COMMUNITY BROADCASTING - "Sowetan" on February 21 reported that the South African Advertising Research Foundation's latest release showed a significant increase in the total listenership of community radio stations. The latest audience figures showed that the community radio sector boasted over three million listeners over the seven day period in which the research was conducted. National Community Radio Forum said that it was pleased South Africa was achieving an increase in community radio listenership, as this was a clear sign that community radio was a formidable medium that has loyal audiences. The last independent survey by the Radio Audience Measurement Survey released last year, showed a steady increase to over a million community radio listeners. NCRF believed that the listenership growth was a reflection of the winning programming formats of community radio stations. Such formats have a definite local community flavour and carry relevant and passionate information and content. Earlier this year Free state saw the launch of four community radio stations. The launches were encouraged by an increase in audience figures. NCRF said that it was certain this upward trend in figures would be sustained. "Much attention used to be focused in areas like Gauteng and Western Cape. Now Free State will have a wider choice of radio services at their disposal," said NCRF representative Dumi Ndlovu. The primary target for the stations will be the Nguni and se Sotho speaking audience with a healthy crossover to the English and Afrikaans speaking market.

LEGISLATION - "Business Day" reported on February 23 that new legislation to guide and protect whistle-blowers in the public and private sectors was expected to be enacted next month. The parliamentary justice committee will study the latest draft of the Whistleblower Protection Bill. Committee chairperson Johnny de Lange was confident that the committee would complete its work, including adoption of the bill by the end of next week. The bill is based on similar legislation in Britain, but differs in that it also covers the private sector and not just the public sector. "Business Day" said according to the latest draft, the proposed law will provide for the protection of employees disclosing evidence of contravention of the law, serious maladministration or corruption within the workplace from victimisation, including job loss. De Lange said all parties had previously expressed their support for the envisaged legislation. A whistleblower clause was originally included in the recently enacted Promotion of Access to Information Bill. However, the committee responsible for the information legislation decided to remove the clause because, it said it did not belong there.

MEDIA AND RACISM - "The Star" on February 25 reported that media owners were expected to use their weight to win a major concession from the SA Human Rights Commission. The lifting of subpoenas against editors, in make-or-break talks just days before the commission opens its inquiry into racism in the media. The Media Monitoring Project, which investigated the allegations of racism, and on whose findings the inquiry is based said that it would not participate. MMP said the move was in protest at the way the matter was being handled. "The process is in our view, negative, unhelpful and has taken the focus away from the issue of racism and instead turned it to the issue of freedom of expression". At today's meeting, representatives of Independent News & Media, Times Media Limited, NasNews and Mail&Guardian Media were expected to reiterate their demand that the subpoenas be withdrawn, and reaffirm the commitment of editors to co-operate with the commission in the inquiry. The media owners were also expected to push for the formation of a working group that should include SAHRC officials and editors' representatives. The meeting followed a letter that top management had delivered to the commission, detailing the media houses concerns over the subpoenas. More than 30 editors and journalists have been ordered to appear before the inquiry. The commission has maintained it will not lift the subpoenas unconditionally. Editors have rejected the SAHRC condition requiring them to provide written guarantees that they will take part. Meanwhile, the "Sunday Times" journalists announced on February 24 that they will stage a demonstration outside the SAHRC's head office when the inquiry starts on March 1.The SABC announced that it would co-operate fully with the commission and would soon present its official submission on racism in the media. Enoch Sithole, chief executive of news said that the SABC had written to the SAHRC seeking clarity on the subpoena served on the corporation and was satisfied with the explanation given by the SAHRC.

PUBLIC BROADCASTING - "The Citizen" on February 18 reported that Communications Minister Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri said she had never interfered in the SA Broadcasting Corporation's internal affairs. Matsepe-Casaburri was reacting to reported remarks by the outgoing SABC chairperson Paulos Zulu, that he and his fellow board members were dictated to from above. She said she had never interfered with the SABC internal matters or those deemed to be the responsibility of the board, nor would she ever do so. She said that the SABC itself recently conducted an investigation into its independence, and concluded that there was no government interference. Zulu replied in a letter tabled at a committee meeting that facts as reported were totally incorrect, and that quotes attributed to him were "neither my words, nor my style of talking". Zulu said he had placed the matter in the hands of his lawyers as he had to protect his integrity. Meanwhile, "Business Day" editor Jim Jones said that the newspaper stood by its report.

PRESS FREEDOM - Nine media related organisations in South Africa condemned the closure of one of the Swaziland's leading daily newspapers, "The Swazi Observer" on February 17. The closure of the newspaper was announced by the chairperson of the board of directors, Tim Nhleko in an urgent meeting of all staffers at the newspaper in Mbabane. In a joint statement, the organisations said: " Our strong belief is that the newspaper has been closed for no other reason than to punish the editorial staff for refusing to give in to the pressure of the State. The Swazi state's concerted campaign to force the journalists to disclose confidential sources of information, and its decision to close down the newspaper in the face of their refusal, is a grave violation of the principles of media freedom. The violations include the refusal of the State to respect the editorial independence of the newspaper as well as internationally recognized ethical principles of journalism which forbid journalists to disclose confidential sources of information. "City Press" reported that it was believed that outside forces, including influential politicians and traditionalists, were behind the closure of the newspaper. This follows the publication of reports about certain influential politicians suspected to be involved in secret crime syndicates and other sensitive issues. The Swaziland Media, Publishing and Allied Worker's Union said that it was holding talks with the affected workers to map a way forward.

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