Presentation on SABC Draft Editorial Policies

1

• Presentation on SABC Draft Editorial Policies
• 10 October 2003

2
Agenda

• Overview of draft policies
• Process of public consultation
• Response to campaign
• Analysis of submissions received
• Next steps

3
Background on the policies (1 of 4)

• On 25 April SABC published a number of draft
  editorial policies for public comment
• Mandate
• News
• Programming
• Language
• Universal service and Access
• Local content
• Religion
• Education
• Focused on those policies mentioned in the
  Broadcasting Act
• The policies explain the SABCs approach to
  different areas of its performance e.g. how we
  will fulfil mandate to broadcast in all official
  languages

4
Background on the policies (2 of 4)

• Why did the SABC publish these policies?
• Broadcasting Act (as amended) states that the
  SABC must develop draft editorial policies, allow
  for public comment on them and then submit them
  to ICASA within 3 months of conversion
• When finalised, these policies will fulfil two
  purposes
• A guide to editorial staff in their daily
  decision making
• A guide to the public on what they can expect
  from the public broadcaster
• The policies did not give detail on schedules or
  programme content - they rather provide a high
  level description of what can be expected from
  the SABC as a public broadcaster
• Some policies will replace existing policies
  from 1995 which are now outdated while others are
  new

5
Background on policies (3 of 4)

• Scope
• They apply to all SABC content, whether produced
  by SABC or not
• Where they have particular relevance to either
  the commercial or the public broadcasting
  division, this is stated
• Methodology
• International comparative review
• Review of existing policies against legal and
  regulatory requirements
• Workshops and brainstorming sessions
• Drafts prepared and circulated for comment
• Responses fed into database

6
Background on policies (4 of 4)

• Structure
• Draft policies structured to minimise
  difficulties in implementation
• Clearly stated set of commitments in the draft
  policies
• Outlined to which areas of the SABC each draft
  policy is applicable and how it should be applied
• Cross-referred between the policies, when the
  same issue is dealt with in more than one policy
• Linked each draft policy to legislation,
  regulations and PBS mandate
• Built in reporting requirements to Board on the
  implementation of the policies
• Standardised the period of time the policies will
  stand - each will be applicable for 5 years and
  will then be reviewed by Board
• Stated that the policies are underpinned by
  certain assumptions, including the structure and
  funding of the Corporation. If these assumptions
  change, the policies may need to be amended

7
Overview of draft policies

• Mandate
• Not strictly one of the draft policies - rather
  acts as an introduction to the package of
  policies
• Outlines SABC understanding of public
  broadcasting in SA - therefore a critical
  background to the policies
• Lays out the core editorial values of the SABC
• Equality
• Editorial independence
• Nation building
• Diversity
• Human Dignity
• Accountability
• Transparency
• Contains the amended Editorial Code
• Lays out the principles of editorial
  responsibility and upward referral

8
Overview of draft policies

• Programming
• Primarily focused on explaining how we deal with
  issues such as the airing of violence, sex and
  bad language
• This draft policy replaces the Guidelines on
  Programme Content which were approved by Board in
  1995
• The policy now consistent with the new Code of
  Conduct for Broadcasters and also applicable to
  radio
• Areas covered, include
• Language
• Discrimination and stereotypes
• Violence
• Grief and Suffering
• Children.
• Sex and nudity
• Programme complaints etc

9
Overview of draft policies

• News, Current Affairs and Information (1 of 2)
• Explains the SABCs role in providing meaningful
  news, current affairs and information programmes
  from a South African perspective
• Sets out the following commitments for news
  practice
• We do not allow advertising, commercial,
  political or personal issues to influence our
  news
• We include a range of different views on issues
• We respect peoples right to reply to criticism
• We correct mistakes as soon as possible
• We do not use language that is sexist, racist or
  discriminates against any person or group
• We always check information and confirm the
  accuracy of any report

10
Overview of draft policies

• News, Current Affairs and Information (2 of 2)
• We try to ensure fair gender representation and
  seek out the views of women
• We protect people who provide us with
  information. If a court orders us to identify a
  source of information, we support the
  journalists decision and provide them with legal
  help
• We respect peoples right to privacy unless it
  is in the public interest to reveal information
• We cover accidents and disaster with compassion.
  We do not show footage of the dead unless there
  are compelling reasons to do so
• We give full or extended live coverage to events
  of national importance
• During elections the SABC makes sure that voters
  are given sufficient information to enable them
  to make informed choices about who to vote for
• We comply with the restrictions on the
  sponsorship of news and current affairs programmes

