Presentation on Final Editorial Policies

1

• Presentation on Final Editorial Policies
• August 2004

2
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Mandate
4. Programming
5. Education
6. Religion
7. Language
8. News
9. General issues
10. What the editorial policies mean for staff

3
Background

• On 25 April 2003 SABC published a number of
  draft editorial policies for public comment
• Mandate
• News
• Programming
• Language
• Universal service and Access
• Local content
• Religion
• Education
• Focused on those policies mentioned in the
  Broadcasting Act

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Background

• Why did the SABC publish these policies?
• Broadcasting Act (as amended) states that the
  SABC must develop draft editorial policies, allow
  for public comment on them and then submit them
  to ICASA within 3 months of conversion
• The finalised policies will fulfil two purposes
• A guide to editorial staff in their daily
  decision making
• A guide to the public on what they can expect
  from the public broadcaster
• The policies do not give detail on schedules or
  programme content - they rather provide a high
  level description of what can be expected from
  the SABC as a public broadcaster
• Some policies will replace existing policies
  from 1995 which are now outdated while others are
  new

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Background

• Scope
• The policies apply to all SABC content, whether
  produced by SABC or not
• Where they have particular relevance to either
  the commercial or the public broadcasting
  division, this is stated
• Methodology
• International comparative review
• Review of existing policies against legal and
  regulatory requirements
• Workshops and brainstorming sessions
• Drafts prepared and circulated for comment
• Responses fed into database
• Internal workshops to finalise proposals on
  amendments

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Background

• Structure
• Policies structured to minimise difficulties in
  implementation
• Clearly state set of commitments
• Outline to which areas of the SABC each policy is
  applicable and how it should be applied
• Cross-references between the policies, when the
  same issue is dealt with in more than one policy,
  but also provide for each policy to stand by
  itself
• Each draft policy linked to legislation,
  regulations and PBS mandate
• Built in reporting requirements to Board on the
  implementation of the policies
• Standardised period of time the policies will
  stand - each will be applicable for 5 years and
  will then be reviewed by Board
• The policies are underpinned by certain
  assumptions, including the structure and funding
  of the Corporation. If these assumptions change,
  the policies may need to be amended

7
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Programming
4. Education
5. Religion
6. Language
7. Mandate
8. News
9. General issues
10. Next steps

8
Public consultation

• Challenge - to make the policies widely
  accessible and easily understandable
• Policies launched to key stakeholders and press
  on 25 April 2003
• Copies of draft policies made available at all
  SABC regional offices together with detailed,
  easy to read summaries in six official languages
• Copies of the policies accessible on SABC
  website and intranet in all official languages.
• Full page ads, summarising policies and inviting
  people to comment in Rapport, City Press, Sunday
  Sun, Beeld, Daily Sun, Illanga, The Herald, Daily
  Dispatch
• In order to reach rural areas
• Detailed easy to read summaries of the policies
  distributed to over 1000 post offices
  countrywide, in six official languages
• Poster campaign in 6 languages in post offices

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Public consultation

• Use of own media
• Promos ran on SABC radio stations and TV
  channels until early May intensively, and on a
  more low key basis thereafter
• SABC talk shows and discussion programmes were
  used to promote discussion on the policies until
  June 13 2003
• Public meetings
• Held public meetings in each of the 9 provinces
• Between 200 and 500 people attended each meeting
• Gave public the opportunity to interact directly
  with members of the SABC board and management.
• Comments on policies had to be made in writing
• Drop-off at regional offices
• e-mail, fax or post

10
Public consultation

• Editorial coverage
• Focus in print media overwhelmingly on the upward
  referral and objectivity issue. 20 newspaper
  columns on upward referral alone
• SABC talkshows and discussion programmes
  encouraged discussion on all aspects of the
  policies.

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Public consultation

• Excellent response by the public to the SABCs
  call for comments on its draft policies. 920
  written submissions on the draft policies
  received. 847 from individuals, 73 from
  organisations. Lots of goodwill in responses
  ownership of SABC
• The programming policy attracted the most number
  of comments with 600. The next most commented on
  policy was Language and then Religion and News.

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Public consultation

• Most comments on the policies were general in
  nature with many comments on issues of taste and
  decency but there were approximately 250 specific
  suggestions on how the policies should be
  adjusted.

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Public consultation

• The nature of the organisational submissions
  differed with those made by individuals. The
  submissions by individuals tended to focus on
  general comments and frequently did not
  specifically address the draft policies.

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Public consultation

• The organisations submissions tended to have
  comments more evenly spread among the policies.
  The policy which was commented on the least by
  organisations was the Universal Access policy,
  with the Language, Programming and Mandate
  policies receiving the most attention.

