Paper’s headline ‘creates fear’
Corne van Eck, George:
I have thought a long time before writing this e-mail. What a disaster of a headline this week! The forest and trails being a mugger's paradise.
Have you thought for one minute about these words before sensationally publishing them?
Define mugger. Define paradise. Please define paradise.
And then advertise to anyone that can read and even to those who cannot the kind of bikes that kids can be robbed of in this “paradise” for muggers. What an open invitation to these muggers. Is a newspaper not supposed to be a little bit more wise? Or are you and this paper just becoming another media outlet riddled with sensation and to a point fake news, only interested in the sales of the week's paper instead of the implication of a headline? The Hillbillies and mountain bike clubs, trail running clubs, parkrun etc. have spent countless hours building new trails in the forest, over the last 3 months. And all have enjoyed it. I have never seen so many people in the forest. Old ladies with canes, families, families, families and a thousand dogs.
Until this Saturday.
Not one family. Not one. Only a few hard core trail and mountain bikers.
Why did you create fear and for all eternity this is on the record for any tourist that researches “Garden Route trails or George?
Why are you so short sighted? (Letter shortened)
Group Editor, Ilse Schoonraad replies: Dear Mr van Eck and readers, George Herald never intended to detract from or harm the reputation of the wonderful mountain trails in our beautiful area. The article and headline were meant to alert people to the possible dangers and also to compel the authorities to take action. People making use of mountain trails across the country have been the target of criminals - Table Mountain being a prime example.
I do however understand your concern about the headline in question and will in future be more cautious. Our enthusiasm in getting our point across got the better of us. We apologise for any unintended harm. We will be in touch to write your good news stories about the trails as well as publish photographs.