Questions for a press that needs to rebuild trust
As we commemorated Black Wednesday this week there was so much to consider following the welcome apology of the
Sunday Times last weekend. There are more than 30 daily newspapers, some 10 weekly papers, and many radio and television stations in our country, all doing their best to bridge the gap between the people and the elite. In the media houses there are men and women who have done great work to nurture our democracy. Many scandals have come to light, including the most recent, because of the resilience of newspaper men and women who pursue the truth.
A few years after the dawn of democracy, the Human
Rights Commission found there was subliminal racism in the media. It would have been a surprise if the media was immune to it. The commission said what the media needed to do, with a clear recommendation for transformation. A lot has happened since.
Those who have a bone to pick with the press want to rush to generalisations about how the media should not be trusted. Some outrageous proposals were also made about how it suddenly was no longer sacrosanct to protect sources. This is opportunist in the extreme.
I believe that even in the midst of systemic corruption, this country can find men and women of integrity, such as the chief justice and former public protector Thuli Madonsela. Many had painted both with a Zuma brush before they could excel in their appointed callings.
Media organisations on balance have done their duty to build this democracy and must not be deterred or intimidated from continuing in that role.
The media ombudsman reports over the years reveal that more than 60% of complaints brought before it go in favour of the press. For the media that prints so many words daily, it is safe to say there is an overwhelming attempt to get it right and that exceptions to this rule must be dealt with harshly, to maintain the trust that the public has generally developed with the press over the years.
With this publication, the biggest newspaper in SA, in the line of fire, we have an opportunity for selfreflection on the media.
There is no room for complacency. The following questions must be at the top of media organisations’ lists:
The question of capacity. Is the media investing enough in its own people to strengthen its capacity to report adequately?
What has happened to specialised journalism?
Are the educational institutions that produce journalists focused enough on the content of stories?
Should we not elevate our training of journalists towards specialisation rather than generalisation?
Could this equip journalists against being duped by politicians and spin doctors?
Then there is the question of integrity. What systems should be put in place to regulate ethics among journalists?
Should journalists be involved in business, for example, given that they may not always be adequately remunerated in their day jobs?
Are there enough checks and balances in media houses to stem the tide of conflicts of interest?
Is there enough diversity? Does the content reflect the new nation? How far has the media gone to implement the proposals from commissions of inquiry that pointed to the role of the press in a democracy? How far has the government gone in propelling media diversity?
This set of questions must be a starting point, with no quick answers.
The media is not diverse enough. Ownership is too monopolised. Many news organisations do not have a meaningful BEE structure.
The Sunday Times must follow its apology with action to ensure quality reporting. This is the best way to commemorate Black Wednesday and those who laid down their lives so that today I can write what I like on platforms like this.
Media organisations on balance have done their duty to build this democracy