11
Overview of draft policies

• Language (1 of 5)
• Replaces the Language Policy of 1995
• Policy is founded on the constitutional
  imperative to treat all languages equitably and
  with respect
• Makes series of clear commitments for radio and
  TV, formalises many current practices, e.g.
  multi-lingual programming, rotation of cognate
  languages
• General commitments
• Commit to maintaining distinct and separate radio
  services in all official languages (and to
  allocate resources fairly to each language
  service)
• Commit to treating all official languages
  equitably across the television portfolio,
  although we will give more time to more widely
  spoken languages
• Commit to integrating sign language into
  programmes
• Commit to accommodate other non-official
  languages such as Khoi, Nama and San

12
Overview of draft policies

• Language (2 of 5)
• Guidelines on what equitable treatment means
• No guidelines in previous policy
• Policy lays out how the SABC understands
  equitability on TV
• Means fair, just and reasonable, does not
  necessarily mean equal time
• Has to be achieved while also making sure
  broadcasts are accessible to as many viewers as
  possible - more time for more widely understood
  languages
• Equitability is achieved through both unilingual
  and multilingual programming and by rotating
  cognate languages
• Is measured by a number of criteria
• time allocation to different languages
• scheduling of different language programmes when
  audiences are available
• range of programmes in different languages
• resourcing of programmes in different languages

13
Overview of draft policies

• Language (3 of 5)
• Guidelines on time allocation
• No guidelines for time allocation in previous
  policy
• Policy now makes explicit the factors that will
  be taken into account when time allocations for
  different languages are devised for TV
• In determining allocations of time to different
  languages on television, the SABC has due regard
  to
• The number of home language speakers of a
  language in the coverage area of a channel
• The geographical spread of the language
• The extent to which members of a language
  community are able to understand other languages
• The extent of marginalisation of the language
• The extent to which a language is understood by
  other South Africans

14
Overview of draft policies

• Language (4 of 5)
• Specific commitments
• Radio language services to broadcast news and
  current affairs, childrens programmes and
  educational material
• TV to provide news in all official languages
• TV to also focus on producing drama and
  childrens educational programmes in various
  languages
• Selected TV news and events of national
  importance to carry sign language - to be
  expanded progressively

15
Overview of draft policies

• Language (5 of 5)
• Specific commitments (cont)
• Management to submit an annual 3 year language
  action plan that includes
• Future goals arising from the policy
• Summary of previous years TV airtime per
  language per genre (including sign language)
• A summary of the findings of any relevant
  research conducted
• A summary of professional development programmes
  implemented to meet the competence and skills
  needs of implementing this policy
• A summary of investigations conducted into the
  use of technology and the applications of
  technologies to implement this language policy
• Highlights to be included in Annual Report

16
Overview of draft policies

• Universal Service and Access (1 of 4)
• Policy describes the SABCs approach to achieving
  universal service and access
• Aims to facilitate the provision of a
  comprehensive end-to-end public broadcasting
  service for all South Africans
• SABC has not had policy on this subject before,
  therefore the policy defines universal service
  and access and sets aims for its achievement
• Proposed definition
• The provision of a range of audio and video
  broadcasting services to citizens. The services
  shall include, but are not limited to, radio and
  television programmes that cater for information,
  cultural, religious and educational needs and are
  delivered via the most appropriate technical
  means available at an affordable cost to
  broadcasters and audiences alike.

17
Overview of draft policies

• Universal Service and Access (2 of 4)
• SABC Aims for Broadcasting Universal Service and
  Access
• To ensure that all South Africans have access to
  a broadcasting service
• To ensure that a radio service in each official
  language, providing a range of programmes is
  broadcast (initially to reach at least 80 of the
  speakers of each language)
• Thereafter, to ensure that audiences have access
  to a range of radio services in a variety of
  official languages
• To ensure that at least two public service
  channels, providing a range of programming in a
  variety of official languages are broadcast
  (initially to reach at least 90 of the
  population)

18
Overview of draft policies

• Universal Service and Access (3 of 4)
• Factors to be taken into account when considering
  the expansion of a service
• The extent of the proposed coverage
• The number of people to reached by that expansion
• The extent of need of those people
• The cost of the expansion
• The nature of the service to be provided by the
  expansion
• Frequency spectrum availability

