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South Africa's Free Press Under Fire
| Opinion by Matt WoodAs ANC label SA's print media as 'dishonest' and 'unprofessional'
The ANC has proposed the creation of a Media Appeals Tribunal, which would be used to prosecute reporters who are proven as dishonest or who gather information from illegal sources – which would be anything outside the realm of government issued public statements.The ANC compiled a document that stated that South Africa's print media reveals an alarming amount of dishonesty, lack of professional integrity and independence, and also stated that many of the people who found themselves in the news did not like the way the information had been gathered.
But to me the media is meant to be a reflection of what the people are feeling, so if the headlines read of corruption and bad governance on a day-to-day basis, then perhaps that is what needs to be addressed as opposed to intimidating the media into silence, which is what this new legislation would do.
Journalists won't dare mention the ANC for fear of stepping out of line, and investigative journalism would become a thing of the past. The headlines would undoubtedly be a lot more positive with regard to the government, but if you want to read trumped up articles about Julius Malema behaving or how the government is on track with spending and development, be my guest, but I doubt you will.
If there is discord between reporters and the government it should be the government's job to rise above it, to lead the country and to set an example. In South Africa, though, things are apparently done a little bit differently, so when you are in a position of power and feel your grip loosening, all you need to do is crack your whip and enforce the old adage: if you haven't got anything nice to say; don't say anything at all.
I don't, somehow, think this is what our parents meant.
The proposal by the ANC has been called unconstitutional by the South African National Editor's Forum, and the press ombudsman - who is heavily criticised in the discussion document - has labelled the proposal as 'a very strange document', which probably sums it up quite well.
The ANC says the fact that the press ombudsman is from the media ranks and not an objective layman poses an inherent bias towards the media, and added that all other parties just have to understand and accept the media way, which is grossly unfair and unjust.
The problem is, any representation of the ANC that is not favourable is going to - by default - be grossly unfair and unjust, just as the people reported on aren't going to like how they are reported on when the unsavoury information they have been sweeping under the carpet finally surfaces.
It's a scary prospect that talk of the government could land you up in jail, which is essentially what this boils down to.
It seems counter-productive – for how do we, as a nation, address the shortcomings of those who are meant to serve us, if criticising them becomes illegal?
From where I'm sitting it looks like a last-ditch attempt at regaining control of a wildly rebellious, uncooperative segment of the media, which is perhaps our only truly free form of media left.
Source: www.bizpremises.co.za
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