Almost 100 African sports journalists have enrolled in the second phase of a training programme run by the AFP Foundation and sponsored by football’s world governing body FIFA. The New Vision reports that over two weeks, five-day workshops for reporters and photographers from all over the continent will be held in Dakar, Maputo, Nairobi and Rabat. Week-long follow-up sessions will take place in late April. The courses are part of the ’Win in Africa with Africa’ development initiative launched by FIFA after South Africa was chosen to host the 2010 World Cup.
’Brazil concerned about competing SA’ 03/03/2010
Joao Raposo, a Brazilian journalist, is so impressed with South Africa’s stadiums he’s concerned his home country won’t match up when it hosts the 2014 World Cup. ’In Brazil we’re concerned about the stadiums we will have,’ Raposo said during a recent interview at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg. ’I think it will be difficult to compete with the stadiums that Africa has built.’ Bizcommunity.com reports that Raposo is one of 120 international and local journalists currently touring South Africa’s 10 host stadiums on a trip initiated by FIFA and the LOC.
Even though most preparations are ahead of schedule for staging the 2010 World Cup’s, South Africa still struggles to silence its critics and detractors. This became apparent again during the past week when the British press slammed the Royal Bafokeng Sports Campus outside Rustenburg, the England team’s base for the tournament, as a ’rubbish dump’. Sake24 reports that technically no one can point fingers at South Africa. The sceptics have been proved wrong, all stadiums have been completed ahead of schedule, said Investec Asset Management director Jeremy Gardiner.
English hacks raining on 2010 parade again - 22/02/2010
The English media have again been accused of sabotaging the World Cup with negative reporting - this time by slagging off their national team’s training base at the Royal Bafokeng sports complex, in North West. Ahead of coach Fabio Capello’s visit to the Rustenburg venue, UK newspapers The Sun and The Daily Telegraph called the complex a ’dump’ and ran unflattering pictures of it. But Capello was reportedly pleased with progress on the complex, where his team will be based from June 3.
FIFA has reassured the South African and international media that the purpose of its terms and conditions for accreditation for reporting on the 2010 World Cup ’is not, and has never been, to restrict press freedom’. In a statement issued on 1 February 2010, FIFA said: ’The purpose of the media accreditation terms and conditions is to regulate the behaviour of people entering the 2010 World Cup venues, first and foremost to ensure the safety of everyone in those venues’.
2010 mobile advertising booming in SA 09/02/2010
There is a clear indication that the South African mobile advertising sector is headed towards a massive boom as the 2010 World Cup draws near - thanks to the phenomenal growth of the continent’s cellphone market and soccer passion. Bizcoomunity.com reports that the SA sector, boosted by a partnership signed in December last year between local WAP mobile advertising firm MobiClicks and India-based InMobi, is on the way to becoming one of the world’s most lucrative markets, with over 650 million mobile ads requests per month.
FIFA has reasserted a commitment to media freedom, but is not backing down on contentious conditions for accreditation of journalists for the 2010 World Cup, notes a report in The Citizen. ’FIFA would like to make it clear that it does respect the freedom of the press,’ said the world soccer body said in a statement. ’Editorial independence in the coverage of the FIFA World Cup is guaranteed.’ It said this principle was ’enshrined’ in the second paragraph of the accreditation conditions, which stated that nothing in them was meant to restrict editorial independence.
The demand for 2010 World Cup media accreditation from national and regional South African media and news organisations has been overwhelming, and demonstrates the high interest in the upcoming FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The high demand has placed a delay in the distribution of the required control numbers to access the media accreditation form, notes a Media Update report. For this reason the LOC, together with FIFA, have decided to extend the deadline for South African media only to submit their accreditation beyond the initial deadline of 31 January. This extension applies only to South African based media and organisations.