19
Overview of draft policies

• Universal Service and Access (4 of 4)
• Commitments
• Management to determine responsibility in the
  SABC for driving the implementation of this
  policy
• Management to submit to board an annual 3 year
  action plan, including
• A report of the Universal Service and Access
  achievements against the stated aims, including
  reasons
• A breakdown of the services extended the
  previous year, including increase in population
  coverage and cost
• Highlights to be published in Annual Report

20
Overview of draft policies

• Local content
• SABC has not had policy on local content before
• This policy outlines the SABCs commitment to
  airing local content on radio and TV, in line
  with ICASAs prescribed quotas
• Policy contains relevant ICASA definitions and
  outlines responsibility within SABC to track and
  report on compliance
• General commitments
• To ensure that local TV content is a significant
  and visible part of the SABCs schedules,
  throughout the broadcasting period, and in prime
  time, in line with the quotas prescribed by ICASA
• To ensure that the SABC commissions a significant
  amount of its local television content from the
  independent production industry, in line with the
  quotas prescribed by ICASA
• To continue to play a high level and wide variety
  of SA music across the SABC radio stations, in
  line with the quotas prescribed by ICASA

21
Overview of draft policies

• Religion
• Replaces previous Board policy
• Largely consistent with previous policy - two
  major changes
• Quotas of airtime for major religious groupings
  have been taken out of the policy
• We now state that these quotas are developed on
  a 3 yearly basis after consultation with the RBP
• We lay out criteria to be considered when
  determining airtime allocations Census data on
  the of population in each religious group, the
  need for all religions to be reflected in
  religious programming etc
• A clause allowing airtime to be purchased by
  religious groups has been inserted, with a number
  of checks - detailed operational guidelines to be
  developed

22
Overview of draft policies

• Education (1 of 3)
• Replaces Board policy of 1995
• Sets out the framework within which the SABC
  implements its educational mandate and responds
  to the national literacy and skills development
  challenge
• General commitments
• To provide range of quality educational
  programming including programmes that support
  curriculum based activities of the education and
  training sectors and programmes that support
  public education
• To ensure that PBS stations and channels
  dedicate adequate airtime to educational
  programmes that are scheduled at appropriate
  times. At least one TV channel to screen
  programmes specifically in support of school
  curricula and this to be supplemented by PBS
  radio

23
Overview of draft policies

• Education (2 of 3)
• General commitments (cont)
• To ensure that commercial services support a
  culture of lifelong learning through informal
  knowledge building initiatives relevant to their
  target audience and format
• To provide educational programmes in various
  official languages and sign language
• To broadcast a significant amount of locally
  produced educational material
• To implement a coherent education methodology
  that incorporates a multimedia approach
• To supplement educational methodologies through
  outreach programmes
• To ensure that sufficient resources are
  dedicated to implement the educational mandate

24
Overview of draft policies

• Education (3 of 3)
• Implementation
• SABC will develop annual three year action plan
  which identifies education priorities, including
  hours of programming for each of the educational
  mandate areas
• Educational mandate areas which have been
  identified are
• Early childhood development
• Children at Home
• Formal education
• Youth development
• Adult and Human Resources development
• Public Education

25
Process for public consultation

• Challenge - to make the policies widely
  accessible and easily understandable
• Policies launched to key stakeholders and press
  on 25 April
• Copies of draft policies made available at all
  SABC regional offices together with detailed,
  easy to read summaries in six official languages
• Copies of the policies accessible on SABC
  website and intranet in all official languages.
• Full page ads, summarising policies and inviting
  people to comment in Rapport, City Press, Sunday
  Sun, Beeld, Daily Sun, Illanga, The Herald, Daily
  Dispatch
• In order to reach rural areas
• Detailed easy to read summaries of the policies
  distributed to over 1000 post offices
  countrywide, in six official languages
• Poster campaign in 6 languages in post offices

26
Process for public consultation

• Use of own media
• Promos ran on SABC radio stations and TV
  channels until early May intensively, and on a
  more low key basis thereafter
• SABC talk shows and discussion programmes were
  used to promote discussion on the policies until
  June 13
• Public meetings
• Held public meetings in each of the 9 provinces
• Between 200 and 500 people attended each meeting
• Gave public the opportunity to interact directly
  with members of the SABC board and management.
• Comments on policies had to be made in writing
• Drop-off at regional offices
• e-mail, fax or post

27
Response to campaignPublicity

• Editorial coverage
• Focus in print media overwhelmingly on the upward
  referral and objectivity issue. 20 newspaper
  columns on upward referral alone
• SABC talkshows and discussion programmes
  encouraged discussion on all aspects of the
  policies.

