MDDA

Presentation to Parliament Portfolio Committee on Communications15 June 2004

MandateThe 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

VisionEach and every South African citizen should have access to a choice of a diverse range of media

MissionThe 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

Board

CEOLibby Lloyd

Finance ManagerAnnand Chaytoo

Executive SecretaryPenelope Dlamini

Manager ElectronicHarry Letsebe

Manager PrintFana Baganeng

Manager Research and DevelopmentFarhana Goga

Project administrator Receptionist

Finance Administrator

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 ObjectivesStrategic Objective OutcomeAccess The number of

communities withaccess to a choice ofmedia in the languageof choice will increase

Medium to Longterm

Long Term Objectives cont...StrategicObjective

Outcome

Social Development Increased audience forsmall media

Partnerships to promotereading

10% of partners haveprog for women, disabledyear 3, 50% yr 5

Increased use oflanguages other thanEnglish and Afrik

Long term objectives cont...Strategic Objective Outcome

Human Development partnerships with SETAto ensure training forsmall media

Accredited training forsmall media by 2007

Small media train staff,volunteers andcommunity members

Long term objectives contStrategic Objective Outcome

Good citizenship Increased use oflocal media to buildtolerance andunderstandingwithin communities(medium term)

Increased debateabout mediadiversity issues(Med to long term)

Long term objectives cont...Strategic Objective Outcome

Operational Efficiency MDDA effectively andefficiently disbursesand monitors use offunds (short termongoing)

Strategic partners inplace to provideindirect support (incllow interest loans)Medium to long term

Key Plans 2004/2005

Streamline grant making processDisburse funds efficiently

Procure project tracking system Develop proactive strategies

Develop plan for audience researchExplore ways to address

distribution, printing, advertising problems

Key Plans 2004/2005 cont... Indirect Support

Marketing workshops with AMF & AMASAExplore partnerships for low interest loansRevive 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