The SA media’s concerns about FIFA restrictions on coverage of the World Cup have gone unheeded by the soccer world body for two years, veteran newsman Raymond Louw said on Friday. According to a report on the IOL site, Media groups Avusa, the Independent Group and Media 24 are now trying to ’engage in a constructive way’ with FIFA, through their lawyers, over the terms and conditions for accreditation. They believe that aspects of the terms and conditions ’unjustifiably limit media freedom’, said Dario Milo, of law firm Webber Wentzel.
South Africa’s three largest newspaper groups have joined forces to send a submission to FIFA to inform them that the terms and conditions they imposed on journalists during the 2010 World Cup are ’unconstitutional’. The Times reports that in a written submission to FIFA and the LOC, Avusa Media Limited, Independent Newspapers and Media 24 have said restrictions outlined by FIFA ’unjustifiably restrict the media’s ability to report critically on the 2010 World Cup and any related or ancillary topics’. The submissions, handed to the soccer body by Johannesburg law firm Webber Wentzel on behalf of all three newspaper houses, state that FIFA ’holds a monopoly over all matters pertaining to the 2010 World Cup’.
Police and e.tv agree on alternative subpoena 26/01/2010
The subpoena hearing of eNews journalists Mpho Lakaje and Ben Said was postponed in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court by agreement so an alternative process could be used to resolve the channel’s standoff with the police. Business Day reports that the television channel got into hot water with the police after broadcasting an interview with two self- confessed criminals, one of whom threatened to rob tourists during the 2010 World Cup. Following the interview, Lakaje and Said were subpoenaed, in terms of section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act, to disclose the identities of the criminals and deliver the unedited footage of the interviews.
ETV has until Thursday to make representations to the national
director of public prosecutions regarding subpoenas issued against
two of its journalists, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said
on Monday. ’They have to consult the national director to raise their
concerns regarding the subpoenas ... so the case has been put on hold
until the director addresses their concerns. We’ll allow that process
to unfold and take it from there,’ said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi
Mhaga. According to a Mail & Guardian report, he was addressing
journalists outside the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court shortly after
it was announced that the e.tv journalists would not appear in court
as their case had been postponed indefinitely. The case was postponed
to allow for mediation between e.tv lawyers, the SA National Editors’
Forum (Sanef), the state and the South African Police Service.
Pay channel SuperSport have raised the stakes in the battle for 2010 World Cup television viewers. Sunday World reports that SuperSport has revealed that it will offer at least four customised World Cup channels, one in High Definition and three broadcasting 24 hours daily. The news is expected to further up the ante in the highly competitive local football market, which saw SuperSport prize away the lucrative PSL broadcast rights from the SABC. With the local viewer still uncertain about the public broadcaster ’s plans for the 2010 World Cup, SuperSport’s announcement could just persuade the die-hard fan to look elsewhere for a viewing experience.
SA editors outraged by FIFA’s restrictions 21/01/2010
There is a major row between South Africa’s editors and FIFA over what the editors charge are outrageous infringements on our constitutional right to freedom of expression, notes a Marketing Web report. The SA Media interest group, a group made up of members of the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) and industry body Print Media South Africa, are unhappy about a raft of FIFA requirements for journalist who apply for accreditation to cover the tournament. Among the main areas of contention are: Newspapers will not be able to push pictures on to their mobile platforms (they can, however, push text).
Issuing a subpoena against eNews to identify criminals interviewed on air on their plans to target the 2010 World Cup infringed media freedom and freedom of speech, said the SA Press Council. ’The police, using laws that existed under apartheid, are seeking to circumvent the journalists’ right to report without fear and the public’s right to know by issuing this subpoena,’ said council vice chairman Bewyn Petersen. The Citizen reports that he was responding to Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s move to subpoena two eNews journalists to reveal the identity of the men who made their criminal intentions known in an interview aired last week.
