The Council’s primary aim is to promote and develop ethical practice in journalism and to promote the adoption and adherence to those standards by the South African print and online media.
“I am excited to have been appointed in this role because firstly, it allows me to apply my ongoing research into media ethics and ethical reporting by South African news entities. Further, as a lecturer in media law and media studies, the role makes the work I do even more relevant because it brings together what is going on in practice with the theoretical aspects of the courses that I teach.”
She said a member of the public had nominated her for the role after a call was made for nominees with expertise in media ethics and knowledge of legal matters related to media.
“I agreed, seeing that I strongly believe that the South African Press Council is an important entity in the news media regulatory landscape here in South Africa,” said Nkoala.
“The Press Council is an independent co-regulatory mechanism set up by the print and online media in South Africa to provide impartial, expeditious and cost-effective adjudication to settle disputes between newspapers, magazines and online publications, on the one hand, and members of the public, on the other, over the editorial content of publications. The mechanism is based on two pillars: a commitment to freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, and to high standards in journalistic ethics and practice.”
The Council is made up of media and public representatives. Public representatives on the Panel of Adjudicators join media representatives in the adjudication of complaints from the public against publications that subscribe to the Code of Ethics and Conduct for South African print and online media.
Nkoala joined the Media Department as a part-time lecturer, teaching radio production in 2016. In 2017 she was appointed full-time and conducts research and lectures on the language and rhetoric of journalism and journalism education.
“I believe academics must strive to ensure their work has social relevance and that is why opportunities like serving on the Press Council are so important for me because they ensure that there is synergy between the research and teaching that I do and the local journalism industry.”