28
Response to campaign Submissions

• Excellent response by the public to the SABCs
  call for comments on its draft policies. 920
  written submissions on the draft policies
  received. 847 from individuals, 73 from
  organisations. Lots of goodwill in responses
  ownership of SABC
• The programming policy attracted the most number
  of comments with 600. The next most commented on
  policy was Language and then Religion and News.

29
Response to campaign Submissions

• Most comments on the policies were general in
  nature with many comments on issues of taste and
  decency but there were approximately 250 specific
  suggestions on how the policies should be
  adjusted.

30
Response to campaign Submissions

• The nature of the organisational submissions
  differed with those made by individuals. The
  submissions by individuals tended to focus on
  general comments and frequently did not
  specifically address the draft policies.

31
Response to campaign Submissions

• The organisations submissions tended to have
  comments more evenly spread among the policies.
  The policy which was commented on the least by
  organisations was the Universal Access policy,
  with the Language, Programming and Mandate
  policies receiving the most attention.

32
Analysis of submissions Education
Children need stimulation in their own
language...Programmes like Takalani Sesame should
not have various languages mixed in one rather
keep languages separate and coherent. N. Oelson,
no.556

• Comments received
• 60 comments were received on the Education
  policy which amounted to 4 of the total comments
  received on all policies.
• There was a lot of praise for the SABCs
  educational programmes, particularly Takalani
  Sesame.
• There were many calls for the SABC to provide
  more educational programmes.
• There were criticisms that some of the SABCs
  educational programmes encourage children to be
  immoral.

33
Analysis of submissions Education

• Comments received
• There were suggestions that educational
  programmes should also focus more on addressing
  disability issues and health issues such as
  HIV/Aids.
• Some submissions suggested that all educational
  programmes be in English and some submissions
  argued against a multi-lingual approach in
  educational programmes, saying that each language
  should have a dedicated slot.
• It was suggested the policy should state that
  extreme caution must be exercised in sponsoring
  educational programmes and also proposed that the
  policy include reference to child-centered human
  rights issues such as HIV / Aids and child abuse.
• Submissions said the policy should state the
  importance of democracy / citizenship education.
• There were suggestions that the policy give more
  emphasis to the portrayal of women and girl
  children and that a clause be included on the
  promotion of gender equality.
• There was criticism that the policy needs to have
  specific concrete measures so that progress can
  be evaluated.

34
Analysis of submissions Language
We are also tired of being made fools. Muvhango
is not a Venda drama. F Mbedzi, no. 575

• Comments received
• 221 comments received on the draft Language
  policy 16 of total comments received on all
  policies.
• That the SABC should treat all official
  languages equally (not equitably)
• That there should be more programming in
  marginalised languages and that there should be
  redress for these language groupings
• That the size of the language grouping should
  be the only criterion which determines the amount
  of air-time for that language

35
Analysis of submissions Language

• Comments received
• Submissions called for the policy to commit to
  targets for airtime for each language.
• Submissions asked that a commitment to a
  budget allocation for various languages be
  included in the policy.
• There was the suggestion that the policy include
  a commitment that English will not dominate on
  the SABC and that it will not be used as an
  anchor language.
• Many deaf organisations made the submission that
  the policy should reflect that a holistic
  approach is needed for meeting the needs of the
  deaf and that sign language alone is not good
  enough. There was also the suggestion that the
  policy commit to providing sub-titles in all
  official languages.
• There was the suggestion that the policy be
  reviewed every year, and not every 5 years.
• It was suggested that the policy commit to
  covering events of national importance in at
  least 6 languages.
• Submissions suggested that the grouping of
  cognate languages together be approached with
  caution and that the policy reflect this.

36
Language Current Performance

• Airtime for African languages in prime time has
  increased since 1999, from approximately 25 to
  30, across SABC 1 and SABC 2.
• Now providing television news in each official
  language, for the first time.
• Clearly still gains to be made. Regional
  channels will be of great assistance. SABC
  envisages that over time the majority of content
  on the regional channels will be in languages
  other than English.

37
Analysis of submissions Local content
In regard to local content, the current draft is
inadequate in regard to radio. It could do well
to spell out local content commitments that
encompass drama, documentaries and participatory
programming. Rhodes University, Department of
Journalism and Media Studies, no. 902.

