Johannesburg: The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has highlighted the need for proactive regulations in the media industry, particularly concerning platform accountability, competition, and recent acquisitions, such as the Multichoice and Canal+ deal. The agency emphasized the potential risks these developments pose to the sustainability of the community media sector. According to South African Government News Agency, Lethabo Dibetso, Acting Executive Manager of MDDA, expressed concerns during a panel discussion at the 2024 Media Freedom Festival. He pointed out that the Universal Service Fund (USAF) levy, significantly contributed by Multichoice, plays a crucial role in funding the community media sector. The recent acquisition by French media giant Canal+, which bought shares in the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed broadcaster, raises questions about the future contributions to the USAF levy by Multichoice. Dibetso explained that the USAF, established under the Electronic Communications Ac t, is pivotal for funding universal service and access to information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) across South Africa. He underscored the importance of these funds in supporting the community media sector over the past 20 years, providing both financial aid amounting to R600 million and non-financial support worth more than R20 million. This support has been instrumental in creating jobs and offering governance training to enhance media platform diversity at the community level. The discussion, hosted by Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), also addressed the broader challenges facing the media sector, including the economic downturn impacting advertising revenues and the competition from digital platforms. These issues threaten the financial sustainability of community media organizations, which are already struggling to secure advertising funding. Furthermore, Dibetso highlighted the increasing challenges related to media freedom, particul arly the safety and protection of women in the media industry. He noted an uptick in cyber misogyny and attacks on women journalists, underscoring the urgent need for protective reforms. Thandi Smith, Head of Programmes at MMA, supported this call for reform, noting the necessity of robust mechanisms to safeguard journalists and uphold media freedom in the face of legal challenges and restrictive policies. The panelists collectively emphasized the significant role the judiciary has played over the years in promoting media freedom, including reforms that have facilitated media access to cover criminal cases, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in journalism.
Johannesburg: The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has highlighted the need for proactive regulations in the media industry, particularly concerning platform accountability, competition, and recent acquisitions, such as the Multichoice an...