recommendations & action points arising from the report on the national summit on content and...
TRANSCRIPT
Recommendations & Action Points
arising from theReport on the National Summit on Content and Language
IntroductionThe White Paper on Broadcasting policy Broadcasting plays pivotal role Protecting national culture and identity Shaping nation building
In multi-media digital environment protection of culture and national identity face even greater challengesOur broadcasting system needs to be organised to reflect SA reality, culture & identity and produce high quality & innovative content for global markets.
Provincial & National Summits addressed:
How well does the South African broadcast system respond to the unique national needs?
How can public broadcasting maintain the diversity of output and universal access to services that have framed its mission historically?
What strategies seem best for achieving this, and with what goals? What are the best options in various financial arrangements for future
operations, especially in light of already saturated funding and constantly increasing output requirements?
To what extent is the Commercial broadcasting service providing services that South Africans can identify with? Where is South Africa in the commercial broadcasting services?
Are Community Broadcasting Services meeting any real need? Where is the community in Community Broadcasting Services?
Is language an issue in broadcasting: creating language diversity through broadcasting
What are the implications of media policy and organizational structure for the social lives of ordinary people?
Background
Mini summits were convened as a prelude to the National Summit held in November 2003 as follows:
Free State Province 11 July 2003 Limpopo Province 25 July 2003 Eastern Cape Province 1 August 2003 North West Province 15 August 2003 KwaZulu Natal Province22 August 2003 Mpumalanga Province 5 September 2003 Western Cape Province 11 September 2003 Northern Cape Province18 September 2003 Gauteng Province 8 October 2003
BackgroundThe key issues and broad areas of focus in the Provincial mini-summits were the following:
Strategies to cater for significant portions of the broadcasting market not addressed by national broadcasting services in its current form
How Regional broadcasting can assist in meeting regional needs and offer audiences programme choice and diversity
What constitutes broadcasting issues in terms of language, cultural and content specificity
How best can South African broadcasting reflect the overall audience needs?
Funding model for a broadcasting system that reflects regional needs
National Summit on Broadcast Content and Languages
The envisaged outcomes from the Summit were the following:
List of policy recommendations to guide operations within the broadcasting sector
Effective implementation strategies for the support, development, and sustenance of a viable South African production industry
Participation by members of the public, private organisations as well as civil society in the process of shaping broadcasting and its content in South Africa
Cultural and language objectives for broadcasting services Funding mechanisms for local content development and broadcasting
services in the eleven official languages
National Summit on Broadcast Content and Languages
Key issues and focus areas discussed at the National Summit included the following:
Reports on the views expressed at the Provincial Mini-Summits Media and Democracy: Is the South African Broadcasting system
reflecting South Africa’s Transformation Special Role of Broadcasting in National Life Broadcasting and National Culture Broadcasting and Language: Ensuring that there is an equitable
distribution of all South African official languages within the broadcasting system
Funding Strategies to support and build Public broadcasting Strategies to grow and develop the South African broadcasting
production sector
Broad Resolutions of the Summit
The Summit took resolutions and adopted recommendations. The National Summit will be convened biennially so as to track progress.
