Thursday, October 28, 2010
VIDEO CONFERENCE WITH UCDAVIS
Thembisa urged us to participate in a video conference with the University of California Davis, and I took part as well,Besides being over shadowed and intimidated by third year students I actually had a lot of fun. I learned completely things such as what they have going on for them, like the proposed net neutrality which is aimed at providing internet access to every citizen at the same rate. The only difference is that those that who would like faster connections would have to pay more, the debate with this proposed net neutrality is that companies that provide internet access will control searches by making certain pages that they like pop up faster than others. Therefore they limit searches and they can control the results that people receive after a certain search. We shared some of the issues that we face as well and they were very interested in the Media Appeals Tribunal as well as on how we feel about, and on our level of access to the internet and on the newspapers that as well on what we generally do on the net. It was a really great experience and I'm honestly glad that I went.
Stay SAFE ONLINE!!
WEEK ELEVEN
This week we had to interview people regarding the Media Appeals Tribunal in order to get the views of societies around us as well as people who might have profound opinions, but who are not in the lime light. I must say I felt like an investigative journalist and it felt really nice, I actually felt what they go through when they are trying to get a story. Interviewing people was tough, because for some, we discovered after the interview that they didn't want to have their pictures taken so it was kind of a drag because some were really great during the interview and to only discover later that they do not want their picture taken. Overall all though I had a really great experience and some really inspiring conversations with people, the MAT may have some disastrous consequences for our Country but I certainly enjoyed investigating about it.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
PICTURES OF PEOPLE WE INTERVIEWED
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| Me and Nokuzola, a first year Media and communication student. |
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| Me with an ANCYL Rep |
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| Me, Pamela and Thobeka, a third year Economics student |
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| Andrew and Thapelo from the DA with me in the middle |
Draft of PUBLISHING THE UNPUBLISHED News Article in our news portal
The Media Appeals Tribunal
Group: The Incredibles
Members:
Cassandra Nkomo
Buntu Ngcuka
Pamela Sandekela
Much controversy has surrounded the Media Appeals Tribunal (MAP) some newspapers have called it unconstitutional, because they believe that it goes against our Bill of rights since it limits the freedom of newspapers to express themselves and provide the public with thorough unbiased and informative information. Their publications would have to go along with the regulations Proposed by the MAP which means that they would avoid publishing articles that they would have to account for at a later stage. It’s safe to say that South Africa’s media industry has never had as big a shake-up as the recent proposal of the Media Appeals Tribunal. The lines have been drawn and there are clearly only two opposing sides on the matter – the political figures that are for it, and the journalists and editors of print media (which is the form of media to be largely affected by it) that are against it.
Over 36 of South Africa’s biggest editors and publishers signed a declaration against the MAT stating that it threatens free expression, while President Jacob Zuma questions the media, asking “is the media a mirror of South African society?” and instructing it to “seriously conduct an introspection and open a constructive debate about the role of this institution in a post Apartheid South Africa".
Shingirai Maparura states that “while media sees the MAT as the death of democracy, the Government asserts that the MAT is aimed at strengthening democracy”. The Government’s statement is a pure contradiction on the Bill of Rights it has set up itself as well as what the ANC fought so hard for during the Apartheid era: democracy in its true essence does not only begin and end with the country’s citizens electing a ruling party. It also includes complete freedom of expression for all, including the media, and complete transparency and a platform for the general public to criticize, approve and debate the actions of government officials. They do, after all, affect us, the people.
So what exactly do some of “the people” think of the MAT? “I think it’s a reflection of how dumb the people in government think we are,” says ZamaNdosi Cele, a fellow media student at the University. “They think we aren’t educated enough to see that, for example, when millions go missing, they are the ones responsible because they’ll be the ones buying cars worth R2 million, when there are still children that attend school under trees. Maybe it’s because young people aren’t interested anymore, and older people feel it is no concern of theirs but people need to wake up and smell the coffee.”
So are the most educated people, eligible to question such actions truly not interested, or do they feel they do not have a voice to speak? Check any random Facebook profiles of, say, 16 to 25 year olds and in the “Political” details section, you’re likely to find things like “Huh?”, “Not interested”, “What a load of bull”, “I find it all boring” or a blank space. “I think that people aren’t reaching out to the youth, even though we are the future of this country. No one cares to ask us how we feel, what we think. We are just told from a young age that all other [political] parties are evil and sometimes our parents don’t care either,” says Nothando Gina, who studies Political Sciences at the University.
Their publications would have to go along with the regulations Proposed by the MAP which means that they would avoid publishing articles that they would have to account for at a later stage. As a group we interviewed a couple of people regarding this matter and their views will be incorporated in this article.
We have heard how major publications and various individuals feel about this Tribunal but unfortunately the views of students, lecturers and professors in various fields have not been published. People who will have to be educated under restricted media and professors who will have to provide quality education under restricted media .
