Media News South Africa

SABC rethink on news

The SABC is debating the role its group CEO should play in decisions about its news coverage following the dispute that led to the recent suspension of head of news Phil Molefe.
SABC rethink on news

Group CEO Lulama Mokhobo said in parliament late last week that the SABC's policy on who should be responsible for editorial control would "hopefully" be clarified by the end of the next financial year.

Releasing the broadcaster's 2012/2015 corporate plan, Mokhobo made reference to the continuing scandal involving Molefe, who has been sent on special leave.

"There is the current debate around the role of the CEO in editorial [matters]. We're encouraging that debate," said Mokhobo.

She said the public broadcaster would soon embark on roadshows to solicit input from the public on the issue. The roadshows are expected to take place before the end of the corporation's financial year.

Molefe was sent on special leave reportedly after a row with Mokhobo, who wanted access to the newsroom diary.

Accusations of bias

This apparently followed unhappiness with the amount of airtime that expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema was receiving from the SABC.

Molefe was reportedly accused of using his position to influence news coverage of the tribulations of the beleaguered Malema. He is said to have refused to hand over the news diary to Mokhobo, who is the SABC's group editor-in-chief.

Molefe was then sent on special leave by Mokhobo and the board ratified the decision.

Mokhobo said the broadcaster was committed to realigning and reassigning staff to meet its already overstretched budget but it would try to retain jobs.

"In fact, I'm going to ban the word retrenchment," she said. The public broadcaster is in the midst of implementing a turnaround strategy that is being closely monitored by the Treasury and the Department of Communications.

Source: The Times via I-Net Bridge

Source: I-Net Bridge

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