Work in Progress Issue no.54 - COSATU Congress

If Home Affairs Minister Stoffel Botha did not have so much power, his comments on the media would be funny. A man who seriously suggests that South Africa's progressive media, already restricted in what it may publish by some 100 statutes and reams of often unintelligible emergency restrictions, furthers 'fear, hatred, intimidation, murder, mutilation and other similar evils' is difficult to take seriously.But his powers to close publications are serious. His notion of 'media terrorists' - 'people who are in a position to provide publicity for the revolutionaries' - is easier to understand. For Stoffel Botha is a leader of a political party which has, for 40 years, systematically undermined the most elementary aspects of democracy. He is not really expected to know much about the media's duty and right to inform its readership. Work In Progress remains under threat from state sources which believe that publication of information they do not like is 'media terrorism'. But if its political survival is to some extent out of WIP's hands, its publishers can at least secure its economic future. Readers will have noticed that Work In Progress is being printed on a lighter paper than before. This makes the publication somewhat thinner, although a changed design format allows for more copy per page. Work In Progress has not raised its selling price since January 1985. Indeed, the cost for some categories of readers has actually dropped. Subscriptions were last increased at the end of 1986 - and then only marginally. Inflation has hit all facets of publishing - paper, printing and distribution costs have all jumped each year. Only WIP's ever-growing circulation has enabled its cover price to remain constant. Recently, however, something had to change. Rather than increasing cover price or subscription costs, the publishers decided to print on a cheaper and thinner paper, while upgrading cover quality. Hence a slimmer Work In Progress - but no price increase. Also new in this edition is the inclusion of a number of short briefs. This is a section the editors hope to expand and improve in the future - Stoffel Botha and his 'media hit-men' notwithstanding