No image available
/ 13 October 2003

Balancing interests at the SABC

The Broadcasting Amendment Bill has been the big item on the SABC’s corporate agenda over the last couple of months. The people in Auckland Park seem pleased with the final result, arguing that the broadcaster’s editorial independence is now guaranteed. It may not be so simple. Kevin Bloom writes that Peter Matlare’s balancing act is as delicate as ever.

No image available
/ 13 October 2003

Citizens or Consumers?

If the media oil the wheels of the free enterprise system, and the US media supplies most of the grease, maybe it’s a redundant question. We’re consumers, right? So put away the Che Guevarra T-shirt and get with the programme. Consolidation, corporate accountability and the rights of the consumer all feature in this month’s editorial comment.

No image available
/ 13 October 2003

Gaga for Mabanga

Thebe Mabanga is hot shit. The <i>Mail & Guardian</i> confirmed as much two years ago, in print. Recently Vodacom caught on and gave him an award worth R300 000 for being the most outstanding young journalist in the country. Kevin Bloom finds out if Mabanga talks like he writes.

No image available
/ 13 October 2003

The state’s business is booming

The closure of <i>The Daily News</i> does not translate into good sense for the Zimbabwean people, whether measured against a democratic or an economic standard. Any regulatory regime that has had the effect, as this one has, of killing an industry cannot be said to be in the public interest.

No image available
/ 13 October 2003

Costing the common currency

South Africas media and marketing research may be the envy of the world, but the institutions that control and fund it are being threatened from within. Why are SAARF and MIT under the whip? What improvements are the stakeholders proposing? Kevin Bloom reports.