In addition to the resolutions and adopted recommendations, the South African Broadcast Content and Languages Summit National Task Team Members were appointed to:
Finalise Summit Resolutions and Adopted Recommendations Present the Summit Report to the Minister of Communications on 09
March 2004 Develop a publicity programme for the Summit Resolutions and
Adopted Recommendations
South African Broadcast Content and Languages Summit National Task Team Members
1. Victor Moyo SYS FP 2. Moshoeshoe Chabeli P.A.W.E 3. Rashaad Carlsen Challenge Production 4. J.B Du Toit Tabema/ MAG 5. J.N.R Molewa Khelovedu Project 6. N.N Ntshangase Analyst 7. C.M Msomi Singila Comms 8. M.A Moleleki PANSALB 9. Kethiwe Ngcobo UPI/IPO 10. Maishe Maponya P.A.W.E 11. Malebye Philly Khethani 12. Sbo Nhlapo Analyst 13. George Mohlamonyane Mpumalanga 14. Nelson Madela Education 15. D Mulligan Challenge Production 16. James Nukeri WOL Ministries 17. Mohapi T.W.D DAC 18. Joyce Ndamase CAFTEP 19. Faiza Abrahams – Smith NCRF 20. Gerrit Brand TABEMA
Recommendations and Action Points
Arising from the Report on the National Summit
Regional Broadcasting
Full Coverage by transmitter networkHigh level of local content – regulatedRegional Programming Reflect diversity of regions Regional issues covered through variety
of programming Participation of local communities
Regional BroadcastingFull coverage by transmitter networkRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (a)
In preparation for the new regional broadcast stations, planning must be made to expand the transmitter network to ensure that every region in South Africa is adequately covered so that isolated communities, separated by mountains, might be better served through regional broadcasting services.
Action point (i)
Conduct an audit / research of all communities in the areas not currently covered by the broadcast footprints, to ensure that there is planning for complete regional coverage for the new regional television stations, even if these areas are still not covered by existing footprints.
DoC SABC Liaison with local Government
Action point (ii)
Ensure geographical coverage for both radio and television DoC SABC
Action point (ii)
Liaison with Sentech to initially expand the terrestrial coverage to ensure 100% coverage of all communities.
DoC Sentech
Action point (iii)
Look at potential of adding repeaters on cellular telephone pylons
DoC Sentech
Action point (iv)
The standard of quality of the broadcast signal to be regulated by ICASA within the footprint for the regional services and for the existing channels
ICASA Sentech
Action point (v)
Liase with Sentech to develop satellite coverage DoC Sentech
Regional programming & productionRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (e)
Programming and production for Regional Broadcasting must address regional issues and there should be a clear distinction between regional and national broadcasting service in this regard
Recommendation (f)
Regional broadcasting programmes must reflect the diverse and distinct identity of each region, providing for more and relevant local content.
Action point (i)
Commissioning editors for the regional channels must ensure that preference is given to service providers within that specific region and they should aim for 60% programmes being commissioned from regionally based service providers. The identity, shareholding and responsibilities of the local service providers should be disclosed through the usual tender processes.
Action point (ii)
No individual production company to be commissioned for more than 20% of the total programmes commissioned.
Action point (iii)
The SABC should also publish annually how much work, and to whom, it has commissioned from independent producers. This must be audited independently from the SABC
Action point (iv)
Each regional broadcast service must have 80% of its programmes covering regional issues
Action point (v)
Expand the broadcasting production sector in all regions through training initiatives and through access/community television
Regional Broadcasting
Training and skills development Via business / stakeholder
partnerships Participation of MAPPP SETA Inclusion of black women/targeted
groups
Specific emphasis on target groupsFunding initiatives
Training and skills development Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (b)
Government should partner with business and local communities through NGO’s and other community structures to provide training, particularly, but not only, to local communities, to develop the various skills required in broadcasting so as to ensure that there is adequate skills development and an enhancement of competencies within the broadcasting industry
Action Point (i)
Formation of partnerships to assist in identifying regional issues and to provide the necessary support base for skills and training and local production.
