the South African National Road Agency Limited (SANRAL) sparked extensive debate about open road tolling and toll tariffs.
The briefing with Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela on her findings following an investigation into the South African Police Service�s controversial R500 million lease agreement for the Middestad Building in Pretoria made headline news and led to huge public debate.
Another scoop for the National Press Club � Libyan ambassador to South Africa, Dr Abdallah Alzubedi addressed the media on the latest situation in that country.

Journalist of the Year � flood of entries received

A total of 111 entries were received in the 2011 National Press Club � North-West University Journalist of the Year competition.

The entries are currently with the judges for adjudication and the winners will be announced at the 2010 Newsmaker of the Year event.

Members will soon receive all particulars about the newsmaker event. Watch this space!

Newsrooms everywhere were enthused about the competition. The Media 24 team that encouraged colleagues to enter were (from left) Sylvia van Zyl, Jean-Marie Versluis, Hilda Fourie, Craig Nieuwenhuis and Suegnet Esterhuyse.

Remember your membership fee

Members of the National Press Club are reminded to pay their membership fees for 2011.

The annual fees are R180 for full members, R250 for associate members and R120 for student members.

The invoices for 2011 have already reached members. Please use your invoice numbers as reference when making an electronic transfer, so that the secretariat can keep track of payments received.

Member news

Press club exco member Graeme Hosken has been elected by the UN as one of 20 reporters in Africa to go on a weeklong disaster reporting course in Geneva in May. Congratulations Graeme!

Press club chairman Yusuf Abramjee and head of Crime Line recently received the �Community Service award� from the Turquoise Harmony Institute. Well done Yusuf!

Veteran club member Russel Michaels has gone on early retirement and is relocating to Cape Town. We wish you the best of luck Russel, and thank you for your loyal support to the press club over the years.

Feedback

Please send any news, suggestions or information for this newsletter to Martin van Niekerk at the secretariat on martin@junxionpr.co.za,
+27 (0)12 804 5199. Visit the website at www.nationalpressclub.co.za.

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National and global players now accept that the club has made itself relevant, not only in Gauteng but also nationally. News contributors know that they have a fair deal, even when criticised. In this way, the National Press Club has created a news communication platform of first choice with the relevance being transparency at all costs.

Contact us: secretariat@nationalpressclub.co.za

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