SANEF keen to revisit print in local vernacular
South African National Editors Forum hosted a media languages seminar highlighting the importance and significance of reporting in native languages.
The South African National Editors Forum hosted a moving and, in parts, triggering Indigenous Languages Media Seminar on September 7, at the Radisson Blu Gautrain hotel in Sandton. The event was hosted in collaboration with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) and the United Nations in South Africa.
According to the CEO of PanSALB Lance Schultz, there’s a disproportionate amount of media that is aggregated mainly towards English and Afrikaans. As a result, Schultz indicated, we do not find that there is parity of esteem as is required towards ensuring that there’s equitability in our nation.
“As a result, we are also finding a phenomenon in the country where languages that are provided in the translated services are not at an adequate quality level,” Schultz said. “As PanSALB we are cognisant of this – and it is our duty to and obligation in terms of our role as a Chapter 9 institution to ensure that we monitor this.”
Acknowledging unofficial languages, as well as official languages in South Africa – and the role of the media; Schultz had this to say:
“We also have various dialects which add to the complexity. We do respect the diversity in our country,” said Schultz. “It cannot only be that journalists and editors at large see [events like] this as ‘trying to capitalize on media space’ – because that’s where they tend to generate more revenue. There has to be a much more concerted effort to participate in the societal issues we are faced with.”
The seminar highlighted the importance of news outlets embracing diversification into the domains of vernacular news – as well as explored possible solutions towards ensuring that these are profitable initiatives as well.
This inaugural seminar was themed: The role of indigenous languages in the media in building engaged, informed communities. The media seminar was characterised by opening remarks by SANEF Treasurer-General Tshamano Makhadi; followed by poignant keynote address by Professor Abiodum Salawu from the North-West University; and a panel discussion towards understanding the challenges and potential solutions to the increasing of media outlets which target a vernacular audience base.
According to the press statement released by the forum on September 6: In 2019, SANEF commissioned an Inquiry into Media Ethics and Credibility, which highlighted concerns about the lack of content in African languages.
Related article:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/331124/did-you-know-south-africa-has-a-new-official-language/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/323638/what-does-a-speech-and-language-therapist-do/
