MBABANE:Phathiswa Magopeni,the former Chief editor of the South African Broadcasting Corporation(SABC) News has been appointed the Executive Director of the Press Council of South Africa.
In a press statement sent to this Swaziland News by the Press Council,the new Executive takes over from Latiefa Mobara.
Judge Fritz Brand,the Chairperson of the Council,welcomed the appointment, describing Phatsiswa Magopeni as an experienced journalist.
“Phathiswa has a most impressive record in journalism, and we are really privileged to have her. I am pleased to welcome her and look forward to working with her”, he said.
The Judge then paid tribute to Latiefa Mobara, a Press Council stalwart, as the inaugural Public Advocate, before being appointed the PCSA’s Executive Director in 2018.
“Latiefa gave excellent, unstinting service to the PCSA, and her dynamic leadership is very largely responsible for the high esteem the Council enjoys in the eyes of our media members and the public. We thank her for her many achievements and wish her well.Our Appointments Panel was unanimous that Phathiswa is a truly worthy successor-capable of leading us to new heights as we continue our vital work in support of media freedom and democracy; and in keeping our 400+ media members FAIR, by mediating and arbitrating complaints by the public against them,”said the Chairman of the Press Council.
On another note, the new Executive Director when accepting the appointment said, she was deeply honoured to join the vital institution at a time when “journalism is experiencing an unprecedented impact of technological convergence” on editorial integrity and media sustainability.
“A trustworthy, free, and responsible media is the lifeblood of a strong democracy, and I look forward to enabling the PCSA to carry out its critical function, and to work with all stakeholders to protect the integrity of the media and ensure that the public’s right to fair and credible information is uncompromised,”she said.
Swaziland News, an independent online publication and a member of the Press Council of South Africa, was formally informed about the appointment of the new Executive Director through an email sent to editor Zweli Martin Dlamini.
The Press Council is the custodian of the Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African Print and Online Media, it regulates and promotes ethical journalism.
Former editor-in-chief of SABC News Phathiswa Magopeni has been appointed as the new executive director of the Press Council of South Africa. (Veli Nhlapo/Gallo Images/Sowetan)