Media Development and Diversity Agency: Board Interviews

COMMUNICATIONS PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
30 October 2007
MEDIA DEVELOPMENT AND DIVERSITY AGENCY: BOARD INTERVIEWS

Chairperson: Mr I Vadi (ANC)

Documents handed out:
None

Audio recording of meeting [Part 1][Part 2][Part 3]

SUMMARY
Members of the Communications Portfolio Committee interviewed eight people for the vacant positions on the Board of the Media Development and Diversity Agency. Interviews were conducted with Mr Siviwe Minyi, Prof Guy Burger, Ms Gugu Msibi, Mr Thamsanqa Masemola, Ms Nomonde Gongxeka, Ms Roslien Mullins, Prof Devandiren Pillay and Mr Hein Marais (the latter two being interviewed telephonically).

All candidates were to give a brief summary of their CV’s focusing on their experience in media.  Members then asked questions based on the candidates experience.  Questions centered on difficulties in print media and what they would to do improve it.  They were also asked what they would contribute to the MDDA and what they would do to improve the organisation if elected to the board. 

Prof Pillay and Mr Marais were interviewed telephonically. 
 
MINUTES
The Chairperson asked each candidate firstly to briefly inform Members of his or her CV, past experience and reasons for applying, after which question and answer sessions were conducted.
 
Interview: Mr Sizwe Minyi
Mr Minyi told members that he had obtained a degree at the University of Cape Town and then went on to achieve a teaching diploma.  He had taught for three years but that his passion was with media.  Mr Minyi stated that he entered media at a time when there was a strong desire for freedom of the airwaves and the need for accessibility.  He was dedicated to broadening media, specifically community media.

Mr Minyi worked for Bush Radio where he created a series that highlighted changes taking place in the country.  He also helped to start democracy radio and dabbled in print media.  Mr Minyi has always focused on how to make radio more accessible to all people, but had resisted going into mainstream commercial media because he believed in the development of sectors, particularly the rural sector.  He then worked at an organization called Interfund where he liaised closely with people funding Southern Africa.  He became the editor of a website called One World where he helped to educate people about HIV/AIDS. Mr Minyi then moved on to GETNET (Gender Education and Training Network) where he tried to address the issues that women were facing by changing the mentality and attitudes that men had towards women.  He recently worked for the Provincial Department on Community Safety and was currently busy setting up a newspaper that would be written by women and directed at women working in farm areas. 

Ms D Smuts (DA) said that she noticed that he was part of the Quaker Peace Movement.  She wanted to know haw the movement was different to the Quaker Church.  Ms Smuts also noticed that he was a dedicated person committed to many causes, especially those regarding media.  She said that Mr Minyi had spoken about avoiding mainstream commercial media, but wondered if he would take an interest in small commercial media simply because it had its own in-built democratic mechanism.  Ms Smuts wanted to establish whether his commitment to the establishment of media would also embrace more commercial media. 

Mr R Pieterse (ANC) noted that there was a lack of print media in rural areas.  He wanted to know what role Mr Minyi would play in improving the print media.  He also commented on the situation in the Eastern Cape, saying that there was a lack of coordination and sending out of information regarding AIDS.  He wanted to know why this was the case. 

Mr Pieterse asked if he thought that it should be left to the media to decide whether there would be print media.  He said that this method had been used for years without progress.  Mr Pieterse wanted to know if Mr Minyi thought that there should be intervention on a massive scale.

Adv P Swart (DA) wanted to know the circumstances in which Mr Minyi had left the Provincial Department for Community Safety. 

Mr E Kholwane (ANC) commented on issues concerning the Electronic Communication Act (ECA) and asked for Mr Minyi’s view on the Act, as it had resulted in a situation where there was convergence in media.  . 

Interview: Professor Guy Burger
Professor Guy Burger informed members that he had been involved in the alternative press until the early 1990s, when the question of the sustainability of media was very prominent.  At the time he had gained experience by being an editor as well as a business manager.  Prof Burger had assisted in developing an organisation called the Independent Media Diversity Trust but the project could not be sustained. 

He then moved on to Rhodes University in 1994 to head up the School of Journalism and had been there ever since.  Prof Burger was also involved in the research and analysis of sustainability and media density, focusing on how much media was in our society and how South Africa could move into the Information Age.  In the past three years, he had been involved in an international movement promoting media development and diversity in Africa.  Prof Burger had been involved in two projects, one of which focused on obstacles to media development across the whole of Africa, while the other included consultations with media stakeholders around the continent. 

Mr Pieterse commented on media diversity, saying that it seemed to have a steady and continuous growth of community radio, but that there was little progress in terms of print media.  He wanted to know what role Prof Burger would play in the MDDA in promoting and improving print media.  

Ms M Morutoa (ANC) expressed concern at the state of media in areas like Limpopo.  She said that many types of media were not available, and used cell phones as an example.  She wanted to know what Prof Burger thought was lacking in media and what he would bring to the board to address this issue. 

Ms Smuts wanted to know, in light of his association with South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), what Prof Burger’s  views were on the proposals made on the ANC’s  website that there should be a tribunal sitting in judgment over the print sector. 

Ms L Yengeni (ANC) wanted Prof Burger’s own analysis of the state of the print media in South Africa. 

Mr S Nxumalo (ANC) asked him if he had served on any other boards. 

Mr Kholwane wanted to know what Prof Burger thought the MDDA’s role was in promoting media, specifically looking at publishing in the different indigenous languages, as there was a lack of diversity in that regard. 

Mr Pieterse stated that there seemed to be a flat growth in print and expressed concern at the lack of reading and reading material.  He said that the country needed to encourage people to read or everything would become electronic.  Mr Pieterse wanted to know how the MDDA could get more people to read. 