15
Public consultation

• No substantive changes suggested to Local
  Content or Universal Access policies.
• 69 comments received on the draft Local Content
  policy 5 of total comments received on all
  policies.
• 59 comments were received on the Universal
  Service and Access policy which amounted to 4 of
  total comments received on all policies. In real
  terms, this policy attracted the least number of
  specific suggestions only 9.
• No substantive amendments were therefore
  proposed to these draft policies. Changes
  proposed to the other 6 policies.

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Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Mandate
4. Programming
5. Education
6. Religion
7. Language
8. News
9. General issues
10. Summary of commitments

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Mandate

• Overview
• Not strictly one of the policies - rather acts
  as an introduction to the package of policies
• Outlines SABC understanding of public
  broadcasting in SA - therefore a critical
  background to the policies
• Lays out the core editorial values of the SABC
• Equality
• Editorial independence
• Nation building
• Diversity
• Human Dignity
• Accountability
• Transparency
• Contains the amended Editorial Code
• Lays out the principles of editorial
  responsibility and upward referral

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Mandate

• General comments received
• 90 comments were received on the Mandate policy
  which amounted to 7 of total comments received.
  Although more comments were received from
  individuals than organisations on this policy (57
  from individuals vs 33 from organisations) this
  is the only policy where specific recommendations
  outweighed general comments.
• Comments on the mandate policy focused on upward
  referral.

We support the SABCs policy to base its
editorial policies on national objectives and
constitutional values. This is certainly in line
with South Africas challenges as a young
democracy, Media Review Network, no. 908
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Mandate

• We strongly recommend that reference to upward
  referral, particularly as it turns the CEO into
  the Editor-in-Chief should be totally discarded.
  What we suggest is to have the highest level of
  referral being the Head of News Freedom of
  Expression Institute, no. 928
• Much of public discourse on the draft has
  focused on the issue of upward referral.
  Personally, I find the positions articulated in
  the draft, and in explanatory comment by the
  Board and Management, both cogent and logical. J
  Netshitenzi, no. 911
• On the matter of upward referral, we believe it
  is simply normal that a hierarchy of authority
  must exist in a journalistic enterprise. A
  reporter is not the same as an editor, and
  editors have rank in turn. The buck stops with
  the editors-in-chief. But these should be
  journalistic staff, not management. Perhaps the
  solution is as simple as not referring to the CEO
  as editor-in-chief, and making the MD news the
  mandatory referral point for high impact issues.
  Democratic Alliance, no.889

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Mandate

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 1. On the issue of upward referral there were
  contrasting submissions. Some argued that the
  current provisions should remain as is while
  others stated that the section should be deleted
  in its entirety. Of the submissions which opposed
  upward referral, many argued that the current
  formulation should be revised to make it clear
  that upward referral stops with the editorial
  heads. These submissions also felt that it was
  inappropriate for the GCEO to be referred to as
  the Editor-in-Chief
• It was decided that the voluntary system of
  upward referral encouraging editorial staff to
  take responsibility for their decisions and to
  ask for guidance if unsure, remain.
• It was decided that the policy make it clear that
  voluntary upward referral may go as far as the
  GCEO who is editor-in-chief.
• It was decided that the statement that the GCEO
  is editor-in-chief remain but that this is
  clarified to state that this does not mean the
  CEO is responsible for day-to-day editorial
  decisions in either news or programming.

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Mandate

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• It was decided that the sections on mandatory
  referral be retained but refined.
• It was decided that the following matters are to
  be referred to the relevant head of either Radio
  or TV News, or programming area concerned or
  discussed in advance at daily planning and
  editorial meetings
• Any instance in which it becomes necessary and is
  deemed to be in the public interest to gather
  information to which the public normally does not
  have access.
• Interviews with criminals or former criminals and
  people wanted by police.
• Any proposal to grant anonymity to anyone trying
  to evade the law.
• Payment for information.
• Broadcasting of any recording made originally for
  other legal purposes, such as a recording of the
  proceedings at a meeting.
• Disclosure of the details of a serious crime that
  were obtained surreptitiously or unofficially.
• Requests from external parties to view, listen
  to, or obtain untransmitted recorded material.

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Mandate

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• Mandatory referral (cont.)
• Commissioning of opinion polls on any political
  issue or issue of public policy.
• National security matters.
• Conduct of interviews with prisoners for
  broadcast without the permission of prison
  authorities.
• Showing or featuring people in a live broadcast
  for entertainment purposes using hidden cameras.
• Confronting an interviewee whilst recording, when
  no prior approach was made for an interview, and
  the interviewee has no expectation of being
  approached.
• Featuring a real person in a drama where their
  permission, or that of their surviving relatives
  has not been secured.
• The use of the most offensive language

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Mandate
Specific suggestions and decision on final policy

• Submissions were generally supportive of the
  editorial values although there was the view that
  these values should not bind the news division as
  they would undermine its independence.
• It was decided that the editorial values should
  bind all programming divisions, including news.
• 3. There were suggestions that provisions be
  included on the SABCs role in covering Africa
  and in providing truly national coverage.
• It was decided that clauses addressing these
  issues be included in the Editorial Code (p6).
• There were suggestions that the following
  provisions in the Code be reworked to be clearer
  privacy, coverage of government, protection of
  sources.
• It was decided that there be no principle
  amendment of these clauses.

