SABC FIGURES A SIGN THAT THERE IS NO TURN-AROUND
The SACP has noted an article in Sunday newspapers yesterday which shows that the SABC has lost over one million viewers across all three channels in the prime-time news slot in the past six months.
Whilst we are not certain of the methodology used in the data gathering, the South African Advertising Research Foundation's surveys are accepted as a reliable measure in the industry. This would indeed be a reflection of very serious decline of the public broadcaster, indicating a deeper rot in this institution. By all measures, it seems it is only in South Africa that the public broadcaster has such ratings.
This can only be attributed to the shoddy approach to what is news by the SABC; the extent of stale and repeat programmes; the fact that the SABC's news agenda is set by the print media; and the fact that for all intents and purposes, the SABC has become a mouthpiece of a particular faction in the liberation movement, and this slant has become too apparent to any right thinking South African. An organisation with more than 200 journalists cannot have its news agenda being set by a fractiono of its reporters in the commercial media.
The SABC may well argue that it is underfunded. Whilst the SACP is sympathetic to the funding challenges at the SABC, we are however wondering if indeed the challenges at the SABC are purely funding challenges. And on this score the SACP begs to differ, as we believe thatthe challenges are deeply ideological, coupled with a serious leadership crisis.
The SACP will continue to campaign for the SABC to be established as a true public broadcaster. As we prepare for our own congress and the ANC's Policy Conference we will pursue policy proposals for the ultimate freeing of the SABC from ideological, factional, commercial and funding challenges.
We urge government to take urgent steps to remedy this malady, including speeding up a comprehensive review of our broadcasting policies and experiences since 1994.
Statement issued by the SACP, March 19 2012
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