Interview: Ms Gugu Msibi
Ms Msibi informed members that she had studied journalism in Kwazulu Natal and started her career as a political journalist at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).  She went on to become an executive producer for AM and PM Live.  Ms Msibi then gained some experience in community radio.  She moved on to the State Information Technology Agency as head of Public Affairs and Government Relations.  Ms Msibi developed a company called Spin Media to improve communication in public affairs and government relations. 

Mr Swart asked Ms Msibi about the decision to dissolve Spin Media. 

Mr Kholwane wanted to know what she would add to the MDDA in terms of their activities. 

Ms Yengeni asked that if Ms Msibi had to critique the MDDA, which areas she would highlight.

Mr Pieterse wanted to know if Ms Msibi had any experience in print media. 

Ms Yengeni addressed the candidate again asking what her view was on the ruling party’s critique of the print media.

Ms Morutoa wanted to know if she thought, as a journalist, that the country had educated people enough about gender violence and gender mainstreaming. 

Interview: Mr Thamsanqa Masemola
Mr Masemola informed members that he had started off his career in media by working for his university radio station, where he was involved in training new presenters, interacting with media and engaging with advertisers. 

He then participated in print media by joining a magazine as a writer. , He left that magazine and joined Y-mag, a new magazine at the time.  From there, he went in to free- lancing.  Mr Masemola then joined a magazine called Tribute, but it could not be sustained.  He was currently editing Tribute magazine as it was subsequently re-launched.

Ms Smuts asked Mr Masemola questions concerning Y-mag.  She wanted to know how it worked, focusing on its formula, print runs and circulations.  She also wanted more information about his work at Blink Magazine and Tribute.

Mr Nxumalo wanted to know what interest he had in the MDDA and what he would contribute to the department. 

Interview: Mr Nomonde Gongxeka
Ms Gongxeka informed members that she started her career in television and that she had studied journalism.  Ms Gongxeka then worked as a producer, researcher, director and writer.  She also worked for non governmental organisations, and helped with the establishment of LoveLife, after which she worked for a communications company.  Ms Gongxeka had also been appointed to South Africa-Netherlands Chamber of Commerce. She also joined Soul City where she worked as a project manager.  Ms Gongxeka then moved on to the SABC.  She was currently working in a new division raising funding for content by interacting with key stakeholders. 

Mr Swart wanted Ms Gongxeka to give members a few ideas that she would take to the MDDA to enable it to expand print media.

Ms Smuts commented that MDDA would not have any influence in the content within media. She wanted Ms Gongxeka to expand on her work with involving content. 

Mr Nxumalo asked if she had served on any other boards.

Ms Smuts addressed Mr Gongxeka again, asking if she would anticipate any difficulty in accepting an appointment, considering that she played quite a major role in the SABC.  Ms Smuts wanted to know if this role would influence her in any way if she worked in this sector.  She also asked about her sponsoring and funding experiences. 

Interview: Ms Roslien Mullins
Ms Mullins stated that she had worked for E-TV for over six years.  She is also actively involved in the DPSA (Disabled People South Africa) since her accident.  Ms Mullins informed members that she wanted to join the board because she thought that there were many issues that they still had to address. 

Mr Swart commented that there were many issues to address, like problems in rural areas and people who were differently-abled.  He wanted to know how she would suggest that MDDA should go about improving these issues, and what practical ideas she would take to the board.

Mr Pieterse wanted to know what she would bring to the MDDA in terms of improving print media. 

Ms Morutoa wanted to know if she had noticed discrimination against the disabled before she had the accident.  She also wanted to know how Ms Mullins would distribute information to the disabled in order for them to have a better understanding of what was happening.  

Interview: Professor Devandiren Pillay
Prof Pillay  informed members that he was currently a professor in sociology but that he started his career in media.  He was involved in finding funding for alternative media.  Mr Pillay then worked for a labour movement as the head of research.  He later worked at Wits University, where he worked with parliament on various projects.  Mr Pillay was currently doing research in labour, glabalisation and media. 

Ms Smuts wanted to know if Mr Pillay would be open to helping small commercial outfits. 

Mr Pieterse commented that there had been slow growth in print media.  He asked Mr Pillay if he thought that intervention was needed, either by the government or by the MDDA.  Mr Pieterse said that there had been no improvement over the past few years.  He asked Mr Pillay what he would do if appointed to the MDDA board. 

Interview: Mr Hein Marais
Mr Marais informed members of his media experience, telling them that he had started his career in community radio.  From there, he joined a magazine and later became the deputy editor of another magazine called Work in Progress.  Thereafter, he started writing a book and joined the SABC as an executive producer on AM Live.  After he finished the book, Mr Marais worked independently as a researcher, journalist and analyst.  He was then approached by the United Nations to join their campaign against HIV/AIDS as their senior writer.  Mr Marais was now working independently. 

Ms Yengeni asked Mr Marais what value he would add if appointed as a board member.  She also wanted to know what positive and negative aspects he had noticed within the MDDA.

Ms Morutoa commented that Mr Marais’ CV was very interesting.  She asked him to expand upon  the writing and editing that he had done in Gauteng.

Mr Pieterse commented that small to medium print was expensive but that community television would be much more expensive.  Mr Pieterse wanted to know if Mr Marais could see the MDDA playing any role in community television.

Ms Smuts commented on Mr Marais’ media management background saying that it was important to have a sense of sustainability of media, especially small media.  She wanted to know what a media house’s function would be if it did not attract an audience.  She also wanted to know if there was advertising revenue available for alternative media. 

The meeting was adjourned.