• Comments received
• 69 comments received on the draft Local Content
  policy 5 of total comments received on all
  policies.
• That the SABC should re-build the necessary
  in-house capacity to produce local content
• That there should be more local drama
• That ICASAs quotas should be exceeded
• That the SABC should commit to local content
  quotas beyond music on radio.

38
Local Content Current Performance

• Local content on television
• To date, SABC has been able to sustain high
  levels of local content, both in the performance
  period and in prime time

39
Local Content Current Performance

• Local content
• As of end August, local content quotas have
  increased substantially public channels must
  now have average of 55 and may only count local
  repeats at 50 of their duration for a limited
  number of screenings after which local repeats
  must be counted as foreign content.

40
Analysis of submissions Mandate

• Comments received

We strongly recommend that reference to upward
referral, particularly as it turns the CEO into
the Editor-in-Chief should be totally discarded.
What we suggest is to have the highest level of
referral being the Head of News Freedom of
Expression Institute, no. 928

• Much of public discourse on the draft has
  focused on the issue of upward referral.
  Personally, I find the positions articulated in
  the draft, and in explanatory comment by the
  Board and Management, both cogent and logical. J
  Netshitenzi, no. 911
• On the matter of upward referral, we believe it
  is simply normal that a hierarchy of authority
  must exist in a journalistic enterprise. A
  reporter is not the same as an editor, and
  editors have rank in turn. The buck stops with
  the editors-in-chief. But these should be
  journalistic staff, not management. Perhaps the
  solution is as simple as not referring to the CEO
  as editor-in-chief, and making the MD news the
  mandatory referral point for high impact issues.
  Democratic Alliance, no.889

41
Analysis of submissions Mandate

• Comments received
• 90 comments were received on the Mandate policy
  which amounted to 7 of total comments received.
  Although more comments were received from
  individuals than organisations on this policy (57
  from individuals vs 33 from organisations) this
  is the only policy where specific recommendations
  outweighed general comments.
• On the issue of upward referral there were
  contrasting submissions. Some argued that the
  current provisions should remain as is while
  others stated that the section should be deleted
  in its entirety. Many submissions argued that the
  current formulation should be revised to make it
  clear that upward referral stops with the
  editorial heads.
• Submissions were generally supportive of the
  editorial values although there was the view that
  these values should not bind the news division as
  they would undermine its independence.
• There were suggestions that provisions be
  included on the SABCs role in supporting the
  African renaissance and in providing truly
  national coverage.
• There were suggestions that the following
  provisions in the Code be reworked to be clearer
  privacy, coverage of government, protection of
  sources.

42
Analysis of submissions News
The working class hardly ever makes it onto SABC
news and current affairs programmes. COSATU,
no.886 The news footage of violence death and
destruction needs to be kept to an absolute
minimum. B Richert, no. 591

• Comments received
• 119 comments were received on the News policy
  which amounted to 9 of total comments received.
• There were many calls for CNN to be brought back
  and for the SABC 3 news to be moved back to 8pm.
  (These comments are probably indicative of the
  fact that the policy process took place at the
  same time as these issues were being dealt with).
• There were calls for non-Western news networks
  such as Al Jazeera to also be used by the SABC
  but there was also opposition to such networks.
• There were criticisms of the SABCs news coverage
  of certain provinces, particularly the more rural
  ones.

43
Analysis of submissions News

• Comments received
• There were calls for more positive news stories
  to be given airtime and there were appeals for
  less violence in news bulletins.
• It was suggested that the SABCs role in news
  should emphasise its independence above other
  principles.
• It was suggested the policy should not refer to
  the role of news in nation-building as this is
  more appropriately the role of the state.
• It was suggested that the policy include a
  clause on the coverage of Africa.
• It was suggested that the policy include a
  clause on the coverage of crime stating that
  there should be a context and explanation in
  reporting of crime.
• It was suggested that the policy explain the
  decision making structure around apologies and
  corrections.
• There were calls for additional clauses on
  gender issues to be included in the policy.
• There were suggestions that the policy should
  provide for more positive coverage, particularly
  of government initiatives.
• There were calls for the term public interest
  to be defined or not to be used at all.

