FOTP 2013 Full Report

fire for displaying a pro-ANC bias, reflecting internal ANC rifts in its management struggles,financial maladministration, and practicing self-censorship. In December 2012, editors at theSABC radio station Metro FM quashed an interview about the ANC national conference withthree political journalists because no ANC representative was present.The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is involved inefforts to expand the number and broadcasting range of community radio stations. However, theprocess is slowed by lack of bandwidth and bureaucratic delays. The SABC’s three stationsclaim most of the television market, but the country’s two commercial television stations, e.tvand M-Net, are reaching growing proportions of the population. International broadcasts areunrestricted.In 2011, the Zuma government announced a R1 million ($122,000), cabinet-approvedadvertising budget that will be directed toward newspapers that “assist the government in gettingits message across”; the government’s media advertising operations were also consolidatedwithin the Ministry of Communications. New Age, a daily newspaper launched in late 2010, isowned by interests with close ties to Zuma and has been explicitly endorsed by the governmentas a “supportive” publication. The paper has hosted a growing number of high-priced “businessbreakfasts” with senior ANC officials and business leaders, drawing accusations of a conflict ofinterest.Internet access is unrestricted, although state monitoring of telecommunications systemsis authorized. In 2012, 41 percent of the South African population had access to the internet.Access is expanding rapidly, and more people are able to reach the medium from mobile devicesthan from computers. However, the majority of the population is unable to benefit from internetaccess due to high costs and the fact that most content is in English, an obstacle for those whospeak one of the country’s 10 other official languages. There is some content in local languages,especially on social-networking platforms.South KoreaStatus: Partly FreeLegal Environment: 9Political Environment: 13Economic Environment: 9Total Score: 31Survey Edition 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012Total Score, Status 30,F 30,F 30,F 32,PF 32,PFSouth Korea’s media environment has experienced some setbacks since President Lee Myungbaktook office in 2008, and the Lee administration’s attempts to censor online content andrestrict access to news from North Korea under its strict interpretation of the 1948 NationalSecurity Law continued to raise concerns among domestic and international media advocacygroups during 2012. However, these issues drew increased attention during the run-up to theDecember 2012 presidential election, with political parties and candidates proposing newinitiatives to strengthen press freedom. Park Geun-hye of the conservative Saenuri Party won thecontest, becoming the first female president in the country’s history.344