Govt pledges to support local media

Upholding, ethics, professionalism … The Free State Press Forum’s Kamogelo Seekoei says the body seeks to improve the standards of journalism

The corporate communications director in the Office of the Premier, Setjhaba Maphalla, says there is a great need for the provincial government to support the local media.

Addressing journalists and government communicators from various departments at the second meeting of the Free State Press Forum at Salga House on Wednesday, Maphalla said while government continues to support local media, more still needs to done to ensure their sustainability.

“Adverts alone cannot sustain publications, therefore government has a responsibility to find sustainable ways in which we can assist,” said Maphalla.

Maphalla mentioned the importance of empowering community newspapers: “We want to use this sector to communicate more with local communities and fulfil our mandate to give every citizen a voice and these publications are doing exactly that.”

His sentiments were echoed by department of health spokesperson Mondli Mvambi who said the newly established press forum would enable government to work with publications within a coordinated structure, while ensuring that up and coming journalists are also afforded the necessary skills and training to execute their duties effectively.

“The press forum is long overdue. It’s high time journalists in the province had a structure to advocate both their rights but role in society as a whole.”

The forum’s strategic planning manager, Kamogelo Seekoei, said the forum was established to represent journalists in the province and also improve the standard of ethical journalism in the province while working closely with the provincial government.