Editors, Govt Agree to Improve Relations

BuaNews (Tshwane)

25 June 2011

Pretoria — The leadership of the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) and Minister in the Presidency Responsible for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation, Collins Chabane have agreed that they will take steps to improve relations between government and media.

Chabane on Friday met with the leadership of the SANEF following a request from the forum to meet and discuss concerns about Government Communication and Information System (GCIS).

“It was also agreed that both government communicators and the media should treat each other with respect and dignity as professionals and should continue to work together to inform and educate the nation,” SANEF said in a statement.

The meeting further agreed that there should be continued discussion between the two parties to resolve any issues of concern but also continue to interact on issues of national and international interest.

The minister reassured the SANEF that it is not government policy to use government advertising to interfere with editorial independence of media.

Minister Chabane also briefed the leadership of SANEF about plans to hold the pending SANEF/ Cabinet meeting which is a follow up of the Magaliesburg meeting.

The meeting was attended by the leadership of SANEF, Cabinet spokesperson and GCIS CEO, Jimmy Manyi and spokesperson for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, Harold Maloka.

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