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Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Mandate
4. Programming
5. Education
6. Religion
7. Language
8. News
9. General issues
10. Next steps

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Programming

• Overview
• Programming policy primarily focused on
  explaining how we deal with issues such as the
  airing of violence, sex and bad language
• This policy will replace the Guidelines on
  Programme Content which were approved by Board in
  1995
• The policy is now consistent with the new Code
  of Conduct for Broadcasters and also applicable
  to radio
• Areas covered include
• Language
• Discrimination and stereotypes
• Violence
• Grief and Suffering
• Children.
• Sex and nudity
• Programme complaints etc

26
Programming

• I am writing to view my shock at what is aired
  over 5fm airways during family friendly hours. A
  week ago Mark Gillman said to a 14 year old kid
  at about 7am Does your Dad ever take a swing at
  you? I hope you have a wall behind you when he
  does. This is unacceptable and I want to know
  why he is allowed to continue with such
  behavior. (Craig French)

• General comments received
• 600 comments were received on the Programming
  policy which amounted to 45 of total comments
  received on all policies. 536 of the comments
  were general in nature, with only 22 of these
  general comments from organisations. 64 specific
  suggestions were made on the policy.
• There were many complaints about sex, violence,
  profanity and specific programme genres such as
  sci-fi shows.
• Among the general comments were complaints that
  too many adverts are broadcast. There were many
  complaints about the (then) recent changes to
  SAFM and there were many appeals for proposed
  changes to RSG not to be implemented.

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Programming

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• Submissions asked that the policy should pay more
  attention to gender
• It was decided that a specific clause on gender
  be inserted (p8 of Programming policy). In terms
  of this, the SABC undertakes to strive to ensure
  its programming does not, when judged within
  context
• promote violence against women
• depict women as passive victims of violence and
  abuse
• degrade women and undermine their role and
  position in society
• promote sexism and gender inequality
• reinforce gender oppression and stereotypes
• Furthermore, the clause states that the SABC is
  committed to reflecting and portraying women in
  their positive societal roles - as independent,
  intellectual beings as leaders, decision-makers,
  academics, agents for change, etc and to avoid
  representation of men in roles that bolster
  gender ascendancy and stereotypes. Gender balance
  should be sought positively and actively - in
  programmes, such as those requiring a range of
  opinions on issues of public importance.

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Programming

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• Submissions suggested that the policy needs to
  provide for operating plans as the other policies
  do.
• As the programming policy underpins all SABC
  programming, it is difficult for it to provide
  for operating plans. Many aspects of the policy
  are based on the BCCSA Code, with which SABC
  services must comply, or face sanction. The
  policy also allows for regular reports to be made
  to top management and Board, highlighting trends
  in complaints which will allow for an evaluation
  of the extent to which the policy is being
  complied with. It was therefore decided that
  specific operating plans need not be included.
• There were suggestions that the watershed be
  moved later.
• The watershed period is captured in the industry
  Code which was developed by ICASA. The watershed
  has recently been standardised at an earlier time
  9pm. The SABC is bound to comply with this
  period, as are all free-to-air broadcasters. The
  SABC believes it might be confusing for audiences
  if it were to adopt another watershed period. It
  was therefore decided that the watershed period
  not be moved later.

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Programming

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 4. There were suggestions that the policy provide
  for profanity to be edited out or for additional
  provisions on profanity including a dedicated
  symbol.
• Both as a matter of principle, and for logistical
  reasons, the editing out of profanity is not a
  viable option. Presently, the L symbol is used
  to indicate that there is language which might
  offend this includes both swearing and bad
  language. It is unclear why the L symbol is
  deemed to be inadequate by pressure groups. The
  reason may be that the L symbol hasnt always
  been rigorously applied.
• There has recently been industry discussion on a
  dedicated symbol to warn audiences about
  profanity. Both etv and M-Net have indicated that
  they would oppose a dedicated symbol.
• It was decided that a dedicated symbol would not
  be ideal as it would be confusing to audiences.
  Channels also indicated that their acceptance
  staff might not have the necessary knowledge to
  apply a dedicated symbol to material offensive to
  religions other than Christianity.
• It was decided instead that additional clauses on
  profanity should be included in the policy
  stating that it is offensive to many viewers and
  stating that the L symbol must be applied
  rigorously and also stating that language usage
  should take religious sensitivities into account.

