Lulama Mokhobo, the SABC's CEO, appeared on the revamped and massively makeover-ed SABC News bulletin this evening on SABC3 - now an hour long on weekdays from today and starting at 18:30 (with a brand-new set, a new opening sequence and a new tri-anchor news team) to explain the reason for the change to the SABC's flagship TV news bulletin.
"We're doing the news differently from today. Many people probably thought it's an April Fools' Joke, I assure you it's not," said SABC News anchor Vabakshnee Chetty, before she started interviewing Lulama Mokhobo live in the new news studio.
It was very important for us to provide South Africans with an additional half an hour to the 30 minutes that we used to have from 19:00 to 19:30," said Lulama Mokhobo.
"The reason is quite simply that we do not have enough space in our 30 minute bulletins to be able to provide South Africans with perspectives from across the country. As you know there is so much going on, all the time, in all the provinces, which we're unable to broadcast because there's only so much you can do in the small time we have," said Lulama Mokhobo.
"Secondly it gives us an opportunity to not only expand on the news of the day but to educate South Africans a little bit more. We tend to think news is only for information; it is also partly for education. If you have a society that is very well informed, they're able to make better decisions about their daily lives and what they're going to be doing tomorrow and how they're going to interact with their environment," said Lulama Mokhobo.
Vabakshnee Chetty asked Lulama Mokhobo on SABC News whether market and audience research was done before the change to an hour long broadcast, and what viewers want to see the SABC deliver.
"There was indeed, there was viewer research that was done through our platforms." Lulama Mokhobo said "news took centrestage".
According to Lulama Mokhobo, viewers complained and told the SABC that "we need to see more of regional events and happenings, and we've taken that on board - very seriously. If we can't do that, then we can't be the public broadcaster."
"Would you say that regional broadcasting of regional news is what sets us apart from our competitors?" asked Vabakshnee Chetty of Lulama Mokhobo.
"Without a doubt, without a doubt. We are truly South African. And yes, while we do carry some international news, our focus should be on what is happening in South Africa and the region itself. When we look at provincial news gathering services, actually we have a huge amount of content, which you know as a news woman yourself, comes through our pipes - and we're unable to use it," said Lulama Mokhobo.
"I think for me, it's a bit of a tragedy that so much is going on and the country doesn't know about it. So yes, a major proportion of what will be happening in this one hour newscast will pay due respect and create space for the regions to be heard,'' said Lulama Mokhobo.
