The Gandhi Development Trust, in partnership with the Durban University of Technology’s Journalism Programme hosted the 6th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Media Lecture at Arthur Smith Hall, City Campus, DUT, yesterday, (Wednesday, 19 March 2014).
The objective of the Annual Gandhi Media Lecture is to promote a culture of non-violence by raising awareness on the important role and responsibilities carried out by journalists. Media has the power to influence society and this gives it the onus to report on news responsibly.
Titled: Going back to the future: Reflecting on 20 years of media freedom, Yacoob Abba Omar; Director of Operations of the Mapungubwe Institute (MISTRA), delivered the keynote address on media freedom and the formulation of a media charter which was well received by DUT students, lecturers and various other stakeholders.
Prior to his current position, Omar served in several capacities in the public sector: as South Africa’s Ambassador to Sultanate of Oman; then to the United Arab Emirates and as the Deputy Director-General of the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS). Also significant is the many years Omar spent fighting against apartheid as a student leader, community organiser and underground operative of the ANC. He was detained on several occasions and eventually went into exile in 1985 to escape imprisonment. He continued serving the African National Congress on a full-time basis until the 1994 elections. In 1998, Omar was decorated by the Minister of Defence for 15 years of Distinguished Service.
In his lecture, Omar also focused on other critical aspects of media freedom. They included the
ANC’s stance on media freedom and the drafting of the Media Charter; contemporary issues such as media diversity, media regulation and the Protection of State Information Bill; a way forward that addresses the complex relationship between media and government as well as the representation of the voices of women and youth in the media.
Omar said since the early 90s, there have been major developments in media which came with the drafting of the Media Charter. He also added that during the ANCs 1992 national conference, there was great focus on media freedom and an agreement was made verifying that the media was essential in a democratic South Africa.
The introduction of the Protection of State Information Bill raised concerns on media freedom. Omar agreed that there is a need for certain state information to be classified as secret, however, he also agreed with the civil society’s call for the protection of information to also be considered.
Omar was also concerned by the decreasing number of women that were represented in the media. He said that women enjoyed only 15 percent of media coverage and in some instances, female spokespersons aren’t taken seriously.
Omar concluded his lecture by urging journalists and DUT journalism students, to always have the interests of the poor and vulnerable in mind when they were reporting.
Philiswa Xulu
