Pretoria - The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) has called on everyone, not just media practitioners, to celebrate and protect the principles of media freedom.
Monday marks Word Press Freedom Day in most countries as per the proclamation of the United Nations General Assembly of 1993. The Declaration affirms that a free press is essential to the existence of democracy and a fundamental human goal
MDDA CEO Lumko Mtimde said in a statement that media freedom must be celebrated as principle not only for media practitioners but by all in society. "As we celebrate we should remember that media freedom is for all, not just media practitioners."
He said the launch of the new broadcasting services like Top TV, community newspapers like Sikhula Sonke News was a boost in terms of ensuring media diversity in the country.
"We must strive to ensure that every citizen has access to a range of choice of diverse media. We must ensure that rural communities have access to all media, including television services.
"We must ensure responsible journalism and that our media is transformed to reflect South Africa in every respect," Mtimde said.
This year's World Press Freedom Day in South Africa marks the 16th anniversary of the media freedom protected and enshrined in the constitution, with many laws that gives meaning to the media's right to freedom of expression.
Mtimde said the MDDA, which is tasked with building an environment where a diverse, vibrant and creative media flourishes and reflects the needs of all South Africans, invites all South Africans to remember and celebrate World Press Freedom Day.
The MDDA has from its inception in 2004 supported more than 282 community and small commercial media projects and more than R102 million in grants has been spent on the projects.
Mtimde said the agency will continue to provide support to the development of more voices in the media through funding and capacity building programmes.
"This will of course enable them to shape their future as they see fit and completely transform their communities," he said, adding that this year provides an opportunity for all media to reflect and consider plans to further its transformation to reflect the South African society in all respect.
