South African Civil Society Information Service

(SACSIS)

Sobre nosotros

SACSIS – the South African Civil Society Information Service - is a platform for policy dialogue that is being established as a news agency to channel social justice news and analysis to the mainstream media.

SACSIS is deeply concerned about the fragility of life for the poor, who are disproportionately predisposed to environmental, economic and social hazards. This is apparent in the appalling conditions under which they live and work. We consider these conditions to be unacceptable.

To this end, SACSIS seeks to influence media reporting and consequently public policy discourse to promote the idea of the entitlement of the poor, to a higher standard of living and better quality of life. We seek to shift poverty discourse away from a focus on the needs of people, to one on the rights of people. In doing so, SACSIS will champion issues that specifically improve the material wellbeing of the poor.

By the same token, we are deeply concerned that the discourse of inequality has not yet entered mainstream media debates. Given its overarching position in society, it would be fair to argue that the media has enormous reach and influence. To a large degree, it sets the tone for public discourse on policy issues; and in many ways, the media’s power is quite complete. It shapes perceptions and conceals issues, either by not reporting on them, or by not asking the right questions. A glaring deficiency in the media is the lack of exploration into the systemic drivers of poverty and underdevelopment.

In order to address this challenge, the SACSIS news agency feeds regular social justice analysis and opinion to the mainstream media. Concurrently, the SACSIS website is a forum for critical engagement on socio-economic policy debates.

For other net participants we can give an expert opinion, deliver a lecture, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.