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Programming

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• There was the view that the policy should provide
  for an independent ombudsperson. There was also a
  suggestion that the BCCSA be asked to administer
  complaints against the SABCs policies. Another
  suggestion was that members of the public assist
  the Broadcast Compliance team or that a toll free
  number be provided for the lodging of complaints.
• As the SABC is already subject to an independent
  complaints tribunal which includes nominees from
  the public, the suggestion of an independent
  ombudsperson or the involvement of members of the
  public was not adopted. The suggestion of a
  toll-free number was not supported as the costs
  proved to be prohibitive in the past. As the
  BCCSA may only consider complaints against the
  Code of Conduct, it was decided that a clause be
  inserted stating that complaints on contravention
  of the editorial policies should be directed to
  the Manager Broadcast Compliance. In the event
  of a serious contravention of editorial policy,
  or repeated infringement, the matter is referred
  upwards as follows
• General Manager Policy Regulatory Affairs
• Director SABC Education, Public Regulatory
  Affairs, SABC Legal and Head of editorial area
  concerned
• Group Chief Executive Officer
• SABC Board

31
Programming

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• There were suggestions that the clauses on HIV/
  Aids, grieving people and privacy be reworked.
• It was decided that a clause specifically dealing
  with HIV/Aids be inserted. This deals with the
  disclosure of HIV status as well as the need for
  the public broadcaster to de-stigmatise HIV/AIDS.
  The fundamental principles to be applied are that
  the pandemic should be de-stigmatised, and
  members of society should be educated to conduct
  their sex life responsibly. The attendant aims
  should be to encourage communities to embrace
  people living with Aids, to create empathy and
  understanding for them not to ostracise the
  infected, but to accord them dignity as members
  of society.
• It was decided that drafting amendments be made
  to the clauses on grieving people and privacy.
• There was a suggestion for an additional clause
  on Africa.
• It was decided that a clause be inserted stating
  that as the public broadcaster we see it as our
  responsibility to represent Africa and African
  stories fairly and diversely.

32
Programming

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 8. Submissions suggested that the clause on
  children allow for participation by children in
  developing programmes and a commitment to provide
  a variety of genres for children.
• It was decided that the draft policy be amended
  to reflect the above suggestions . It was decided
  that a clause be included stating that programme
  makers are encouraged to allow children to
  participate in the development of childrens
  programming in order to ensure relevance.
• 9. There was a suggestion that the policy commit
  to showing less violence.
• The policy already provides extensive guidelines
  on the portrayal of violence, noting that the
  SABC has a duty not to glamorize or promote
  violence but also to depict it when it is an
  accurate representation of real events. In light
  of these provisions, it was decided that no
  further commitments in the policy were required.

33
Programming

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 10 Submissions suggested that the policy include
  a clause stating our approach to coverage of
  people with disabilities.
• It was decided that the draft policy be amended
  to reflect the above suggestion. The new clause
  states that the SABC treats disabilities with
  respect and endeavours to access the views of
  disabled persons and to represent and highlight
  issues about disabilities in ways that do not
  perpetuate harmful stereotypes.
• 11. There was a suggestion that the policy have a
  specific clause on race.
• It was decided that the draft policy be amended
  to reflect the above suggestion. The new clause
  states that the SABC takes extreme care when
  dealing with issues of racism and that the SABC
  works towards expanding awareness of race
  discrimination. The clause also states that the
  SABC endeavors to represent issues of race and
  racism in a manner that does not perpetuate
  negative stereotypes.

34
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Mandate
4. Programming
5. Education
6. Religion
7. Language
8. News
9. General issues
10. Next steps

35
Education

• Overview (1 of 2)
• Replaces Board policy of 1995
• Sets out the framework within which the SABC
  implements its educational mandate and responds
  to the national literacy and skills development
  challenge
• General commitments
• To provide a range of quality educational
  programming including programmes that support
  curriculum based activities of the education and
  training sectors and programmes that support
  public education
• To ensure that PBS stations and channels dedicate
  adequate airtime to educational programmes that
  are scheduled at appropriate times. At least one
  TV channel to screen programmes specifically in
  support of school curricula and this to be
  supplemented by PBS radio
• To ensure that commercial services support a
  culture of lifelong learning through informal
  knowledge building initiatives relevant to their
  target audience and format
• To provide educational programmes in various
  official languages and sign language
• To broadcast a significant amount of locally
  produced educational material

36
Education

• Overview (2 of 2)
• General commitments (cont)
• To implement a coherent education methodology
  that incorporates a multimedia approach
• To supplement educational methodologies through
  outreach programmes
• To ensure that sufficient resources are
  dedicated to implement the educational mandate
• Implementation
• SABC will develop action plan which identifies
  education priorities, including hours of
  programming for each of the educational mandate
  areas. Educational mandate areas which have been
  identified are
• Early childhood development
• Children at Home
• Formal education
• Youth development
• Adult and Human Resources development
• Public Education

37
Education
Children need stimulation in their own
language...Programmes like Takalani Sesame should
not have various languages mixed in one rather
keep languages separate and coherent. N. Oelson,
no.556

• General comments received
• 60 comments were received on the Education
  policy which amounted to 4 of the total comments
  received on all policies.
• There was praise for the SABCs educational
  programmes, particularly Takalani Sesame.
• There were calls for the SABC to provide more
  educational programmes.
• There were criticisms that some of the SABCs
  educational programmes encourage children to be
  immoral.

