Johannesburg: President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to open direct discussions with the media sector to address concerns around journalist safety, media sustainability, and the impact of new technologies, as he formally received the Media20 (M20) Johannesburg Declaration on Tuesday. Speaking at the handover ceremony at Wanderers Country Club, President Ramaphosa emphasized the urgent need to protect journalists in conflict zones.
According to South African Government News Agency, President Ramaphosa expressed strong support for the issues raised by media representatives, highlighting the troubling targeting of journalists in war zones, particularly in Gaza. He acknowledged the challenges the media sector faces regarding sustainability and survival and expressed a desire for constructive dialogue to address these issues.
President Ramaphosa committed to facilitating more opportunities for engagement, promising that his office would enable discussions aimed at creating a conducive environment for media operations. He praised South Africa's constitutional protections for media freedom, noting the country's high standing in this regard.
The M20 Johannesburg Declaration, produced through consultations led by Media Monitoring Africa and the South African National Editors' Forum (SANEF), reflects a global consensus on strengthening media freedom, protecting journalistic integrity, and combating disinformation. The Declaration, endorsed by over 70 organizations, underscores the media's critical role in democracy, accountability, and socio-economic development.
The document highlights the media sector's commitment to high journalism standards and addresses challenges such as disinformation, media sustainability, and digital-age journalistic integrity.