Leading the launch of the Makhanda Declaration at Rhodes University on Friday, were, from left, Rhodes’ School of Journalism head, Jeanne du Toit; The Herald editor and provincial SANEF chair, Rochelle de Kock; SANEF deputy chair, Tshamano Makhadi; acting SABC News provincial editor, Jurie Blignaut and Daily Dispatch editor, Cheri-Ann James. Photo: Steven Lang
By Enock Sithole
The Makhanda Declaration, affirming journalism as “a public good and that universal access to news in the public interest is part of the fundamental human right to free expression”, was launched at Rhodes University, in Makhanda, on October 18.
The launch coincided with the commemorations of Black Wednesday on 19 October. The day marks Media Freedom Day in South Africa, commemorating Black Wednesday in 1977 when the apartheid government banned the World and Sunday World newspapers and imprisoned hundreds of anti-apartheid journalists, activists and mass movement organisations.
The drafting of the declaration follows a summit that was held at Rhodes University in April 2024, bringing together diverse stakeholders such as journalism students, journalists, regulators, members of civil society and academics. Held under the theme Seeds of Change: Cultivating the Future of Journalism in Africa, the summit deliberated on “contemporary challenges faced by journalistic communities of practice in South Africa and Africa” and concluded that a declaration was needed.
Inputs were sought from various stakeholders, culminating in the drafting of the declaration.
Inspired by the 1991 Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press, the Makhanda Declaration outlines 11 objectives that seek to secure the future of journalism by emphasising the importance of investing in journalism, ensuring financial stability, putting an end to attacks on journalists, advocating for diversity and inclusivity, safeguarding journalistic freedom, and encouraging the development of critical thinking skills.
Regarding media literacy, education and research, the declaration reads:
“We assert the need to nurture future journalists by integrating media literacy into basic education and ensuring higher education policies protect this. Universities should develop policies that explicitly safeguard student journalists. We affirm the role and value of our journalism trainers and education organisations in developing a new generation of principled and ethical journalists and media creators. We recognise the role of journalism trainers and their respective organisations. We affirm the value of journalism trainers and education organisations in developing principled and ethical media creators.”
We will establish a network to share knowledge and ideas, fostering a relevant and sustainable curriculum and a future for young professionals. We commit to developing contextually relevant resources and pedagogy, drawing on initiatives like the Promoting Excellence in Journalism Education in Africa UNESCO project. We call on our journalism industry leaders and government agencies to support journalism education institutions by facilitating student placements and engaging funding entities, like SETAs (Sector Education Training Authority), to provide adequate training funds.”
“We encourage research on journalism’s future in the digital age and advocate for research-led innovations. We call for the diffusion of research to be embedded in media and information literacy, accessible to all media sectors and the public.”
The launch event featured a panel discussion that included Tshamano Makhadi from the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and Professor Jeanne du Toit, the head of the Rhodes University School of Journalism, and several prominent figures in the media sector in South Africa.
Professor Du Toit told the event attendees that “this declaration is a call to action, a commitment to journalism’s endurance and success”. Freelance journalist, Zikhona Tshona, spoke about the issue of mental health and shared her experiences, stressing the emotional toll on journalists. She urged editors and managers to prioritise journalists’ well-being by creating safe spaces and encouraging help-seeking.
All the panelists emphasised the importance of journalism for sustaining democracy and the challenges faced by news organisations. They said there was a need for internal dialogue within companies about the issues and the necessity of collaboration among competitors to create a supportive environment for young journalists.
They highlighted the significant loss of advertising revenue to tech giants like Facebook, with a report indicating that 60% of revenue in media companies had shifted to these companies over the past decade. The speakers stressed the critical role of journalism in community voice and change, and called for collective action to address these challenges, framing it as essential for the future of the country.