Strengthening systems and institutions

Nobody will dispute that South Africa faces huge challenges. Covid-19 has laid bare the fault lines in our society. The provision of jobs and the creation of a fair social system will not be possible if institutions are not functioning fully. The recent fire at parliament raises many questions about the protection of systems and whether or not they were functioning as they should. This focus on the media in The Big Issue cannot be more timeous. The media is an institution that has to be strengthened at all times so that it can provide the quality information citizens need to make informed decisions. The media also must be equipped with journalists who can ask the necessary questions and examine carefully what they are told before repeating fake facts. Journalists have a number of professional groups that focus on improving the quality of the institution. Across the world, however, there has been a consistent attack on media freedom.

According to Reporter Without Borders’ (RSF) annual roundup published in December 2021, a record number of journalists – 488, including 60 women – are currently detained worldwide, while another 65 are being held hostage. Some good news is that the number of journalists killed in 2021, 46, is at its lowest in 20 years.

South Africa does not fall in the list of countries where journalists are killed. This was of a time gone by. But the challenge remains essentially to safeguard nd build journalism as an institution, like it is to build teaching as a profession and other key pillars that make South Africa function.

Four journalists recently released a press freedom statement to mark South Africa’s National Media Freedom Day in October 2021. They work as part of a collective with The Journalist, a multimedia website that aims to provide historical perspectives on the profession.

The Journalist (search for www.thejournalist.org.za) is six years old and in the past year has not been able to publish its regular monthly edition due to financial limitations. It has, however, brought out two special editions, one marking World Press Freedom Day and the other, South African Media Freedom Day. Both make for an interesting read. This is part of an effort to contribute to strengthening the profession and media as an institution. In the end, if institutions are pushed back and constantly weakened, this will express itself in the quality of life of all citizens. Efforts are underway to reverse some of the weaknesses of state institutions but in the end each citizen wherever he or she may find him- or herself can up the game through improving the institutions they work in.

The 2021 Media Freedom Statement that follows here is part of an effort of these journalists to reflect on how far the media has progressed and perhaps how it can further expand its mandate in the future.