Plans by the African National Congress (ANC) and its coalition members to counter what it sees as bias in the South African press with their own newspaper are still on the cards, and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) says the paper may be given away free.

Patrick Craven, Cosatu spokesperson, told community newspaper and radio stations at a meeting to discuss "the implications of monopoly media ownership for democracy", that the coalition resolved to establish a paper that countered the "pro business, pro-private enterprise, anticommunist, antidemocracy stance by newspapers belonging to the "big four": Avusa, Naspers, Independent and Caxton.

He told Business Day that a feasibility study had still to be conducted, but the federation felt the paper should be established as soon as possible.

ANC spokesperson Brian Sokutu said talks were being held on a business model.

The end of the monopoly

Craven said the coalition envisaged a freebie daily using its large circulation to attract advertisers.

"The launch of a daily newspaper could be the end of the monopoly by Avusa, Naspers, Independent and Caxton. It would still have to have advertising, but it would have such a massive reach that advertisers would not dare to dictate the content."

Mark Weinberg of the Alternative Information Development Centre, which co-hosted the community media meeting with the National Community Radio Forum, said four big media groups owned the bulk of print media.

The SABC controlled 41.6 percent of radio and 69.3 percent of TV audiences.

"SA is facing a deepening social economic crisis.... Yet the SA media is obsessed with the lives of 'big men', the mafia crime drama of Mr Selebi or who will coach the national soccer team," Weinberg said.

Prof Anton Harber, head of Wits University's Journalism and Media Studies Programme, said last year an ANC paper could be a good thing and "help us keep informed" of ruling party thinking. But he warned against a daily, saying a weekly might be more viable. Party papers seldom carried good journalism as they were loath to criticise their parties.

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