🚀 go-pugleaf

>           **********************************************************
>
>                        FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CONFERENCE
>
>                            7, 8 & 9th FEBRUARY 1995
>
>                                  organised by
>
>                                RHODES UNIVERSITY
>
>                               in association with
>
>                  THE INSTITUTE FOR MULTI-PARTY DEMOCRACY (MPD)
>
>                                  to be held in
>
>                           GRAHAMSTOWN - SOUTH AFRICA
>
>             ******************************************************
>
> SOME of the Key Speakers that have been lined up:
>
> South African Deputy President Mr Thabo Mbeki (attendance pending)
> Dr Frene Ginwala, Speaker of Parliament
> Panel Discussion Moderators
> Mr Scott Low, President, FIEJ
> Dr Oscar Dhlomo, Chairperson, MPD
> Mr Allister Sparks, Director, Institute for the Advancement of
> Journalism
> Mr Govin Reddy, Chief Executive: Radio, SABC
> Mr Max Du Preez, Presenter of Agenda, SABC
> Prof Guy Berger, HOD Journalism & Media Studies
> Mr Richard Steyn, Editor, The Star
> Dr Gavin Relly, Chancellor of Rhodes University
> Dr Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri, Chairperson: SABC Board
> FIEJ Panel of International Editors:
>       Mr Andreas Whittam Smith: Chairperson, Newspaper Publishing
>       & Editor of The Independent, UK
>       Mr Gebran Tueni: Publisher and General Manager, An-Nahar,
>       Lebanon
> Mr Valli Moosa: Deputy Minister, Provincial Affairs
> Adv Mojanku Gumbi: Head of the Special Task Force on FOI
> legislation
> Ms Lene Johannessen: CALS, WITS
> Ms Carmel Rickard: Journalist, Sunday Times
> Colonel Reg Crewe: Head of Media Liason, SAPS
> Corporate Communications Officer, SANDF
> Brigadier Chris Olckers: Director of Communications Services,
> Correctional Services
> Mr Abba Omar: General Manager of Corporate Communications, Armscor
> Mr Joe Thloloe: TV News SABC (FXI)
> Mr Ken Owen: Editor, Sunday Times
> Mr Anton Harber: Editor, Weekly Mail & Guardian
> Mr Tim Modise: Radio Metro/SABC
> United States Information Service (USIS)
> Mr Mike Lawrie: FRD, CSIR
> Mr Dave Wilson: Director, Rhodes Computer Centre
> Ms Simone Noemdoe: Community Media Network
>
> Conference Committee
> Prof Guy Berger (Rhodes)
> Dr Temba Masilela (Rhodes)
> Mr Bryan Abbott (Institute for Multi-Party Democracy)
>
> For more information:
>
> CONTACT
> Organising Secretary: Louisa Clayton
> Office hours: Tuesdays & Fridays 8.30 - 12.30am
> Rhodes Journalism Department        | tel: (+27) (461) 24032
> PO Box 94                      | messages: (+27) (461) 318336/7/8
> Grahamstown                    | fax: (+27) (461) 28447
> 6140  SOUTH AFRICA             | e-mail: foi@cs.ru.ac.za

>                ************************************************

>                     !!!!  THE DEBATE  !!!!
> Preamble
>       Dawn has broken over a democratic South Africa but it's still
> unclear how much the sun will shine through.
>       The country has a modern constitution and bill of rights.
> The onus is on individuals to show why they should get state
> information, rather than on the state to prove a case for secrecy.
> The government is introducing a Freedom of Information Act - but
> the terms are, as yet, undefined.  State archives remain closed and
> laws still authorize elected public bodies, like town councils, to
> hold closed meetings almost at whim.  So:
>        will the new South Africa be more transparent than the
>          old?
>        what has been the experience of journalists since the
>          elections?
>        what will be the exemptions which allow officials to
>          withhold information?
>        will controversial decisions about development and
>          reconstruction take place behind
>          closed doors?
>        is there international experience to draw upon?
>        what new ideas and technology are there to promote freedom
>          of information?
>        where do press freedom, state security and the right to
>          privacy fit in?
>        will there be sunshine legislation to open up closed
>          meetings?
>       These are some of the issues on the agenda for the proposed
> international conference to be hosted in February 1995 by the
> Department of Journalism & Media Studies at Rhodes University in
> association with the Institute for Multi-Party Democracy.
>
>
> Rationale
> Given:
>        that the current transitional Bill of Rights gives only
> narrow access to state-held
>       information,
>        that one of the primary recommendations of the Independent
> Media Commission was that there was a need for freedom of information
> legislation,
>        that the Reconstruction and Development Programme contains
> a commitment to freedom of information legislation, and
>        that the parameters and legal modalities of such
> legislation is the subject of research and discussions taking place
> under the auspices of the Freedom of Expression Institute and The
> Conference of Editors;  there is a need to bring together, for the
> first time, the major stakeholders (the state, media, civil
> servants, lawyers, business, labour and development agencies) in a
> conference that:
>        locates the issue of freedom of information within the
> broader debate about the philosophy of an open society,
>        highlights the centrality of freedom of information to
> issues of democratic governance,
>        examines the ethics, logistics and ramifications of
> freedom of information for both the media and relevant state
> institutions,
>        takes stock of international experience and the utility of
> new information technologies, and
>        begins to chart the way forward in terms of
> institutionalizing freedom of information.
>        feeds into the parliamentary and legislative processes
> around freedom of information and sunshine legislation.
>
> **************************************************************

> COMPLETE THE FORM AND SEND IT TO:
>
> THE DEPARTMENT OF JOURNALISM, RHODES UNIVERSITY, GRAHAMSTOWN,
> SOUTH AFRICA, 6140
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yes, please register me for the FOI CONFERENCE on 7, 8 & 9 February
> 1995.
>
> TITLE...........................NAME..........................
>
> NAME FOR BADGE.............................
>
> AFFILIATION.........................................
>
> POSTAL (WORK)
> ADDRESS.......................................................
>
> .................................................................
>
> PHONE.......................FAX.................................
>
> E-MAIL......................................................
>
> REGISTRATION FEE R300-00.  THIS INCLUDES LUNCHES, SUPPERS, TEAS AND ALL
> HANDOUTS.
>
> I ENCLOSE A CHEQUE MADE OUT TO THE FOI CONFERENCE.
>
> OR
>
> Please debit my credit card.  Type (eg VISA,
> MASTERCARD)................
>
> expiry date...........................
>
refundable if I decide to cancel

Signed>
> SIGNED......................................
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> | FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CONFERENCE    8th & 9th February 1995
> | Rhodes University Dept of Journalism & The Institute for Multi-Party
    Democracy
> | Conference Secretary: Louisa Clayton
> | Office Hours: Tuesdays & Fridays 8.30 - 10.30am
>
>
> | Rhodes University                | Telephone: +27 (0)461 24032
> | P.O. Box 94                      | Messages: +27 (0)461 318336
> | Grahamstown 6140                 | Fax: +27 (0)461 28447
> | South Africa                     | e-mail: foi@cs.ru.ac.za
>