The Media Policy and Democracy Project is a collaborative research initiative hosted by the Department of Communication Science at the

University of South Africa (UNISA) and aims to promote participatory media policy making in the public interest.

Find us at www.mediaanddemocracy.com

THESE ARE PRELIMINARY FINDINGS AND ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION

Settled/withdrawn -

0.46%

Dismissed - 36.4%

Partially dis-

missed -

45.16%

Upheld -

17.05%

No finding - 0.92%

PCSA Rulings: Jan 2009 - Dec 2013

Settled/withdrawn - 0.46%Dismissed - 36.4%Partially dismissed - 45.16%Upheld - 17.05%No finding - 0.92%

Settled/withdrawn - 0.46%

Dismissed - 36.4%

Partially dismissed - 45.16%

Upheld - 17.05%

No finding 0.92

PCSA Rulings: Jan 2009 - Dec 2012

Settled/withdrawn - 0.46%Dismissed - 36.4%Partially dismissed - 45.16%Upheld - 17.05%No finding - 0.92%

Settled/withdrawn - 1.5%

Dismissed - 51.12%,

Partially dis-missed - 36.84%

Upheld - 9.02%No finding - 1.5%

PCSA Rulings: 2013

Settled/withdrawn - 1.5%Dismissed - 51.12%Partially dismissed - 36.84%Upheld - 9.02%No finding - 1.5%

Sanctioned - 58.48%

Not sanctioned - 41.52%

Percentage of complaints sanctioned: Jan 2009 - Dec 2013

Sanctioned - 58.48%Not sanctioned - 41.52%

Sanctioned - 64.59%

Not sanctioned - 35.4%,

Percentage of complaints sanctioned: Jan 2009 - Dec 2012

Sanctioned - 64.59%Not sanctioned - 35.4%

Sanctioned - 48.87%Not sanctioned - 51.12%,

Percentage of complaints sanctioned: 2013

Sanctioned - 48.87%Not sanctioned - 51.12%

Representatives from political par-ties - 8.29%

Governmental departments or state/public institutions or state

owned enterprises - 26.57%

Third party complaints

- 7.71%

Businesses and other organisa-tions - 49.71%

Public figures & celebrities - 7.43%

Complainants: Jan 2009 - Dec 2013

Representatives from political par-ties - 7.62%

Governmental departments or state/public institutions or state

owned enterprises - 30.04%

Third party complaints

- 6.72%

Businesses and other organisa-tions - 47.08%

Public figures & celebrities - 8.52%

Complainants: Jan 2009 - Dec 2012

Representatives from political par-ties - 9.77% Govern-

mental depart-

ments or state/pub-lic institu-tions or

state owned enter-prises - 23.3%

Third party complaints

- 9.02%

Businesses and other organisa-tions - 52.63%

Public figures & celebrities - 5.26%

Complainants: 2013

THIRD PARTY COMPLAINTS

In 2013 third party complaints were introduced in the complaints procedure of the PCSA for the first time. Third party complaints had occasionally been accepted before then, at the discretion of the Ombudsman.

Third party complaints 2009-2012: 15 over four years (average 3.75 per year)

Third party complaints in 2013: 12 in one year

Public advocate: • Third party complaints about the same story are collated into one complaint. •These complaints serve to foster diversity.

PROMINENCE OF THE SANCTION

2009-2012: Complaints sanctionedProminence stipulated: 25% 2013: Complaints sanctionedProminence stipulated: 93.84%

Adherence by publications at 100%

Average number of days taken to resolve each complaint: the number of days between the date the complaint was laid and the date the ruling was published YEAR and number of average days taken to resolve complaint (with ruling)

2009 - 233 days 2010 - 81 days 2011 – 85 days 2012 – 104 days 2013 – 59 days