38
Education

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• Submissions said the policy should state the
  importance of democracy / citizenship education.
• This is captured in the policy in the clause on
  Public Education.
• There were suggestions that the policy give more
  emphasis to the portrayal of women and girl
  children and that a clause be included on the
  promotion of gender equality.
• This is already dealt with in the Programming
  Guidelines section in the Education policy and
  was also addressed through an additional clause
  in the Programming policy.

39
Education

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 3. There was criticism that the policy needs to
  have specific concrete measures so that progress
  can be evaluated.
• This issue is dealt with in the policy in the
  clause titled Guidelines for Implementation in
  which there is a commitment to provide a
  measurable annual action plan. This clause has
  now been moved to a separate section titled
  Monitoring and Implementation.
• There were suggestions that the scheduling of
  educational programmes is not careful enough and
  children are often not available to access these
  programmes.
• The policy already states that educational
  programmes must be broadcast at times which are
  suitable for the target audience.

40
Education

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• It was suggested the policy should state that
  extreme caution must be exercised in sponsoring
  educational programmes .
• It was decided that a clause on commercial
  influence of educational programmes be inserted
• When the nature of the programme requires that it
  is presented in whole, or in part, in a setting
  which simulates a place of business (for example
  a supermarket) care must be exercised in the
  design of such settings, as well as the
  properties used, to reduce identification with
  particular companies or proprietors.
• Programmes or programme material produced outside
  or in created settings may not be used to carry
  indirect commercial advertising.
• Care should be taken to avoid the exposure of
  advertising signs or other commercial
  identification in programme content. Where this
  is impossible, it is the responsibility of the
  producer or director or both to play down as much
  as possible such extraneous commercial exposure.

41
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Mandate
4. Programming
5. Education
6. Religion
7. Language
8. News
9. General issues
10. Next steps

42
Religion

• Overview
• Replaces previous Board policy
• Largely consistent with previous policy - two
  major changes
• Quotas of airtime for major religious groupings
  have been taken out of the policy
• We now state that these quotas are developed on
  a 3-yearly basis after consultation with the
  Religious Broadcast Panel
• We lay out criteria to be considered when
  determining airtime allocations Census data on
  the of population in each religious group, the
  need for all religions to be reflected in
  religious programming etc.
• A clause allowing airtime to be purchased by
  religious groups was inserted, with a number of
  checks - detailed operational guidelines to be
  developed

43
Religion
We appreciate to see programmes of all religions
such as Hindi, Islam etc. But why should
Christianity still dominate even today? N
Tshabalala, no. 557

• General comments received
• 141 comments were received on the Religion policy
  which amounted to 10 of total comments received
  on all policies
• 10 religious organisations, including the RBP,
  made submissions.

44
Religion

• Specific submissions and decision on final policy
• There were suggestions that the policy emphasise
  affirmative action on certain religions but
  there were also suggestions that there was no
  need to address the past.
• The draft policy already acknowledges the need to
  correct past imbalances in religious
  broadcasting.
• 2. There were suggestions that the only criterion
  in the policy for allocating airtime should be
  the amount of support for each religion and that
  these quotas be stated in the policy. However,
  there was also the submission that the policy
  allow for each religion to be treated equally.
• Relying solely on the amount of support for each
  religion to determine airtime allocation, as the
  previous policy did, does not give the SABC the
  flexibility it needs to also achieve other
  objectives including the objectives to reflect
  all religions, to redress past imbalances in
  religious coverage and to provide multi-faith
  programming. Alternatively, providing for equal
  coverage of each religion may be too simplistic
  an approach where there are vastly differing
  levels of support for different religious
  groupings. It was therefore decided that the
  position laid out in the draft policy be
  maintained.

