So Many Questions

The acting chief operating officer of the SABC, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, says 70% of its news stories must be positive. Chris Barron asks him . . .

Will you overrule your editors?

No. Let me explain to you. I’m also a former journalist. And this is what I stand for from long ago.

Editorial independence?

No. The view that we need to change the way the media operate.

Who will decide if a story is positive or negative?

Remember, you have a diary meeting every morning where you come with stories. I’m saying to think positive. They should go and get good stories.

Who will decide what is a good story?

There are so many good stories, and people are not reporting them.

Will you decide what is a good story?

We don’t sell a story because of commercial issues. We don’t need to put headlines, I’m not interested in headlines. What I’m interested in are stories that are building the nation, not stories that destroy the nation.

Give me an example.

If you look at rural areas where there was no water, where there was no electricity, where there were no houses — the government has done very well on those issues.

Is it news that the government is doing the job we pay it to do?

It is news.

That the government is doing what it was elected to do is news?

Yes. The answer is yes, it is news.

And is it news when the government is not doing what it was elected to do?

That is news too.

Will you report it?

If you have concrete evidence. But journalists should not come to conclusions; they should not just make a hullaballoo.

If only 30% of your news is about negative stuff like corruption, crime and service-delivery failures, you are going to have to underreport a lot of it, aren’t you?

Which is good.

Why is it good?

Because I want to build this country, and I want journalists to think of building their own country.

Does it help to pretend that things are better than they are?

It is not pretending. Things are better, man. After democracy things have changed a lot.

When you talk about negative news, negative from whose point of view?

From my personal view. And other people’s view.

And from the government’s point of view?

From our own audience’s point of view. They are tired of negative news, let me tell you.

Why did you come up with this policy now? Who told you to do it?

It’s me; no one can tell me what to do.

Do you think it will benefit the government in the elections next year?

It will benefit the public.

Will it benefit the government?

No, man, why do you talk about the government?

There is an election next year. I want to know if this policy has anything to do with that?

Elections come and go. It’s got nothing to do with the elections.

Surely if 70% of the news is about how well the government is doing, it is going to benefit the government at election time?

The positives I am talking about are not just about the government. I am talking about positive stories that are happening within communities and so on.

You said your positive stories will be about houses being built, the provision of electricity, water and so on?

Yes, yes, it’s true, I said that.

If 70% of your news is about that, will you not be doing the government a big favour?

No, I’m doing the public a favour, not government. After 20 years of democracy we need to release it; what this country has done for ordinary citizens, what are its achievements.

You are the acting chief operating officer. Why are you involved in editorial policy?

I’m a former journalist and a citizen.

Does that give you the right to call the shots on editorial policy?

Those people report to me.

Should the editors not decide what stories to report?

When it comes to what kind of news people should see, the buck stops with me. I drive the strategy, I’m the one responsible.

Were you not fired by the board?

I was not fired. I don’t know what you are talking about.

Did the board not tell you you were no longer the acting COO?

I can’t respond to that.

Why not?

I don’t talk about history.

You should not actually be there at all, should you?

Look, man, I can’t talk about history. I’m the acting COO. That is why I am talking to you.