REGIONAL: CAMPAIGN FOR BROADCASTING DIVERSITY Regional Programme Goal Policy-makers, public opinion, partners, public service and community broadcasters in Southern Africa influenced regarding the need for an open three-tier system of broadcast licensing comprising public, commercial and community broadcasters and underpinned by the principles of editorial independence, diversity, and independent regulation • Promotion of freedom of expression through condensed broadcast and telecommunication updates • Encourage the establishment of centres and distribution for African films in Namibia Regional Programme • Create awareness and campaign for the transformation of state controlled broadcasters into public service broadcasters Objectives • Remind broadcast journalists working for state controlled broadcasters of their responsibilities when covering elections PERFORMANCE INDICATORS REGIONAL OBJECTIVE MAJOR ACTIVITIES REMARK/COMMENTS (ACTUAL/ACHIEVED) 7. Create awareness and campaign for 7.1 Recruiting a MISA Representative, • Office secured with telephone and Angola is recovering from many years of the reform of the Broadcasting sector in 7.2 Secure office space with telephone internet connection colonial and post -colonial civil wars. Angola and internet connection • MISA representative in Angola Though the air waves have been 7.3 Holding a one day workshop for appointed in November 2003 liberalized and there exists a number of media practitioners, politicians and • One day workshop took place on radio stations many of them linked with stakeholders March17, 2004 MPLA government it does not mean that 7.4 Introducing MISA Angola • Radio Ecclesia has indicated people have access to broadcast media. representative to various embassy readiness to allow MISA campaign The National Radio of Angola is and NGOs officials, programmes beginning July 3, 2004. government controlled and is used as a 7.5 Having discussion with Radio propaganda tool for MPLA. This scenario Ecclesia on the possibility of calls for transformation of Radio Angola introducing a one hour Phone-in into a Public Service Broadcaster. programme once a week. 8 Campaign for national broadcasters in the SADC region to become Public Service Broadcasters. • Botswana • Lesotho • Malawi • Mozambique • Namibia • South Africa • Swaziland • Zambia • Zimbabwe 8.1 Identifying Members Of Parliament, broadcasting regulators and senior officers in various states to attend the workshop 8.2 Secure resource persons 8.3 Preparing materials for the workshop that are related to convergence and regulation of broadcasting sector and outlining guidelines for the workshop 8.3. Logistics. MISA Annual Report (April 2003 – March 2004) • • • The workshop took place in Pretoria in July 2003 The workshop attracted MPS, Broadcasting Regulators and senior staff from National Broadcasters, Provided an excellent opportunity to lobby policymakers. 71 The broadcasting sector will continue to be a subject of discussions and debates for many years to come. An issue of particularly concern is the political will of SADC governments to effect change and to disengage themselves from control of the national broadcasters.