A diverse broadcasting sector that can contribute to the public interest is essential to a functioning democracy. Therefore the African Charter on Broadcasting (Windhoek 1991), promoted by UNESCO, suggests a “three-tier system for broadcasting: public service, commercial and community”.

The African Union’s Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in 2002, says in Chapter V (1): “States shall encourage a diverse, independent private broadcasting sector. A State monopoly over broadcasting is not compatible with the right to freedom of expression”.

Unlike other media organisations who in the field of broadcasting specialize on training and capacity building, fesmedia Africa focuses on helping to create a policy, legal and regulatory framework for an independent broadcasting sector which is based on these African documents (see: “The Media: Making Democracy Work, Tool Box 2 and 3).

We work with local partners, parliamentarians and governments (where they are willing) towards the realization of an independent, strong and competitive public broadcaster.

“The Public” in Broadcasting is our domain, be it in the transformation of State into truly Public Broadcasters, through the support of community radios in developing “public” programming or by developing “public” formats for private broadcasters.

Working with our partner the Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA) the creation of truly Public Broadcasters as a vital part of the three-tier system in broadcasting remains a formidable challenge since many governments are unwilling to relinquish their control of the State Broadcaster (see: Public Broadcasting in Southern Africa: A Review). 

To enrich the debate about the future of Public Broadcasting we commissioned a study and its publication: Beyond Broadcasting by Guy Berger et al. The publication is a snapshot of the changing environments in fours African democracies and focuses particularly on the impact of digitisation on Public Broadcasting.