The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has welcomed the government’s decision to prioritise journalists in the country’s Covid-19 vaccine rollout programme.
Sanef said in a statement on Tuesday that journalists, as designated frontline workers had risked their lives every day for the past 16 months, working throughout the pandemic as part of their responsibility to the public.
“Even during the different peaks of the pandemic, they have not had the option to suspend work or work from home because of the nature of their work and the critical service they provide. They have traversed the country, going to hospitals, clinics, vaccination sites, mass rallies (and) press conferences to reflect on the pandemic, in service to the country to ensure that the public is adequately informed,” Sanef said.
Sanef said that the government had informed it on Monday that journalists will be next in line for the Covid-19 jab as soon as media houses submit their information regarding their employees’ age groups and regions where they are stationed.
“All community media establishments around the country including freelance journalists will also receive forms that they must complete and submit to Government Communications and Information System (GCIS). Sanef particularly appreciates the government’s decision to not only inoculate frontline journalists but to accommodate all categories of media workers as the government wants to target and deal with the media as a sector (rather) than a selected group,” Sanef said.