A man who killed himself in Soweto was an underworld connection who set up interviews with criminals that prompted police to subpoena e.tv, notes a report on the IoL site. ’eNews would like to confirm that this man was our source for a recent story where we interviewed two members of the criminal underworld. This man was our only link to those criminals,’ said e.tv communications manager Vasili Vass. ’He helped us of his own free will. We send our deepest condolences to the family of the man involved.’eNews last week screened interviews with self-confessed criminals who threatened to rob visitors to the 2010 World Cup.
The ANC wants ETV to help police arrest the criminals who threatened to rob World Cup tourists during interviews broadcast by the station recently. According to a report on the IOL site, the ANC also called on ETV to do the ’honourable’ thing and withdraw its broadcast featuring the interviews with self-confessed criminals. ’These criminals are not only a threat to tourists, but to the dreams and desires of South Africa and Africa to host a successful soccer world cup,’ the ANC said. ETV onTuesday said that a man who killed himself in Soweto was an underworld connection who set up the interviews with the criminals that prompted police to subpoena the station.
An international media body representing SA’s interests on FIFA’s Media Committee has warned media organisations to read accreditation documents for sports events clearly before allowing journalists to sign them, as they could bind the whole institution. Business Day reports that the SA Media Interest Group made up of members of the SA National Editors Forum and industry body Print Media SA has raised its concerns through the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) about the terms and conditions imposed by FIFA for coverage of this year’s event. They believe these restrict media freedom.
eTV has announced one of its reporters and news editor have been served with a subpoena relating to the recent airing of a controversial story featuring two self-confessed criminals. According to a report on the iafrica.com site, the item drew criticism from Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa and Police Chief Bheki Cele, who labelled the piece sensational. It featured two criminals outlining their intentions to rob and murder people during the upcoming FIFA World Cup. eTV Group Editor Ben Said said the section 205 subpoena was under discussion.
Two men who threatened to commit crimes during the 2010 World Cup during footage flighted on an eTV news programme must be arrested, said Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. ’These scoundrels make it clear that they intend to rob and shoot, and if needs be, murder any law enforcement official or member of the public who tries to stop them,’ he added. According to a report on the iafrica.com site, the footage was flighted last week on eNews, where the criminals confessed to illegal activities while their identities were concealed. Both stated that they intended to commit armed robberies as well as murder during the World Cup.
Danny Jordaan on Monday accused the world’s media of having ’no basis in reality’ after continued doubts about the safety of the World Cup 2010 in South Africa, in the wake of the tragic machine-gun attack on the Togo team bus and the 2010 African Nations Cup in Angola. ’We have hosted 147 major events in this country since 1994, and the things you are raising have never happened here.’ said Jordaan. ’So the basis on which you raise this has no basis in reality. If there is something with a factual basis, raise it with us and we will address it. If we allow you to go on on a purely speculative basis, the possibilities are endless.’
The SAFA/ FIFA strategic retreat at Robben Island this past weekend was fully funded by Football’s world governing body FIFA. SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani says the strategic lekgotla has paved a way for the leadership of SAFA to transform football and to ensure that the 2010 FIFA World Cup leaves a lasting football legacy for the people of South Africa. In a statement, SAFA said it is once more disturbed by concerted efforts by Sunday World reporters to discredit the new leadership of football. SAFA President Kirsten Nematandani says Sunday World’s reportage that the Association parted ways with former CEO Raymond Hack because he ’refused to splash out R600 000 on a FIFA Workshop on Robben Island’, is mischievous, and it goes against the basic principle of journalism.
Didier Drogba of Chelsea and Ivory Coast has been crowned the 2009 BBC African Footballer of the Year. The striker beat Samuel Eto’o, Michael Essien, Yaya Toure, and Tresor Mputu Mabi to the title. The results of the poll - voted for by football fans around the world - were announced live from Angola on the BBC African Service Fast Track programme. Drogba is preparing to lead his country at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, where the Elephants are favourites.