DoC Local & Prov. Gov. NGO’s Local Communities Business
Recommendation (c)
Build a dynamic human resource base through skills development and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities
Recommendation (d)
Employment equity and affirmative action policies inclusive of targeted groups must be implemented
Action point (i)
Nemisa should refocus its programme to look at development of existing broadcasting and producing industry skills
Nemisa
Action point (ii)
Nemisa should conduct a needs analysis and skills audit of the broadcasting and production industry and structure its programme in line with the outcome of this research
Nemisa
Action point (iii)
Nemisa should align their recruitment policies with regard to black women and people with special needs in their training programme
Nemisa
Action point (iv)
Nemisa should review the extent to which broadcasters have met government targets regarding gender and people with special needs in an annual review
Nemisa
Action point (v)
MAPPP SETA must make provision to fund the re-skilling and skilling of regional people by 15% per annum over the next 3 years, based on the regional skills shortage identified by the Nemisa skills audit, with special emphasis on black women and people with special needs
MAPPP SETA
Role PlayersDepartment of CommunicationsDepartment of Arts and CultureIndependent Communications Authority of South AfricaSouth African Broadcasting CorporationNational Film and Video FoundationMedia Development and Diversity AgencyOther BroadcastersProvincial & Local Governments
Financial Implications
Government, SABC should plan for these recommendations and action points within their MTEF
Public Broadcasting
Role of Public BroadcasterDiversity of content & language Particularly during prime time
New funding model to be instituted for the public broadcaster Commit to measurable benchmarks
Role of the Public BroadcasterRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (g)
The current situation is that, according to ICASA, SABC 1’s footprint currently reaches 83% of the population and SABC 2 stands at 85.6% with SABC 3 at 77%, with expansion plans to bring SABC 1’s footprint to 90% and SABC 2 to 91% of the population. The SABC must continue with its expansion in all services, including language specific radio programmes as currently broadcast on the PBS service, so as to reach all South Africans especially, in under-serviced, rural and remote areas of the country. They should have reached a target of 100% coverage by 2010 for both radio and television
SABC ICASA
Diversity of content & languageRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (h)
Government must pursue comprehensive transformation of the public broadcaster to reflect the unity and diversity of our people and the needs of the democratic society, and build a strong public broadcaster to promote and protect all languages recognised by the Constitution equally through local content programming
DoC
Action point (i)
The public broadcaster must have prime time viewing in all official languages, heritage languages and South African Sign Language with a guaranteed minimum local programme content per week during prime time and in all programme categories or genres for each language
Funding InitiativesRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
(i) Government should increase funding for public broadcasting within the provisions of the Broadcasting Amendment Act
DoC
Action point (i)
The Government should fund and clearly mandate regional and national public broadcaster to provide a broad range of programme services and to be publicly accountable for their use of public funds.
DoC SABC
Action point (ii)
Alternative funding options should be developed in order to expand the broadcasting production sector in all regions and local content and language programmes should be obtained through access/community television in order to save costs
DoC SABC Access / Community TV partnerships
Recommendation (j)
In terms of extending the present broadcast terrain for indigenous African languages, technological mechanisms should be introduced to broaden to the maximum the geographic spread indigenous languages. Funds have to be sourced elsewhere to accomplish this absolute necessity. The SABC Board is the main actor
SABC
Recommendation (k)
There must be funding and management of industry economic information for medium term planning and programming.
New Funding Model
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (l)
Institute a new funding model for the public broadcaster which should make it less dependant on advertising revenue while also retaining its independence from the State
DoC
Action point (i)
Government should retain a mixed funding model whilst exploring other funding options.
Action point (ii)
The Department of Communications and the public broadcaster should commit themselves to measurable benchmarks in terms of meeting the new funding model so that by 2010 the dependence on advertising revenue should be reduced by 60%.
Action point (iii)
Government must also, on a continuous basis, carry out a review on the overall level of funding of the SABC to establish the appropriate level of funding for the required public broadcasting service output
Broadcast LicenseRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (m)
The broadcasting licence fee collection and usage issue should be resolved at a Departmental level and new procedures should incorporate collection targets with appropriate measures to determine the best cost effective ways to maximise revenue..
DoC National Treasury SARS
Action point (i)
Government and SABC should educate the public on why they should pay broadcast license fees.
Action point (ii)
The broadcast licence fee should be reviewed with the objective of establishing a base on which the SABC can move forward to meet its public broadcasting service mandate. The Government should ensure through a series of adjustments over defined periods that the value of the new licence fee will not be eroded.