Group: The Incredibles
Members:
Cassandra Nkomo
Buntu Ngcuka
Pamela Sandekela
Much controversy has surrounded the Media Appeals Tribunal (MAP) some newspapers have called it unconstitutional, because they believe that it goes against our Bill of rights since it limits the freedom of newspapers to express themselves and provide the public with thorough unbiased and informative information. Their publications would have to go along with the regulations Proposed by the MAP which means that they would avoid publishing articles that they would have to account for at a later stage. It’s safe to say that South Africa’s media industry has never had as big a shake-up as the recent proposal of the Media Appeals Tribunal. The lines have been drawn and there are clearly only two opposing sides on the matter – the political figures that are for it, and the journalists and editors of print media (which is the form of media to be largely affected by it) that are against it.
Over 36 of South Africa’s biggest editors and publishers signed a declaration against the MAT stating that it threatens free expression, while President Jacob Zuma questions the media, asking “is the media a mirror of South African society?” and instructing it to “seriously conduct an introspection and open a constructive debate about the role of this institution in a post Apartheid South Africa".
Shingirai Maparura states that “while media sees the MAT as the death of democracy, the Government asserts that the MAT is aimed at strengthening democracy”. The Government’s statement is a pure contradiction on the Bill of Rights it has set up itself as well as what the ANC fought so hard for during the Apartheid era: democracy in its true essence does not only begin and end with the country’s citizens electing a ruling party. It also includes complete freedom of expression for all, including the media, and complete transparency and a platform for the general public to criticize, approve and debate the actions of government officials. They do, after all, affect us, the people.
So what exactly do some of “the people” think of the MAT? “I think it’s a reflection of how dumb the people in government think we are,” says ZamaNdosi Cele, a fellow media student at the University. “They think we aren’t educated enough to see that, for example, when millions go missing, they are the ones responsible because they’ll be the ones buying cars worth R2 million, when there are still children that attend school under trees. Maybe it’s because young people aren’t interested anymore, and older people feel it is no concern of theirs but people need to wake up and smell the coffee.”
So are the most educated people, eligible to question such actions truly not interested, or do they feel they do not have a voice to speak? Check any random Facebook profiles of, say, 16 to 25 year olds and in the “Political” details section, you’re likely to find things like “Huh?”, “Not interested”, “What a load of bull”, “I find it all boring” or a blank space. “I think that people aren’t reaching out to the youth, even though we are the future of this country. No one cares to ask us how we feel, what we think. We are just told from a young age that all other [political] parties are evil and sometimes our parents don’t care either,” says Nothando Gina, who studies Political Sciences at the University.
Their publications would have to go along with the regulations Proposed by the MAP which means that they would avoid publishing articles that they would have to account for at a later stage. As a group we interviewed a couple of people regarding this matter and their views will be incorporated in this article.
We have heard how major publications and various individuals feel about this Tribunal but unfortunately the views of students, lecturers and professors in various fields have not been published. People who will have to be educated under restricted media and professors who will have to provide quality education under restricted media .
Monday, October 18, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Completely not relevant
Please who ever evaluates my blog, ignore this. its just that I'm so proud of my baby brother who turns one today and the adorable thing is that he does not know a thing about what is happening today.we celebrate the day that he came into our lives and thank God that he has brought him in our lives. my little sister always steals the show, this is why I decided to include her as well.
Monday, October 11, 2010
WEEK TEN
There's nothing better than ten (10/10) is the best you can do, this is why this week has been relatively calm and enjoyable. This week during lectures and tutorials we had to interview people and get their opinions regarding the media appeals tribunal, we had to interview at least four to six people and in my group we decided to interview Four people.The first person we decided to interview was Zoe from the media department and we wanted to ask her firstly her views on the protection of information bill and secondly how she thinks this bill might impact on us as a democratic Country that is still a teenager. the second person we wanted to interview was Mdu from the sociology department and to ask firstly for his views and secondly, as a Sociologist how he thinks this would influence us as a South African society.
The third person we planned to interview was a Zimbabwean Tutor and we planned to ask her firstly for her views of the Bill and secondly as a person who is coming from a Country that has been protecting information, how has her experience shaped her views on the bill and what advice can she give us as a nation.
The last person we decided to ask was a commoner someone with a regular job and who knows little about anything, and we planned to firstly ask this person if they know about the protection of information bill and to let them know about it if they do not and to then ask for their main sources of information and they would feel if certain material is left out, whether or not they would feel that their right as a South African Citizen are infringed or not. Hopefully our article will be great.
The third person we planned to interview was a Zimbabwean Tutor and we planned to ask her firstly for her views of the Bill and secondly as a person who is coming from a Country that has been protecting information, how has her experience shaped her views on the bill and what advice can she give us as a nation.
The last person we decided to ask was a commoner someone with a regular job and who knows little about anything, and we planned to firstly ask this person if they know about the protection of information bill and to let them know about it if they do not and to then ask for their main sources of information and they would feel if certain material is left out, whether or not they would feel that their right as a South African Citizen are infringed or not. Hopefully our article will be great.
Friday, October 1, 2010
President Barack Obama signing the Daniel Pearl Press Freedom Act
file:///home/users/210510399/Downloads/Protecting%2520Press%2520Freedoms%2520Worldwide.mp4
This video alerts us all on the need for press freedom and it is a way that America is paying tribute to the late Daniel Pearl for his contribution in investigative journalism.
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