"The conference has been rooted in aspirations and challenges of the continent and I really take pride in that, given that there is currently a great debate on the media situation in South Africa," enthused Dr Badat, noting that this year's conference theme couldn't have been more appropriate.
He said the media must be free to responsibly disseminate information to the consumers while interrogating government policies and activities of civil society. "Academic and media freedom should be used ethically and professionally," he emphasised, adding that issues of quality and professionalism must be addressed by the media at all times.
His sentiments were echoed by Makana Municipality mayor Councillor Phumelelo Kate, who acknowledged the power of the media in information dissemination. He paid great tribute to the late Steve Biko for using the media to champion the rights of the black community during the apartheid era.
In his opening remarks, the chair of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), Eddie Funde congratulated Highway Africa for coming up with a challenging theme. He said SABC, which jointly hosts the conference with Rhodes University, will continue to lend a hand while encouraging responsible journalism.
He noted that SABC is currently employing appropriate technologies to ensure efficient coverage of the 2010 World Cup finals scheduled for South Africa. "Quality and professionalism cannot take a back seat, especially when we are preparing to host the World Cup," he stated categorically.
Funde congratulated in advance those scheduled to receive the 2007 Highway Africa New Media Awards on Tuesday, 11 September. In recognition of the support received from SABC over the years, Dr Badat presented Funde with a gift in the form of a transistor radio.
Highway Africa conference is one of the largest annual gatherings of journalists on the continent, bringing together over 500 delegates to discuss issues of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), the use of new media technologies and the thorny issue of media and democracy.
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