Action point (iii)
Adjustments to the licence fee should be dependent on SABC’s performance in meeting the requirements set out under the Charter. Also, decisions on the level of the licence fee should be made on the basis of an agreed business plan
Action point (iv)
Alternative system of collection of the license fee should be explored, removing this responsibility from the SABC. These could include: license fee collection by SARS (or other non-SABC body), a small levy on electricity consumption that would vary with the amount of electricity consumed and therefore with level of income (as suggested in the I-MAG at the summit), or even a type of decoder based license fee system (possibly linked to the introduction of digital TV)
Role PlayersDepartment of CommunicationsSouth African Broadcasting CorporationNational TreasuryReceiver of Revenue
Financial Implications•Government, SABC should plan for this within their MTEF
Local Content & Production
Increase production of popular local dramasSupport for production, marketing & distribution of local programmingEstablish economic growth strategy for industry
High level of local contentRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (n)
Government should provide a clear policy definition of local content in terms of the mandate of the regional channels and ICASA should duly regulate accordingly.
DoC ICASA
Recommendation (o)
Regional broadcasting stations should have 75% - 80% local content especially during prime time or the core broadcasting time.
Recommendation (p)
ICASA must then ensure that regionality is not compromised by inevitable commercial pressure.
Action point (i)
The definition of what constitutes local content and the regulations and credit system on repeat showing of local content to be re-defined by the next Broadcasting summit in order to close existing loopholes.
Action point (ii)
Licensing conditions must be clearly defined so that performance can be annually measured and monitored and the conditions enforced.
Action point (iii)
ICASA must audit the regulations to ensure no loopholes allow broadcasters to evade set license conditions.
Increased production of popular local programmes
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (q)
Broadcasters should increase the quality and number of South African-made productions.
DoC ICASA
Recommendations (r)
The Government must place strong emphasis on measures and incentives to ensure South African audiences view South African content programming
DoC
Action point (i)
These locally produced programmes should be scheduled during prime time and/or the core broadcast time
Action point (ii)
Reduce the number of imported Dramas, Reality Shows, Talk Shows Game Shows and Soaps and phase in appropriate local productions. When imported programmes are used in regional services they should have captions/sub-titles in the appropriate indigenous languages
Action point (iii)
Through role-player collaboration create more opportunities for programmes that are made-in-South Africa, proudly South Africa and made-for-South Africans
DoC SABC
Action point (v)
In pursuit of NEPAD, the AU and the African Renaissance, local and continental (African) producers should co-produce indigenous programmes that positively portray Africa. DoC should engage with its African counterparts so as to facilitate the realization of this partnership
DoC SABC
Support for production, marketing and distribution of local programmingRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (s)
Local content should be supported in terms of production / co-production, marketing, distribution and export.
Action point (i)
Establish a Development Agency to assist in capacity building and provision of support in co-productions, marketing, distribution and exporting of local content
Action point (ii)
Existing policies on promotion, production and distribution through existing structures should be reviewed.
Action point (iii)
The Dept of Arts & Culture should review the mandate of the NFVF, the NTVA and the Film Commission, amongst other agencies.
Action point (iv)
Local and regionally produced programmes (including programmes in indigenous languages, using subtitles/captions) should be distributed to foreign markets
Establish economic growth strategy for industry
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (t)
Establish an economic growth strategy for the industry DoC
Action point (i)
Review the protection of Property Rights and the Copyright Act
DoC
Action point (ii)
Ensure regulatory framework is conducive to producing local content
DoC ICASA
Action point (iii)
Introduce and monitor BEE in the industry DoC
Action point (iv)
Monitor and regulate advertisers’ policies in terms of their influence to dictate content
DoC
Action point (v)
The performance of broadcasters to be measured in terms of attracting and growing South African audiences for local programs.
