Ownership impact on editorial independence in spotlight

Ownership of media outlets did not automatically translate to control and interference in editorial content, executive director of Sanef Mathatha Tsedu has said.

Pretoria - Ownership of media outlets did not automatically translate to control and interference in editorial content, although some media owners used their shareholding to meddle in the media houses news content, veteran journalist and executive director of the SA National Editors Forum, Mathatha Tsedu, said on Thursday.

Responding to questions on the first day of a two-day Print Media Transformation Colloquium hosted by the department of communications in Pretoria, Tshedu said ideally, owners of media houses should leave the running of the media outlets in the hands of qualified, capable, and independent managers.

“Does media ownership affect editorial independence? Not really necessarily, but in some instances it does when you have an owner who will not define the scope of what a particular publication is supposed to address. In reality, when an entrepreneur decides they want to start a radio station or a newspaper, they have an idea of who they want to address the target market,” said Tsedu.

“Once you have defined the target market, you go out and find a person who will be able to speak to that market. Once you have found that person (to run the media house), you can go to Hawaii. But if you go and just find some cousin of yours and make them the editor, you have to stay here and hear from your friends in Hawaii how Hawaii is.”

Tsedu said the questions over owners' interference on editorial output continued to take the limelight, with some people pointing fingers at the alleged interference of the South African Broadcasting Corporation's board on editorial decisions.

The Print Media Transformation colloquium, which started on Thursday at Freedom Park in Pretoria, brings together key players in the media industry to discuss the sector's transformation, accountability and diversity priorities.

Role players, including government officials, civil society, business, academics and media owners are attending the event. The discussions will include diversity of content and media ownership in a free and democratic society. It will also focus on safeguarding freedom of information and opinion.

The colloquium ends on Friday.

African News Agency