Guy Berger Author

If we don’t want unethical behaviour to infect African journalism, we should urge media houses to embrace the AMI Principles, says Guy Berger.

The 200th edition of Converse is also its last: a swansong timed to coincide with South Africa’s National Press Freedom Day.

What do the following have in common: A cartoon about rape, a song about killing boers, and a photo mash-up of teachers and gay bodybuilders.

There’s renewed focus on newspaper ownership by the ANC, even as they’re becoming less hardline about the Media Appeals Tribunal and the Secrecy Bill.

Imagine a forum on agriculture without the farmers present. The same logic applies to a bunch of people discussing a new law for the SABC.

Wouldn’t it be grand if health journalism became the healthiest trend-setter for the whole family of journalism?

National Press Freedom Day on October 19 is a fitting anniversary to take stock of threats to South African journalism.

Many people don’t want to talk about it. Newspapers have been hammered for featuring an artist’s musings on it.

Faced with mega-messes in education and joblessness, the ANC conference this week thought it could make easy headway with regard to media freedom.

It’s a re-run: rather than only reporting on South Africa, the SABC is itself once again a news story. And for all the wrong reasons.

The ANC’s control-oriented steps have unleashed an even greater cacophony. So where to from here for the ruling party?

Pinch me, somebody! Are the unprecedented protests by newspaper editors unnecessary hysteria? Is the press watchdog crying wolf?

<b>Guy Berger</b> is now a professor of journalism. Part of his early training for the job was a mission for <i>The Weekly Mail</i>.

Everyone, each ANC tendency included, needs a space where news that is officially out-of-favour is free to try its luck within the arena of public opinion.

We all stand to benefit from direct and ongoing exposure to journalism education — and not least about the reporting of Africa.