45
Religion

• Specific submissions and decision on final policy
• 3. There was both support for and opposition to
  the policys emphasis on multifaith programmes.
  The RBP suggested that the policy stipulate that
  80 of each religions programming will be made
  up of faith specific programming.
• The provision for some multifaith programming is
  an important facet of the policy and is grounded
  in the SABCs editorial values. It should be
  noted that the policy does state that both faith
  specific and multifaith programmes will be
  provided. However, needing to ensure that 80 of
  religious programming is made up of faith
  specific programming will be too restrictive for
  our programme makers and may be logistically
  difficult to implement. It was therefore decided
  not to include this percentage although a clause
  was introduced stating multi-faith programmes
  are in addition to faith specific programmes.
• 4. There was both support for the concept of paid
  religious broadcasting and criticism of this.
• On the basis that many religious groupings
  supported the concept of paid religious
  broadcasting and that there are checks and
  balances in the policy to prevent well-resourced
  religious groupings dominating SABC air-time, no
  amendment to the policy on this matter was made.

46
Religion

• Specific submissions and decision on final policy
• 5. There was the suggestion that the policy
  specifically commit to showing religion in prime
  and shoulder time
• The policy already gives the undertaking that
  religious programming will be broadcast at times
  when audiences are available and will not be
  confined to the fringes of schedules. Given the
  pressure the SABC faces in prime time to deliver
  competitive and mandate compliant programming, it
  was decided that no specific commitment for
  religious programming in prime time be made.

47
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Mandate
4. Programming
5. Education
6. Religion
7. Language
8. News
9. General issues
10. Next steps

48
Language

• Overview (1 of 4)
• Replaces the Language Policy of 1995
• Policy is founded on the constitutional
  imperative to treat all languages equitably and
  with respect
• Makes series of clear commitments for radio and
  TV, formalises many current practices, e.g.
  multi-lingual programming, rotation of cognate
  languages
• General commitments
• Commit to maintaining distinct and separate radio
  services in all official languages (and to
  allocate resources fairly to each language
  service)
• Commit to treating all official languages
  equitably across the television portfolio,
  although we will give more time to more widely
  spoken languages
• Commit to integrating sign language into
  programmes
• Commit to accommodate other non-official
  languages such as Khoi, Nama and San

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Language

• Overview (2 of 4)
• Guidelines on what equitable treatment means
• No guidelines in previous policy
• Policy lays out how the SABC understands
  equitability on TV
• Means fair, just and reasonable, does not
  necessarily mean equal time
• Has to be achieved while also making sure
  broadcasts are accessible to as many viewers as
  possible - more time for more widely understood
  languages
• Equitability is achieved through both unilingual
  and multilingual programming and by rotating
  cognate languages
• Is measured by a number of criteria
• time allocation to different languages
• scheduling of different language programmes when
  audiences are available
• range of programmes in different languages
• resourcing of programmes in different languages

50
Language

• Overview (3 of 4)
• Guidelines on time allocation
• No guidelines for time allocation in previous
  policy
• Policy now makes explicit the factors that will
  be taken into account when time allocations for
  different languages are devised for TV
• In determining allocations of time to different
  languages on television, the SABC has due regard
  to
• The number of home language speakers of a
  language in the coverage area of a channel
• The geographical spread of the language
• The extent to which members of a language
  community are able to understand other languages
• The extent of marginalisation of the language
• The extent to which a language is understood by
  other South Africans

51
Language

• Overview (4 of 4)
• Specific commitments
• Radio language services to broadcast news and
  current affairs, childrens programmes and
  educational material
• TV to provide news in all official languages
• TV to also focus on producing drama and
  childrens educational programmes in various
  languages
• Selected TV news and events of national
  importance to carry sign language - to be
  expanded progressively
• Management to submit a language action plan that
  includes
• Future goals arising from the policy
• Summary of previous years TV airtime per
  language (including sign language)
• A summary of the findings of any relevant
  research conducted
• A summary of professional development programmes
  implemented to meet the competence and skills
  needs of implementing this policy
• A summary of investigations conducted into the
  use of technology and the applications of
  technologies to implement this language policy
• Highlights to be included in Annual Report

52
Language
We are also tired of being made fools. Muvhango
is not a Venda drama. F Mbedzi, no. 575

• 221 comments were received on the draft Language
  policy 16 of total comments received on all
  policies.
• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• Submissions asked that a commitment to a budget
  allocation for various languages be included in
  the policy.
• SABC budgets do not work in this way and, in
  multi-lingual programming especially it would be
  difficult to reconcile the of total budget
  spent on each language. It was decided not to
  include such a clause.

53
Language

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 2. Submissions called for the policy to commit to
  targets of airtime for each language.
• Committing to targets per language in the policy
  would be too restrictive. The nature of
  television, in particular, means that channels
  must have as flexible an environment as possible
  in order to be able to schedule competitively.
  Rather than setting specific targets for each
  language and each genre, the policy therefore
  allows for management to propose to Board on an
  annual basis, future goals arising from the
  policy. The policy also allows for a report to
  Board, giving an account of the performance on
  language in the previous year. It was therefore
  decided that targets per language not be
  included.

