ALI SA Fellow Phathiswa Magopeni has been appointed as the new Executive Director of the Press Council of South Africa (PCSA), marking a significant milestone in her illustrious career and a pivotal moment for media accountability in South Africa.
With over 20 years of strategic and editorial leadership experience, Phathiswa brings a wealth of knowledge to her new role. Her career includes notable positions such as Editor-in-Chief of SABC News and Chief Operations Officer at the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Holding an MBA from GIBS and currently pursuing doctoral studies, Phathiswa exemplifies a commitment to continuous professional development.
Reflecting on her appointment, Phathiswa shares, “As much as it is a growth milestone for my career and as a professional, at a personal level, it is a point of reflection for the moment I am in, in respect of the commitment and effort it demands because this role is taking me to the heart of what I love most”.
In her new position, Phathiswa will lead the PCSA’s national office and represent the organisation at various national, continental, and global events. Her vision emphasises the importance of a trustworthy, free, and responsible media in maintaining a strong democracy – principles that align seamlessly with ALI SA’s focus on ethical leadership and societal impact.
Phathiswa outlines her key priorities: “Primarily, it is to amplify the role of the Press Council as the media sector’s public accountability mechanism, and a media freedom and freedom of expression champion”. She also aims to ensure the Council’s sustainability, drive digital transformation, advance freedom of expression across Africa, and contribute to the review of outdated news media regulatory mechanisms.
Addressing the evolving media landscape, Phathiswa recognises the need for the Press Council to adapt to challenges such as digital disruption and misinformation. She emphasises the importance of developing fact-checking and verification capacities within newsrooms and educating the public to discern credible information.
On balancing media freedom and ethical journalism, Phathiswa states, “Since adherence to the highest ethical standards of journalism is itself an effective mechanism to safeguard media freedom with its ability to minimise the risk of attacks on the integrity of the news media, the Press Council will be doing a lot of work on its Code of Ethical Conduct”. She highlights the FAIR Campaign (Factual, Accountable, Independent, and Responsible) as a key mechanism to encourage high-quality, ethical journalism.
Drawing from her experiences as an ALI Media Fellow, Phathiswa brings a values-based approach to leadership in her new role. She reflects, “The values-based approach to leadership that ALI espouses is what has kept me centred in my leadership journey, because it focuses on seeking solutions to the grand challenges that the continent faces, through strong values, ethical conduct and resilient leadership”.
Looking towards the future, Phathiswa aims to elevate the value of the Press Council to the public and the country’s democracy. She envisions a legacy that ensures the sector produces journalism that is factual, accountable, independent, and responsible.
As Phathiswa Magopeni embarks on this new chapter, her appointment not only marks a personal achievement but also signifies a commitment to upholding the highest standards of journalism in South Africa. Her leadership at the Press Council of South Africa promises to shape the future of media accountability and press freedom in our nation and beyond.
