Consequences of supping with the devil

RYLAND Fisher’s complaint against the owners of newspapers can be justified, but unfortunately the media must live and advertising is what counts. Newspapers must attract readers and, without that, they cannot survive.

The New Age had a fatal flaw. It was a Gupta newspaper. And if you sup with the devil, you must have a long spoon, says the proverb. The bulk of its sales were made to government institutions like SAA. The rest were given away at reduced price in the hope than the masses would spend a rand or two to get it.

John Swinton, former executive of the New York Times, was called by his peers, “the dean of his profession”. He made this statement in 1953 when asked to give a toast before The New York Press Club.

“There is no such thing, at this date in the world’s history, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinion and, if you did, you know beforehand it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinions out of the paper I am connected with.”

Voltaire once said: “I might not agree with what you are saying, but I will fight to the death for your right to say it”. Poor Voltaire, he did not know the modern world and fake news. George Orwell once said: “In an age of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”

That is why it is necessary to spread your knowledge as wide as possible in order to have a wide variety of opinions, then to read between the lines. You might find the truth there.