'Protection of Information Bill threatens media freedom and freelance jobs'
Other News
The Southern African Freelancers' Association (Safrea) is looking forward to improving service, both to members and to potential clients, with its new website that launches today.
The new site brings many new features that are intended to help members sell their services and to make it easier for potential clients to find the freelancers who suit their needs. The new, more flexible search feature, for example, enables clients to shortlist freelancers by entering key words such as "aerial photographer" or "academic translator afrikaans english".
Read details about Yonhap International Press Photo Awards
The 2011 Press Freedom Day offers little to celebrate while SA freelance photographer, Anton Hammerl, remains in Libyan military detention since 5 April, without direct government intervention.
Representatives of the Southern African Freelancers’ Association (SAFREA) and various individual members belonging to this organisation have added their signatures to a new letter that appeals for information on the whereabouts and safety - and the release - of South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl.
The Southern African Freelancers Association (Safrea) is shocked and deeply saddened by the senseless killing of South African freelance photographer Anton Hammerl and requests a formal investigation into the matter.
Freelancers belonging to the Eastern Cape and Free State branch of the Southern African Freelancers' Association (SAFREA) have expressed deep concern over and condemned the attack on the media and to burn down The Herald's offices by Nelson Mandela Bay ANC regional chairperson Nceba Faku.
Social marketing is fast becoming the easiest way to promote your business online, and for freelancers who run micro businesses from home it is an affordable way to market themselves and create brand awareness, says Georgina Guedes, chairperson of the Southern African Freelancers Association (Safrea).
The Southern African Freelancers’ Association (Safrea) applauds President Jacob Zuma’s undertaking to do “whatever is possible” to assist in getting information on the whereabouts of slain freelance journalist Anton Hammerl’s remains.
The Southern African Freelancers’Association (SAFREA) in the Western Cape has been watching with great concernrecent reports about renewed intentions of government to forge ahead with its proposed Information Protection Bill despite widespread opposition by various professional and civil society groupings in South Africa and abroad.
The worldwide recession has forced more people to start a freelance career. Safreans Georgi Guedes, Jonno Cohen and Helen Ueckermann commented on freelancing and social media in Sake24. http://www.sake24.com/Maatskap?pye/Reklame/Facebook-kan-vrysk?utters-vlerke-gee-20110808
Government’s actions re Info Bill a continued threat to a healthy media industry
The Southern African Freelancers Association (Safrea) finds it incomprehensible that the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Protection of State Information Bill today despite an uproar in opposition of the act in the past week.
Safrea applauds revisions to the POIB; warns that government has yet missed another opportunity to protect truth seekers
The Southern African Freelancers’ Association (Safrea) is extremely concerned about the possibility of the passing of the Protection of Information Bill, which will threaten mdia freedom and jeopardize freelance jobs.
"As workers in the media we believe our industry and therefore our jobs are threatened by this bill as well as by the proposed Media Tribunal, both of which seem to signify a growing intolerance towards the free press,” says Safrea chairperson Georgina Guedes.
“Access to information – especially that relating to government – is the foundation upon which free media can be built.
“By passing a bill restricting access to this information, which can be broadly interpreted, the government of South Africa will be striking a harsh blow against the free press,” says Guedes.
The bill is bad news not just for media practitioners, but for South Africans as a whole. Members of the public seem to view it as a battle between the media and government and do not fully realise that they can be left in the dark about important matters that concern them without a media that is allowed to report freely, she says.
“As an organisation representing a broad spectrum of media freelancers, we are particularly concerned about steps by the South African government to curtail media freedom, as we are not backed by publishing houses and legal teams, and concerns about red tape and potential penalties could severely hamper necessary investigations,” says Guedes.
Section 32 of the Constitution clearly states that everyone has the right of access to any information held by the state and any information that is held by another person and that is required for the exercise or protection of any rights. Section 16 of the Constitution states that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media.
“Safrea supports the Right 2 Know Campaign and adds its voice to the calls for Government to reconsider its current position on media freedom,” says Guedes.
Back
See more news items
