AfriForum welcomes retention of Media24 journalists – emphasises value of public pressure

AfriForum welcomes the news that 66 journalists out of the approximately 400 who, according to initial reports, would have lost their jobs at Media24, will be retained. The fact that the retention of titles including Beeld, Rapport and City Press is also being reconsidered, even if online only, is also positive.

According to Alana Bailey, AfriForum’s Head of Cultural Affairs, it is essential for the survival of quality journalism in South Africa and especially in Afrikaans that the experience and expertise of these seasoned media people should be retained. According to her, the reconsideration of Media24’s savings measures also proves the value of pressure from civil society to ensure that their interests are not compromised.

“In the current era where fake news and erroneous reports created by artificial intelligence programmes threaten reliable journalism and ethical reporting, it is essential that news sources that are subject to quality control and institutions such as the Press Ombudsman must be protected and retained,” Bailey states. She points out that media companies cannot be compared to other businesses, as the media has a great responsibility towards the public and can literally influence matters of life and death.

“More journalists also mean more perspectives and direct representation throughout the country, plus less recycling of the same reports, which is essential to keep people informed and help them to have informed opinions.”

“Especially for the future of Afrikaans as a high-functioning language, a dynamic and extensive media representation and reporting is of the greatest importance. Journalists are often the ones who first develop vocabulary and introduce new technology intelligibly to the Afrikaans reading community. Fewer Afrikaans journalists necessarily also mean a shrinking of this creative pool, which is neither in the interest of the language, nor the language community,” she says.

The preservation of print media remains a matter on which AfriForum feels strongly. Hopefully there will also be good news in this regard in the future.

AfriForum’s petition against the closure of the newspapers is still available and the public can sign it at www.redrapport.co.za.