54
Language

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 3. Deaf organisations made the submission that
  the policy should reflect that a holistic
  approach is needed for meeting the needs of the
  deaf and that sign language alone is not good
  enough. There was also the suggestion that the
  policy commit to providing sub-titles in all
  official languages.
• The policy now makes reference to closed
  captioning and the need for a holistic approach
  to meeting the needs of the deaf. On the
  suggestion that the policy commit to providing
  sub-titles in each official language it was
  decided that a promise not be made on this due to
  the resource implications of implementing such a
  policy.
• On the issue of time allocation for languages
  many submissions suggested that the only
  criterion should be the size of the language
  grouping or that the policy should make it clear
  that this criterion is more important than
  others.
• While the size of language groupings is a key
  criterion in determining time allocation for
  different languages on television, to make it the
  only or most important criterion would be
  simplistic and in particular would mean that the
  SABC would be constrained in its actions on
  marginalised languages. The preferred approach is
  one whereby the SABC weighs up a number of
  criteria in order to determine a fair and
  equitable time allocation.

55
Language

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• There was the view that the policy should commit
  to historical redress for languages previously
  marginalised and that the policy should lay out
  specific actions on marginalised languages.
• The policy already makes a number of references
  to the need for specialized action on previously
  and currently marginalised languages. A report on
  actions taken on marginalised languages would be
  included in the management report to Board.
• On the guidelines on equitability, submissions
  argued that the guidelines were not sufficiently
  clear and needed to be more detailed.
• It would not be appropriate to include more
  detailed guidelines in the policy, as some
  submissions have called for. The policy should
  provide over-arching principles rather than a
  detailed implementation plan. For this reason the
  policy should not explain which languages will
  appear in prime time and when and how different
  languages will be rotated.
• There was the suggestion that the policy also
  include reference to Indian languages like Hindi
  and Tamil etc.
• The draft policy gives special mention to those
  languages mentioned in the Constitution, i.e. the
  Khoi, Nama and San languages.

56
Language

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• There was the view that the policy should commit
  to providing a range of programmes in each
  language.
• The policy already makes this commitment. No
  further clause is recommended.
• There was the suggestion that the policy be
  reviewed every year, and not every 5 years.
• Reviewing the policy every year would be onerous
  on management and Board and would not allow for
  the stability needed to implement the policy. The
  draft policy allows for Board to consider
  performance against the policy every year. The
  5-year period has also been standardized across
  each policy which would mean that if this change
  were made, each policy may have to be reviewed
  every year. It was therefore decided not to
  include this suggestion.
• 11. It was suggested that the policy commit to
  covering events of national importance in at
  least 6 languages, as provided for in the
  National Language Policy Framework.
• It was decided that a clause be inserted stating
  that the SABC will strive, where possible, to
  broadcast Events of National Importance in the 6
  language groups as provided for in the National
  Language Policy Framework.

57
Language

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 12. Submissions suggested that the grouping of
  cognate languages together be approached with
  caution and that the policy reflect this.
• The policy does not rely exclusively on the use
  of cognate languages to achieve equitability. The
  policy merely states this is one of many
  mechanisms used to achieve equitability.
• 13. There was a suggestion that the policy allow
  for SABC language committees to be
  re-established.
• It was decided that the language committees not
  be reinstated due to the resource implications.
  However, Board may need to consider some form of
  alternative mechanism such as developing
  relationships with institutions to assist in
  this regard or developing a network of language
  advisors in and outside the Corporation. It was
  decided that this did not necessarily need to be
  reflected in the policy.

58
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Mandate
4. Programming
5. Education
6. Religion
7. Language
8. News
9. General issues
10. Next steps

59
News

• Overview (1 of 2)
• Explains the SABCs role in providing meaningful
  news, current affairs and information programmes
  from a South African perspective
• Sets out the following commitments for news
  practice
• We do not allow advertising, commercial,
  political or personal issues to influence our
  news
• We include a range of different views on issues
• We respect peoples right to reply to criticism
• We correct mistakes as soon as possible
• We do not use language that is sexist, racist or
  discriminates against any person or group
• We always check information and confirm the
  accuracy of any report

60
News

• Overview (2 of 2)
• We try to ensure fair gender representation and
  seek out the views of women
• We protect people who provide us with
  information. If a court orders us to identify a
  source of information, we support the
  journalists decision and provide them with legal
  help
• We respect peoples right to privacy unless it
  is in the public interest to reveal information
• We cover accidents and disaster with compassion.
  We do not show footage of the dead unless there
  are compelling reasons to do so
• We give full or extended live coverage to events
  of national importance
• During elections the SABC makes sure that voters
  are given sufficient information to enable them
  to make informed choices about who to vote for
• We comply with the restrictions on the
  sponsorship of news and current affairs programmes

61
News
The working class hardly ever makes it onto SABC
news and current affairs programmes. COSATU,
no.886 The news footage of violence death and
destruction needs to be kept to an absolute
minimum. B Richert, no. 591

• General comments received
• 119 comments were received on the News policy
  which amounted to 9 of total comments received.
• There were many calls for CNN to be brought back
  and for the SABC 3 news to be moved back to 8pm.
  (These comments are probably indicative of the
  fact that the policy process took place at the
  same time as these issues were being dealt with).
• There were calls for non-Western news networks
  such as Al Jazeera to also be used by the SABC
  but there was also opposition to such networks.
• There were criticisms of the SABCs news coverage
  of certain provinces, particularly the more rural
  ones.

