The FXI mourns the loss of the New Nation newspaper.

The FXI views the closure of New Nation as a blow to media diversity in this country and sees it as yet another example of the inability of the free market to rise to the challenges of media diversity in this country.

The demise of New Nation will hopefully spur on the government to implement the recommendation made by COMTASK with regard to the establishment of a statutorily recognised media development agency which will operate a subsidy system for community and independent media in South Africa. As an organisation dedicated to fighting for media diversity, the FXI believes that lasting sustainable diversity will be greatly assisted through the establishment of an enabling support mechanism that will foster forms of media that are not driven overtly by market imperatives.

The FXI pays tribute to the courageous investigative journalism which the New Nation has displayed since its inception in 1986. Its demise is indeed a sad loss to the media environment in South Africa.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT RAASHIED GALANT AT (011) 403-8403