44
Analysis of submissions Programming

• I am writing to view my shock at what is aired
  over 5fm airways during family friendly hours. A
  week ago Mark Gillman said to a 14 year old kid
  at about 7am Does your Dad ever take a swing at
  you? I hope you have a wall behind you when he
  does. This is unacceptable and I want to know
  why he is allowed to continue with such
  behavior. (Craig French)

• Comments received
• 600 comments were received on the Programming
  policy which amounted to 45 of total comments
  received on all policies. 536 of the comments
  were general in nature, with only 22 of these
  general comments from organisations. 64 specific
  suggestions were made on the policy.
• There were many complaints about sex, violence,
  profanity and sci-fi shows.
• There were complaints that too many adverts are
  broadcast.
• There were many complaints about the recent
  changes to SAFM and there were many appeals for
  there not to be changes to RSG.

45
Analysis of submissions Programming

• Comments received
• There was the view that the policy should
  provide for an independent ombudsperson against
  whom complaints can be lodged. There was also a
  suggestion that the BCCSA be asked to administer
  complaints against the SABCs policies. There was
  an appeal that the complaints be dealt with
  quicker, that quarterly complaints report be sent
  to board and be made public. Another suggestion
  was that members of the public assist the
  Broadcast Compliance team or that a toll free
  number be provided for the lodging of complaints.
• There were suggestions that the watershed be
  moved later.
• There were suggestions that the policy provide
  for profanity to be edited out or for additional
  provisions on profanity including a dedicated
  symbol.
• Submissions suggested that the clause on
  children allow for participation by children in
  developing programmes and a commitment to provide
  a variety of genres for children.
• There was a suggestion that the policy commit to
  showing less violence.

46
Analysis of submissions Religion
We appreciate to see programmes of all religions
such as Hindi, Islam etc. But why should
Christianity still dominate even today? N
Tshabalala, no. 557

• Comments received
• 141 comments were received on the Religion
  policy which amounted to 10 of total comments
  received on all policies
• There were suggestions that the only criterion
  in the policy for allocating airtime should be
  the amount of support for each religion and that
  these quotas be stated in the policy. However,
  there was also the submission that the policy
  allow for each religion to be treated equally.

47
Analysis of submissions Religion

• Comments received
• There was both support for and opposition to the
  policys emphasis on multi-faith programmes. The
  RBP suggested that the policy stipulate that 80
  of each religions programming will be made up of
  faith specific programming.
• There were suggestions that the policy emphasise
  affirmative action on religion but there were
  also suggestions that there was no need to
  address the past.
• There was both support for the concept of paid
  religious broadcasting and criticism of this.

48
Analysis of submissions Universal Service and
Access
All technological know-how should be harnessed
so that citizens gain access. P Kondile, no. 642

• Comments received
• 59 comments were received on the Universal
  Service and Access policy which amounted to 4 of
  total comments received on all policies. In real
  terms, this policy attracted the least number of
  specific suggestions only 9.
• There were a number of complaints received about
  the lack of services in particular areas,
  particularly in rural areas.

49
Analysis of submissions Universal Service and
Access

• Comments received
• There was the suggestion that the policy state
  how marginalised groupings will be given access
  and that it give more attention to promoting
  access by people with disabilities, including the
  blind.
• Submissions suggested that the policy emphasise
  that the goal of universal access takes
  precedence over economic efficiency.
• There was a suggestion that the universal
  service coverage targets laid out in the policy
  are not high enough.
• There was the view that the terms access and
  service need to be dealt with distinctly.

50
Next steps

• Full report has been made to top management and
  Board (early October)
• Board has approved that the policies be
  re-worked in certain areas. These include
• Mandate (upward referral)
• Consolidated approach to meeting the needs of
  the deaf
• Clauses on privacy, protection of sources, race,
  gender, disability, HIV/ Aids, Children, Africa,
  crime, reporting between elections etc
• Scheduling of educational programmes
• Dealing with complaints ombudsperson?
• Role of the RBP
• Internal workshops to be held during October /
  November suggestions will be discussed and
  re-drafting will be agreed on.
• Board to approve final policies in December
• Policies to be submitted to ICASA before 31
  December
• Publicity campaign providing feedback to public
  to resume in December.
• Training programmes on new policies will
  roll-out in January

51
Conclusion

• Campaign successful - exceeded SABC
  expectations.
• Had to run campaign within severe constraints
  including very tight time-table, budget
  constraints, fairly arbitrary list of policies in
  the Broadcasting Act, DoC consultation on similar
  issues at the same time.
• Key success achieved a certain amount of
  goodwill amongst stakeholders and public.
• Key challenge going forward - to meet their
  expectations.

52

Thank you