DoC ICASA
Action point (vi)
ICASA must require broadcasters to air a specific amount of local dramatic programming or earmark a certain amount of expenditures on original South African drama.
ICASA
Action point (vii)
The industry must create an industry stakeholder partnership for encouraging self-regulated agreements on access, redress, commissioning, competition and rights
Role PlayersDepartment of CommunicationDepartment of Arts and CultureDepartment of Trade and IndustryNational TreasuryIndependent Communications Authority of South AfricaSouth African Broadcasting CorporationNational Film and Video FoundationMedia Development and Diversity AgencyBroadcasters
Financial Implications
The Departments of Communications, Arts and Culture and Trade and Industry; plus National Film and Video Foundation and MAPPP SETA should co-ordinate their budgets to address the Content matters and spirit of the recommendations, working closely with programme makers, training institutions and broadcasters.
Language & Broadcasting
Diversity of language broadcasts Extend the broadcast terrain Management, staff and languageLanguage units through partnershipsStructures for direct public influence/accessFunding implicationsUniversal access to unite
Diversity of Language Broadcasts
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (u)
A guaranteed minimum programme content per week during peak viewing time should be allocated to all official languages, heritage languages and South African Sign Language, as recognised by the Constitution with a guaranteed minimum programme content per week during prime time, in all categories or genres for each language; providing a regular airtime window for each language
DoC SABC PanSALB National Language Service
Action point (i)
All TV Programmes, whether local or imported, on national as well as regional broadcasters, should be made available in at least two (but preferably three or more) languages simultaneously through the use of technological means such as captions/subtitles, dubbing, simulcast, transmitter separation, and full use of the capabilities of digital broadcasting once it is introduced – this should be done in order to make programmes in specific languages accessible to audiences who do not (yet) understand those languages, to facilitate intercultural and interlinguistic exposure, to promote language learning, and to raise literacy levels. (Responsibility of the SABC and, possibly, DoC and ICASA by writing this demand into the SABC’s license conditions);
Action point (ii)
Captions/subtitles and dubbed audio feeds should be provided in all South African languages, and not only in English as is currently done;
Action point (iii)
The use of these technological means to broadcast in more than one language simultaneously should not detract in any way from the provision of a guaranteed minimum programme content per week during prime time, and the provision of a clear airtime window, for each language as stipulated elsewhere in the report – i.e. captioning/subtitling or dubbing a programme into a particular language should not count as programming in that language, or should have a significantly lower count value.
Diversity of Language Broadcasts
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Action point (iv)
During programmes in a particular language, whether on TV or radio, sound bites in a different language (e.g. an English or Afrikaans sound bite during an isiXhosa news bulletin or documentary) should be translated by means of subtitles (TV) or voice-overs (radio & TV) into the language in which the programme is supposed to be so as to avoid discrimination against those (e.g. those isiXhosa speaking viewers/listeners) who do not understand the language in question (e.g. English or Afrikaans).
Action point (v)
Programme announcements should not be made in English only or English mainly, but in all languages equally, and the same announcement must be made at different times in as many different languages as possible.
Action point (vi)
Programmes in languages other than English should include educational and scholastic programmes as well as documentaries and current affairs and discussion programmes – i.e. the practice of providing information, education and entertainment in English, but only or mainly entertainment in the other languages should be stopped.
Action point (vii)
In addition to the guaranteed minimum programme content for each language, there should also be a guaranteed minimum of airtime made available every week (both nationally and regionally) for multilingual programmes, i.e. programmes in which more than one language is used in the original soundtrack, and where no single language is used in more than 50% of the dialogue.
Diversity of Language Broadcasts
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (v)
Ensure equity in broadcast time allocated to various languages. “
Recommendation (w)
Regional television must use local languages and presenters should speak (and be trained in) those indigenous languages
Recommendation (x)
There should be a guaranteed minimum programming time per language included in the license conditions of the SABC / any broadcaster.
