Following high-level meetings in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South
African editors have joined growing demands for the Indian Premier
League to change its rules on coverage of the imminent tournament., according to a joint media statement issued by the SA National Editors' Forum and the News Media Coalition.
Contracts to gain media access stipulate that photo news material cannot be distributed for use by certain cricket news websites
SANEF is concerned that to agree to such a clause discriminates against news subscribers of both newspaper syndication and news agency services, is against the interests of freedom to inform and is a bad precedent that could become the norm for other upcoming major events in South Africa and elsewhere. This clause prevented all major international news and photo agencies attending the inaugural IPL in India last year.
SANEF, which has been working alongside the international press freedom body, the News Media Coalition, has now invited Editors to give serious consideration to this issue before authorising staff to taking up accreditation and covering the event.
Issued by: SA National Editors' Forum (SANEF)ÂÂÂ
For further comment please contact:
Khathu Mamaila – SANEF Media Freedom Chairperson: 083 274 3941
Raymond Louw – SANEF Council Member: 011 646 8790 / 082 446 5155
Andrew Moger – News Media Coalition Exec. Director: 00447836572273
