Tough love brings news you can trust
NEWSPAPERS in the Independent Media group believe in bringing our readers the news – accurately, as quickly as we can and without fear or favour.
In this age of fake news, as well as of news with ulterior motives, we accept that ours is a monumental task.
As John Pilger, one of the world’s top investigative reporters, once said: “It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas of the message ...”
But in many ways, we remain idealists. We believe we can negotiate our way through the pitfalls of the electronic media age – by being vigilant, sceptical and credible.
Our aim is to publish stories that give all points of view. We do not support factions – but what we do support is the tried-and-tested journalistic practice of checking, checking and checking again.
To this end, we want our newspapers to be held to account.
This is why we launched our Group Ombud this week.
It is being run by one of South Africa’s most distinguished editors and accomplished journalists – Jovial Rantao. Helping him will be an appeals panel chaired by one of the nation’s most revered judges: Justice Zac Yacoob.
We used to subscribe to the Press Code and abide by the rulings of the Press Ombud, but we withdrew from that institution last year when we could not find a resolution to the double jeopardy system that now exists.
In short, if a vexatious complainant took us under review in that system, they could check their case for free against any defence we might offer and then take us to court where we would not be able to contest their claim.
This occurred because the ombud dropped the waiver clause which in the past meant that complainants could only choose the courts or the ombud, not both.
Now we have our own ombud system – with a waiver – and we are asking our readers to complain about anything we might have done which has unjustly caused injury or harm.
To our readers, we say: use it. Take Rantao up on his promise of “tough love” on any of our newspapers that cause injury or wrong.