About doing our readers, SA justice

OVER the past weekend I was fortunate to attend the annual Nat Nakasa awards – presented to courageous journalists who have excelled in their work – and listen to our Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng address us. Mogoeng was the guest speaker at the Randlords rooftop bar event in Johannesburg, attended by the finest crop of South African journalists.

Nakasa was a young South African journalist who died in exile at the tender age of 28. He had left the country in 1964 on an exit permit after being denied a passport by the repressive apartheid government. This was despite him having been awarded the prestigious Nieman Fellowship at Harvard.

He was a fearless opponent of apartheid and his writings had attracted the attention of the security police, who had begun to monitor him.

This explains why the apartheid government did not want him to return – hence the exit permit. Because he could not bear the prospect of never returning to his native South Africa, he took his own life a year later.

The awards are organised by the SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef ) in recognition of those who have “shown integrity and reported fearlessly”, as well as those who “resisted any censorship” while also showing “courage” in telling the South African story.

Mogoeng’s speech was along similar lines as he spoke of the importance of a courageous and free media in exposing and holding those in power to account.

Mogoeng did not disappoint as he, in his preacher-like form, delivered a searing speech in which he called the attendees to introspection. The sobering speech touched on a few sensitive issues and was enough to erase whatever effect the earlier welcome drinks may have had on the attendees.

The most crucial question was whether the media was delivering the kind of content that is required by our audiences. In other words, are we serving the needs of our communities?

Mogoeng was animated from the moment he took to the podium. Being the gentleman that he is, he began with pleasantries.

“I would be failing in my duty as a citizen of this country if I don’t pause to record my gratitude to our media for the extraordinary display of courage and exercise of their right to freedom of expression . . . our media has courageously exposed wrongdoing by the government and its functionaries and held it accountable. You have truly done a sterling job,” he said.

With the pleasantries out of the way, he chronicled the history of media ownership in the country and the world and also highlighted the lesser spoken of issue of how some media houses were founded with the sole intention of propagating untruths and serving certain agendas.

But he was not done.

“It is important that our media be free from all wrongdoing and corrupt powers. Even at the risk of losing your job, muster the courage to expose and hold all centres or repositories of power to account.

“When that is so, then corruption in both the public and private sector would be uprooted and good corporate and public sector governance would be realisable. The wealth of South Africa and Africa would at long last benefit her citizens. And Africa would be truly free from the neocolonialism that has been enabled by double standards and negative selfserving narratives in some reporting. Don’t ignore, justify or forgive some quickly, while spending months or years on similar wrongs by others,” said the chief justice.

His parting shot was, “Now is the time to act against injustice, prejudice, self-serving agendas and disunity”.

For me as the editor of this newspaper, his words could not have come at a better time. Over the past two weeks we asked you, our reader, to give us your honest opinions about the Daily Dispatch. This call was made as we embarked on a process to review our design, layout and content. We also wanted to ensure that the paper we produce is relevant to your needs and lives up to your expectations.

Let me thank those who took time to write in with both flattering and equally critical observations of what is lacking in this newspaper.

This publication celebrates it 146th year of existence in September and its legacy in this city and province is almost unparalleled.

While the print media is facing the challenge of declining circulation and ageing readership – it is important that we should not fold our arms but rather we should innovate. We have realised – as did most organisations affected by “disruption” in their industries – that this is the era of the customer. In our case, it is the era of the reader. This means that whatever content we produce, it has to satisfy the needs of our reader.

Over the past two weeks, you have told us that the economy – jobs, unemployment, entrepreneurship and such like – is uppermost in your minds. You also said that our content must also be unique and local – giving you news that relate to your localities.

Equally important for us to realise is that even if we are not the first to break the story – in this age of social media and fake news – we should be the authority that tells a comprehensive and compelling account of whatever story that may be.

Valerie Viljoen, who has been reading the newspaper for almost 50 years, said the following: “I know that people often say the Daily Dispatch doesn’t carry enough ‘good news’ stories, but I disagree as I feel you really do highlight all that is good in our city through your promotion of the various NGOs and people that are making a difference in the community.”

Theodora Goddin asked for more “good news” on the front page.

“You have no idea how depressing it is to find the paper on my doormat with a headline screaming of the latest crime. It is so heartening to read the good news where so many people aid the helpless and the environment and the increasing war on crime and corruption. It would also help your readers to have advance warning of road closure and maintenance,” she wrote.

Bob Lindesay did not mince his words when he said of our current design: “The paper is looking tired, and I must agree with others regarding a fresh new look . . . [it] is long overdue.” He also bemoaned the spelling and grammar in some of the articles.

Thulani Ntshwanti’s request was short and sweet: “Please bring back the Tailpiece.”

This has been a sobering and fulfilling exercise for all of us at the Daily Dispatch. Although we might not do everything that you request, what is more important is that you, as our readers, should know that we’ve heard you.

● Look out for the new-look Daily Dispatch on July 3.