In today’s fast-paced world, where information continuously flows through various channels, press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, as stated by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre.
In celebration of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, different media houses declare it’s imperative to reflect on the significance of an independent and vibrant press in fostering transparency, accountability, and ultimately, societal progress.
Press freedom is more than just a privilege, it is a fundamental right protected by Section 16 of the Constitution, which states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media.”
According to the Human Rights Commission, press freedom acts as a watchdog, keeping those in power accountable and promoting the spread of various opinions and ideas. According to the South African Constitution section 16 subsection (2), however, this right is not absolute and can be opposed by different circumstances, including censorship, intimidation, and economic pressure.
University of the Western Cape (UWC) held a webinar on Microsoft Teams in celebration of Press Freedom Day with a focus on linguistic inclusivity in media. Sisanda Nkoala is a professor at the UWC Linguistics Department and facilitated and organised the webinar. One of the remarkable statements she made was that ‘journalists could not speak power in their languages in history as Afrikaans and English were heavily censored’.
Mbali Dhlomo, a publisher in KZN, highlighted the importance of journalists being able to report on issues in their language and the language in which their publications are being circulated.
“The role of publishers can never be undervalued and community media is playing a huge role in informing communities in a language that they understand,” she elaborated.
Sikelelwa Dlanga from the Indigenous Languages Action Forum added, “Indigenous languages are valid regardless of how many people speak the language.”
She further added that every language possesses a lot of knowledge that other people do not have.
Themba Sepotokele from the Press Council reminded the audience that even though misinformation and disinformation exist, journalists need to remain ethical in their news coverage and remember that stories need to always be verified.
“The genesis of good journalism is ethics,” Themba concluded.
