Manyi deal a mockery of free press

The Gupta family has ‘sold’ their stake in ANN7 and The New Age newspaper. Oakbay, a company that is owned by the family, has decided to sell Infinity Media which runs news channel ANN7 as well as TNA Media which controls The New Age, to Jimmy Manyi.

This would be a welcome development if these media outlets were now to be operated independently, free from political bias and underhand agendas.

It is no secret that the Guptas have used both the ANN7 and The New Age to disseminate selfserving political propaganda, defending and praising the government even when it is unwarranted.

These media outlets are the mouthpiece of the Gupta family and – by extension – of their allies in the state, who reward them with lucrative advertising and sponsorship deals.

This trend is unlikely to end under Manyi, who is a well-known and unashamed President Jacob Zuma’s apologist and a praise singer for the Guptas.

Manyi has touted this as an empowerment deal – taking forward the quest of transforming the media industry.

Given his track record of spirited defence of the scandal-ridden Zuma administration, the 24-hour broadcaster and the newspaper will continue with their brand of uncritical reporting.

The deal was funded by the Guptas themselves, who gave Manyi the money to take over the shares of the family.

It wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume then that the Guptas will continue to enjoy unfettered influence over the editorial direction of the outlets.

There is nothing wrong with diversifying the media space because competition is good. It ensures greater commitment to quality and accuracy, allowing readers and viewers to vote with their feet. That said, the use of media as a tool to peddle propaganda undermines the purpose for the existence of a free press in a democracy.

The ANN7 and The New Age are a mockery to the lofty ideal that the fourth estate should be striving towards. The displacement of the Guptas and the entry of Manyi does not offer any hope that these media outlets will ever be more than just deplorable schemes of inflating the egos of scandal-prone politicians for the purpose of fleecing state coffers.