Public protector backs media independence
Describing the media as one of the primary pillars of democracy, public protector advocate Thuli Madonsela said she would mourn the day the media is silenced.
Madonsela highlighted the importance of media independence on Friday, September 13, at the Association of Independent Publishers’s national conference (AIP), at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, in Boksburg.
She said equality and human justice would diminish if the media is suppressed.
The media, she added, shines the light in the dark corners of our society and, without it, there would be no public accountability and transparency, but corrupt looting of public resources and misbehaving by big corporates.
Madonsela said though the South African media has struggled to find its place for many years, even under apartheid it was difficult to suppress the power of the pen.
“The media is very important for democracy to function; it has made humanity’s life a little easier as we get to know what’s happening around us,” she said.
“Media enables us to pursue powerful people to do what is right and, therefore, should enjoy constitutional protection.”
Turning to the media, she said that the media often “gets it wrong” and advised media houses to strive for fairness and accuracy when reporting news.
She also took swipe at the media ownership and management, telling houses to deal with the diversity challenge facing it.
“Distribution of editorial space is truly not reflective of society,” said Madonsela.
