Masonwabe Sokoyi
In March this year, the Western Cape Government announced that it would terminate its subscription with Independent Newspapers. This decision was informed by their antagonistic stance towards the new leadership of the Independent Media group, headed by Dr Iqbal Survé.
The recent release of the All Media Product Survey (AMPS) figures indicates the growth of readership of the Cape Times. These positive figures are perhaps due to the drastic changes that have taken place within the Independent group – there are also some noticeable progressive changes in the news reporting (both style and content) of both the Cape Times and Cape Argus.
Therefore, this sizeable increase in respect of readership ought to be attributed to the outcomes of what could be considered fairly balanced stories covering an array of issues in various sections of society across the province and also allowing different views to be expressed from different ideological perspectives.
One these changes, which indicated a bit of a shift, was the fortnightly column of the first deputy general secretary of the SACP and deputy minister of Public Works, Jeremy Cronin, titled “Left Turn” (now discontinued).
The publication of this column was, of course, another reason that led to the change of attitude with the regime in Wale Street (DA government). Having lost the battle in the engagement of ideas in the public sphere as well as its hegemony it once had with Independent Newspapers, the Western Cape Government reacted bitterly.
The recent AMPS figures hint that the public display of ideological bitterness from the provincial government made absolutely no impact. Hence, it is critical that the Cape Times continue to report stories without being intimidated and bullied by anyone.
To many of us, the decision by the Western Cape Government indicated that its public reaction might also suggest the possibility that it unduly influenced and manipulated the newsroom of the Independent group, hence these changes became unpalatable for some, particularly the premier. To many of us, we grasped the understanding that the media space is a contested terrain, that despite its antagonistic attitude, the Battle of Ideas has to ensue.
One of the reasons why the ANC-led alliance never deserted the South African media, despite its sometimes openly hostile attitude towards democratic government, is that we find resonance in the revolutionary theory of Karl Marx, that: “The ideas of the ruling class are… the ruling ideas.”
Therefore, as we continue to engage in the terrain of the Battle of Ideas, we always bear in mind that we are not necessarily dealing with those who are in the newsroom but, instead, with the ruling class and its system – the capitalist system.
Earlier this month, I attended an SACP media transformation summit, a first of its kind. The summit recognised the importance of ensuring that economic and social opportunities arising from the media industry, including, cutting-edge technological advances, convergence and digitisation, are not preserved for a few, but instead harnessed to the benefit of all South Africans, particularly the historically oppressed, the workers and the poor who have been disadvantaged by many years of racist exploitation that in many ways remains persistent.
The summit recognises the vital role in which the media has to sustain and develop democracy. It overwhelmingly agreed on the following key priorities:
l Ownership.
l Management control.
l Media content diversity.
l Accountable media.
l Workplace transformation, skills and employment equity.
l Radical economic transformation.
These key priorities, I believe, are fundamental to transformation if we are to achieve the constitutional goal of a prosperous South Africa. Thus, all the stakeholders who attended the summit agreed with the priorities.
l Masonwabe Sokoyi, SACP Provincial Spokesperson, writes in his personal capacity