62
News

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• There were calls for more positive news stories
  to be given airtime and there were appeals for
  less violence in news bulletins, and context and
  explanation when covering crime. There were
  suggestions that the policy should provide for
  more positive coverage, particularly of
  government initiatives.
• The policy already recognises the important role
  played by news and current affairs in human,
  social and economic growth and development,
  especially in societies such as ours, and that
  news and current affairs can be a catalyst for
  positive and progressive development and change.
  It was decided that this adequately covers the
  matters relating to covering positive stories and
  government. In respect of reporting crime it was
  decided that a clause be included to cover this.

63
News

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
  
• It was suggested that the policy should explain
  how conflicts of interest are to be dealt with
  and the SABCs approach to reporting on itself.
• It was decided to include a clause on how
  coverage of the SABC as a news worthy subject
  will be dealt with. The policy now also provides
  for the news division to formulate their own,
  more detailed guidelines on conflicts of
  interest.
• 3. It was suggested that the policy include a
  clause on the coverage of Africa.
• It was decided that an appropriate clause be
  included on the importance of sourcing and
  reporting the African story, in its context,
  complexity and diversity, and with balance and
  fairness.

64
News

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• It was suggested the policy should not refer to
  the role of news in nation-building as this is
  more appropriately the role of the state.
• Our policies in their current formulation
  recognise the important and fundamental role
  played by the SABC in a range of national matters
  such as national identity and nation building,
  and it was therefore decided that there was no
  need to change from these.
• 5. There were calls for clarity on matters such
  as due impartiality, how controversial matters
  are to be dealt with and reporting between
  elections.
• The policy already deals with these matters and
  it was therefore decided that no additional
  clauses on this were needed. Some refinements
  were made to the elections clause.

65
News

• Specific suggestions and decision on final policy
• 6. There were calls for better coverage of
  provinces, especially rural ones, and non-urban
  stories.
• It was decided that an appropriate clause be
  inserted to take account of this important
  sentiment.
• There were suggestions that the policy makes
  provision for training.
• It was decided that a clause be inserted as an
  introduction to all the policies, highlighting
  the SABCs commitment to the highest professional
  and ethical standards, the SABCs demand from its
  staff for the highest quality of programming, the
  challenges presented by these policies, and the
  requisite requirement for investment in
  professional development, and the essential
  re-professionalisation of staff at the SABC.

66
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Programming
4. Education
5. Religion
6. Language
7. Mandate
8. News
9. General issues
10. Next steps

67
General issues

• Decision that the annual 3-year action plan are
  not retained (in the Language, Universal Access
  and Education policies).
• Some have found it confusing better to commit
  to providing annual action plan.
• Decision that the effective date for the policies
  was 1 April 2004 to allow for training programme.
  However aspects of the policies would become
  effective sooner especially those impacting on
  election coverage.
• The policies will stand for 5 years
• The Editorial Policies are now the framework
  against which all staff decisions need to be
  tested.

68
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Programming
4. Education
5. Religion
6. Language
7. Mandate
8. News
9. General issues
10. Summary of commitments

69
Agenda

1. Background
2. Public consultation
3. Programming
4. Education
5. Religion
6. Language
7. Mandate
8. News
9. General issues
10. Summary of commitments

70
What the policies mean for staff

• The editorial policies have been adopted by the
  SABC Board. Every member of the editorial staff,
  in the regions, at head office and overseas, is
  required to study, understand, observe and
  implement the editorial policies.
• The policies are intended to help staff negotiate
  difficult editorial issues and decisions to
  ensure that distinctive and compelling even
  controversial programmes can be produced and
  broadcast, while maintaining the highest ethical
  and editorial standards.
• The policies emphasise that responsibility for
  editorial decisions rests with editorial staff.
• Policy and Regulatory Affairs is available to
  provide clarification on any aspect of the
  policies.
• Policy and Regulatory Affairs will handle
  complaints about violations of the policies.
  Serious infringements will be reported to GE and
  Board.

71

Thank you! Fakir Hassen Manager Broadcast
Compliance 011-714-3728 hassenf_at_sabc.co.za