Forum in Cape Town has “strong African flavour”

With 1 600 participants from 109 countries, Ncube pointed to the “strong African flavour” that will dominate this year’s Forum. It is the first ever conference of its kind in Africa, he said.

Editors from the developed world are able to concentrate mostly on economic viability, he said, whereas developing countries face “sheer political survival issues”, as well. Mr Ncube asked editors from the developed world to spare a thought for such colleagues, who are struggling in a very different environment.

He also pointed to a certain authoritarianism that can be found in less despotic countries, where the media outlets are not always respected as businesses in their own right, but wielded as instruments to political or other ends.

So as not to fall into the trap of political agendas, Ncube warned, African editors had to proceed with caution, drawing on “deep pools of professional performance”. He also called on governments to hold to the fine-sounding promises they make about the media, but which are too often left by the wayside.

He reminded newspaper editors that they are partners and not enemies – that they need to pull together to support decent democracy as well as creating a marketplace of ideas. From a worldwide point of view, the media industry is in good shape. But for Africa to grow and develop, African editors need to move forward with optimism.

By Oliver Brock