MDDA Presentation to Parliament Portfolio Committee on Communications 15 June 2004

Mandate The MDDA should:  “…(C)reate an enabling environment for media development and diversity … which reflects the needs and aspirations of all South Africans  “ Redress exclusion and marginalisation of disadvantaged communities and persons from access to the media and the media industry;  “Promote media development and diversity by providing support primarily to community and small commercial media projects…” ( Preamble MDDA Act )

The MDDA Team  Kanyi Mkonza – Chairperson  Tony Trew – Board member  Libby Lloyd – CEO  Annand Chaytoo – Finance Manager

Vision and Mission Vision Each and every South African citizen should have access to a choice of a diverse range of media Mission The MDDA is a development agency that will assist in building an environment where a diverse, vibrant and creative media flourishes and reflects the needs of all South Africans

Vision and Mission How  Grants  Leveraging resources and support  Conducting and funding research  Facilitating capacity building  Advocating for media diversity and development Who  Historically disadvantaged groups  Historically diminished language and cultural groups  Inadequately served communities

Short History  December 2002 Board appointed  January 2003 First Board meeting  March 2003 KPMG/UXOLO appointed as project managers  July 2003 draft regulations published  August 2004 CEO appointed  November 2003 first call for applications  December 2003 Strategic plan adopted  January 2004 first decisions on applications  April 2004 second round of decisions on applications

Organogram

MDDA Act  Board must prescribe detailed selection criteria for community media, small commercial media and research projects  Board must prescribe percentages of grant funds to be used for community media, small commercial media, research  Board must prescribe the percentage of funds to be used for administration costs

Key Principle of Regulations  Regulations should stand the test of time  Regulations should not be time bound but broad enough to address changing needs over the next few years.  Regulations should encourage sustainability rather than dependency  Regulations must ensure good corporate governance by media projects  Regulations should be simple to understand and apply

Key Research Findings  Rural areas don’t have diversity. Major cities do.  Women, elderly, people with disabilities underserved  Print 2/3 small commercial  Radio 91% community  Media predominantly in English  Electronic media faces lack of management skills, difficulties in attracting advertising, content not developmental.  The print sector faces similar but also difficulties in distribution, high printing costs and verifying circulation

Funding Principles  MDDA will be both reactive (respond to applications) and proactive (initiate projects)  The MDDA shall actively encourage collaboration between different media groups and with other community entities

Funding Principles cont…  The MDDA will prioritise support for media in rural areas and/or for audiences not adequately served by other media.  The MDDA will where possible prioritise the concept of matching grants  The MDDA will encourage gender equity and the participation of all sectors of a community in media – including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

We will fund  Core running costs and once off projects for community media projects  Once off projects/investments aimed at increasing sustainability of small commercial projects  Training and Capacity Building for media projects  Research aimed at promoting media development and diversity

We won’t fund Projects controlled by government, political parties or entities which are funding the MDDA. Specific needs that are already adequately met by other donors. New media projects in metropolitan areas of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town unless they cater for inadequately served audiences. Unlicensed radio or television stations though seed funding may be made available. Conferences and attendance at these. Media earmarked for a foreign audience.

Disbursing Grants  First Call November 2003  Decisions January 2004  Decisions April 2004

Different projects supported  11 Community radio projects  4 community print projects  No small commercial electronic projects  4 small commercial print projects Total 19 projects R3.6m

Community Radio Partners  Moletjie Community Radio - to build a studio - outside Polokwane  Moutse Community Radio (Dennilton), Takalani Community Radio (Eastern Cape), Radio Unique (Eastern Cape), Barberton community radio - Mentoring  Radio Mams in Mamelodi and Khathorus Community Radio for running costs

Community Radio partners cont  Radio Teemaneng in Kimberley for lightning conductor  Radio Vukani Cala Eastern Cape running costs and infrastructure  Workers World Production - training on production of labour slots  National Community Radio Forum research into establishment of ad agency, convergence, and cheaper signal distribution

Community Print Partners  High School Media Project - Just Jy - Cape Town training of students over a year  Agenda Feminist Media Project - production of one edition a year for three years and upgrade of computer equipment  Amazwi Writers - Hluhluwe KZN - seed funding to establish writers training group and newsletter  Nkomazi - the Voice - emergency funding for six months production whilst develop sustainability plan

Small Commercial Print Partners  Leseding News - Rustenburg and NW - training and computers  Free State News - training and equipment  Big News - national magazine for SMME’s - research  Genuine Magazine - KZN family magazine - for strategic planning

Other activities 2003  Still finalising funding agreements with partners  Marketing workshops  Successful intervention with SARS to save a station  Agreement with ICASA  Joint actions and research with DoC

Funding 2004/2005 R7m (government) Between R9m – R10m print and broadcasting partners Total R16-R17m R12m for grants/projects (75%)

Long Term Objectives

Long Term Objectives cont...

Long term objectives cont...

Long term objectives cont

Long term objectives cont...

Key Plans 2004/2005  Streamline grant making process Disburse funds efficiently Procure project tracking system  Develop proactive strategies Develop plan for audience research Explore ways to address distribution, printing, advertising problems

Key Plans 2004/2005 cont...  Indirect Support Marketing workshops with AMF & AMASA Explore partnerships for low interest loans Revive media funders forum

Partnerships  Partnership to encourage critical media thinking amongst school students  Develop partnerships to promote reading  Draw in skills of funding partners for capacity building

Key Plans for 2004/2005  Garner more resources - Develop strategy to garner international support  Consolidate mentoring plans - Develop mentors database - Develop mentoring strategy/process

Key plans 2004/2005  Communicate - Keep communicating deadlines for applications through media networks - Target communication progressively to under served communities/priority areas through SABC radio, NDA offices, post offices, roadshows - Focus on profiling partners

Conclusion  Thank you