National Freedom Day

19 October 2010

This year’s National Media Freedom Day – October 19 – will be marked at Wits University with a “Black Wednesday” commemorative meeting in the morning and a seminar on the theme “Media freedom, media reform” in the afternoon.

This year’s National Media Freedom Day – October 19 – will be marked at Wits University with a “Black Wednesday” commemorative meeting in the morning and a seminar on the theme “Media freedom, media reform” in the afternoon.

The day is marked annually on the anniversary of the day in 1977 when the apartheid regime cracked down on the media, banning The World, Weekend World and other titles and detaining a number of journalists.The event has particular relevance this year as it comes amid intense discussion about media freedom issues, sparked by the Protection of Information Bill, the proposal for a Media Appeals Tribunal and other developments.

The “Black Wednesday” commemorative event, arranged by the SA National Editors Forum, the Faculty of Humanities at Wits and the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, will see Prof Kader Asmal deliver the keynote address. The title of his talk is: “Holistic perspective – focusing on the importance of freedom of expression in a democracy. Other speakers will include Mandla Langa, Joe Latakgomo and Mondli Makhanya. …The afternoon seminar will focus on the larger picture and principles, around the theme “Media freedom, media reform”, by highlighting two strands of the current debate around the media..

he seminar will feature the former Swedish MP and Deputy Finance Minister Olle Wästberg, who is also former editor-in-chief of one of Sweden’s biggest dailies, who will share his experiences and discuss the Swedish approach to the public’s right to information. This event is hosted by the Embassy of Sweden in Pretoria, the International School of Transparency, UCT, the South African National Editors Forum, the Journalism Programme at Wits University as well as the Wits School of Law.

Speakers include Nic Dawes, Mondli Makhanya, Essop Pahad; Eusebius McKaiser; Prof Richard Calland and Prof Franz Krüger..

October 19
Time: 10am – 1pm
Venue: Graduate School of the Humanites Seminar Room, SW Engineering Building, Wits University, Bramfontein
“Media freedom, media reform” Seminar

October 19
Time: 2 – 5pm
Venue: Chalsty Centre, Wits University, Braamfontein
Further information can be obtained from Sanef at 011 4843630, or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address),or on cell 0847842006

• Author: Admin
• Comments: No comments