DoC, SABC PanSALB National Language Service
Recommendation (y)
A variety of quality programming must be available in the languages recognised by the Constitution, including, for example, Khoi, Nama, San, the language of the BaLobedu and Indian languages and in South African Sign language
Recommendation (z)
All this must be done in close consultation and co-operation with PanSALB and the National Language Service
Attitude of management & staff towards language
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (aa)
When appointing the SABC Board, in future, Parliament should also use Language competency as one of the major criterion to ensure there is representative of all the languages and regions of South Africa
DoC
Action point (i)
All those appointed to the SABC board should be multilingual in that they are conversant in at least three languages from among the official languages, the heritage languages and the South African Sign language
Recommendation (ab)
Management and staff should be competent and conversant in the languages over which they preside to enhance sensitivity to individual languages as well as the entire world-view, the indigenous knowledge and the modern propensities they embrace..
Action point (i)
Appoint management conversant with languages over which they preside
Action point (ii)
Broadcasters should identify, through a scientifically conducted language audit or on the basis or an existing audit of this kind, the languages of the regions they serve and take into their employ those who have a capacity in the specific languages.
Action point (iii)
Capacity building through training should be one of the strategic objectives aimed at empowering linguistic communities.
Action point (iv)
Offer language training to enhance language skills for staff as a matter of urgency and provide career and financial incentives to those who make use of such training
Recommendation (ac)
Decolonise the mind of SABC staff with regard to the politics of language
Action point (i)
Organise workshops focused on the language policy and its overt implications for the Broadcaster to conscientize and sensitise broadcast personnel about the role of language in pursuit of African renaissance
Establish language units & development through partnerships
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (ad)
Establishing a language unit for each language on the SABC in collaboration with PanSALB and the National Language Service
Action point (i)
Three to four staff members with good competence in a language be identified to constitute such Units.
Action point (ii)
The main function of the Units would be monitoring the standard of language usage within its competence and to liase language activities of the Broadcaster together with those of external language development agencies.
Recommendation (ad)
Enter into partnerships with other stakeholders to promote inclusion and co-operation of all concerned with language and/or the media
Recommendation (ae)
Enter into partnerships with institutions that offer courses on language and language practice.
Action point (i)
Successful completion of such in-service training programmes be recognised through awarding certificates as well as career and financial incentives.
Action point (ii)
Incentives be put in place to encourage staff to put into practice the knowledge gained from the training.
Action point (iii)
SABC to factor in-service training into the conditions of service for employees, their strategic plans as well as annual budgets.
Develop structures for direct public influence / access
Recommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (af)
More specifically, structures should be created whereby the listening and viewing public can exert direct influence on broadcast content by being incorporated into the newly established content hub, and exploring alternatives like access / community television
Funding ImplicationsRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (ag)
The Department of Communications should enter into negotiations with treasury on how it could access funds earmarked for the implementation of the National Language policy Framework and the South African Languages Bill
Universal access to uniteRecommendation or action point
Item Responsibility
Recommendation (ah)
Broadcasting, in multicultural and multilingual television services, should be available to all South Africans, to fill communications vacuum and use language as a means to unite. This is important because all South Africans, no matter what their cultural origins, are entitled to witness and enjoy an accurate depiction and representation in broadcasting.
Role PlayersDepartment of CommunicationsDepartment of Arts and CultureDepartment of Trade and IndustryDepartment of Provincial and Local GovernmentNational TreasuryIndependent Communications Authority of South AfricaSouth African Broadcasting CorporationNational Film and Video FoundationMedia Development and Diversity AgencyBroadcastersPANSLABCommission for Language, Religion and CultureThe National Language Service
Financial Implications
The Departments of Communications, Provincial and Local Government, Arts and Culture and Trade and Industry; plus Broadcasters, PANSALB, Commission for Languages, Religion and Culture and the National Language Service should co-ordinate their budgets to address the language and broadcasting matters and spirit of the recommendations, working closely with ICASA.