FIFA has issued a press release which seeks to reassure the media that the purpose of accreditation terms is "not, and has never been, to restrict press freedom", according to a report on iol.co.za.
This was released on the same day that The SA Media Interest Group (SAMIG) staged a meeting which involved Sanef, other media industry bodies and Larry Kilman from WAN-IFRA.
Media owners (Avusa, Media 24 and Independent Newspapers) engaged lawyers to take up the concerns of the 2010 Fifa World Cup South Africa media representatives' accreditation terms and conditions.
To this end, SAMIG, through the attorneys representing the media owners, Webber Wentzel, on Monday received a written reassurance from the Fifa attorneys and an press release was issued to reassure the media of the same. SAMIG is to continue its dialogue with Fifa attorneys on this and other areas. SAMIG has also written to Fifa about pictures being sent to mobile news services.
The Fifa statement said: "We have had joint consultations with the key stakeholders from the international press, including WAN (World Association of Newspapers) and AIPS, during the drafting process of the terms and conditions and we have incorporated into the terms and conditions some of the suggestions that they have made. We have also had meetings with SANEF and with other representatives of the South African media.
"The contacts with WAN, AIPS and other media stakeholders have been very fruitful during the past years and we even have a standing media committee at Fifa which includes representatives of AIPS, WAN, individual journalists and photographers as well representatives from each Confederation.
"The purpose of the media accreditation terms and conditions is to regulate the behaviour of people entering the 2010 Fifa World Cup® venues, first and foremost to ensure the safety of everyone in those venues.
Click here to read the full report, posted on iol.co.za.
