"Government has taken the bold step of setting up an independent agency that will address some of the problems of media development and diversity in South Africa. It is important to stress that the proposed Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) will not interfere in the content of any newspaper, television or radio station. Its primary purpose is to help create an enabling environment for media to develop and meet the diverse needs of all South Africans. This includes those marginalised because of factors such as gender, race, disability, geographical location, class or income, as well as marginalised schools of thought. While the scale of what is required to fully address media imbalances will be beyond the scope of the MDDA, it will play a key catalytic role through its funding, facilitation and research. This Position Paper was formulated through consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including statutory bodies, the media and advertising industry, community media, NGOs, academics and trade unions. It is now government policy, and informs the draft legislation that will be presented to Parliament for consideration during 2002." (Foreword, page 6)