BizCommunity readers are invited to attend a series of on-air discussions, which will look at South Africa and the continent once the final goal is scored at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Produced by CNBC Africa, the first recording will take place on Friday 15 January 2010 from 7 - 8.30pm at its studios in Sandton and will air on Wednesday 27 January at 8pm. This first debate will focus on issues surrounding marketing strategies of sponsors ahead of 2010 and during the event. What legacy will sponsors leave for the development of soccer and sectors on the continent? What initiatives are sponsors undertaking that will leave a legacy for the people of South Africa? How do sponsors intend to create South African brand ambassadors from tourists who will be visiting our shores? A specialist panel of guests will spend 60 minutes in front of the studio audience discussing pertinent points around soccer, infrastructure, social and political opportunities. As seating is limited, email Denham Pons denham.pons@cnbcafrica.com by January 14 2010 to attend the debate.
The CFC has successfully facilitated the presence of BBC in Cape Town for 6 weeks prior and during the 2010 SWC. The BBC will have their main presentation studio in Cape Town on top of Somerset Hospital in Green Point.
This is one of the single most significant marketing opportunities that the CFC has been able to facilitate. The BBC will televise 32 live games and this will be presented from their studio in Cape Town, giving at least 200 million viewers a view of Table Mountain, The Waterfront, Cape Town Stadium and Robben Island.
The government has compromised existing contractual relationship in its deal with Fifa for the right to stage next years World Cup. According to Sake24, the agreement will lead to a breach of contract for outdoor advertisers. In terms of the agreement, municipal regulations in the host cities will ban outdoor advertising in several zones. Les Holley, of Out of Home Media SA, said the regulations would force its members to break contracts, as they had entered into agreements of at least one year, or, more commonly, five years with outdoor advertisers. Holley also said it was not clear who would pay for the removal and re-installation of the advertisements.
The South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) says it is confident its representatives FIFA will reach an agreement that would not impede newspapers in as far as media operations for the 2010 World Cup are concerned. Speaking to The Citizen, Sanef’s media freedom committee member Raymond Louw said he does not think the terms for media operations during next year’s World Cup issued by FIFA will have an impact on the business of news gathering and publishing operations. ’There is still one sticking point of newspapers starting to use cellphones for the description of news, and this is one issue that remains unresolved, and this is one of the issues we have raised with FIFA which has to be dealt with,’ Louw said.
2010 MultiChoice African Journalist Awards open 17/12/2009
CNN International and MultiChoice recently launched the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2010 Awards. Bizcommunity.com reports that the winners will be announced at a gala ceremony to be held in Kampala, Uganda in May 2010. Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director of CNN International, said: ’It is with great pleasure that we announce the 2010 CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards are returning to East Africa. And it is fitting that now in its fifteenth year, the awards are being held in Uganda, a country that has produced so many success stories and winners in the competition’s history.’ Nico Meyer, CEO MultiChoice South Africa said, ’With all eyes on South Africa ahead of the World Cup, it is imperative that journalists are encouraged and supported to tell the African story with passion and excellence.’
Sony Ericsson is shunning traditional television and billboard advertisements and will pin its hopes on the boom in social networking in its first major foray into soccer sponsorship at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. According to Business Report, the mobile phone handset maker, whose parent company Sony has a $305-million (R2.3 billion), tier-one sponsorship agreement with FIFA until the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, believes interaction through sites such as Twitter and Facebook is the best and most intimate way of reaching out to the fan. However analysts say that at a time of plummeting television advertising rates and the relatively uncharted territory of basing such a campaign on social networking, success could be a difficult task.
At least 25 matches at next year’s 2010 World Cup in South Africa will be broadcast in 3D in a historic media rights agreement signed between FIFA and Official Partner Sony. Although the next generation technology is already available at movie theatres in certain parts of the world, it will be the first time it will be used in sport, and football. This groundbreaking deal means that viewers watching the matches on Sony’s 3D products will experience the sheer immediacy and visual clarity of the action as if they were on the pitch themselves. FIFA is working on whether a live right will be offered in the coming months.
