Press Freedom

Thought I’d get on the band wagon on this issue…

There’s a couple of articles thats been published recently that was heavily discussed in the media and on the comment lines of the articles themselfs:

1. David Bullard @ Sunday Times: “Imagine for a moment what life would be like in South Africa if the evil white man hadn’t come to disturb the rustic idyll of the early black settlers” http://www.thetimes.co.za/Columnists/Article.aspx?id=741855.

2. Jon Qwelane @ News24: “Poor President Robert Mugabe, he’s having a very rough time at the hands of western and South African racists, who are being aided and abetted by their loyal puppy, Morgan Tsvangirai”  (http://www.news24.com/News24/Columnists/Jon_Qwelane/0,,2-1630-1633_2305349,00.html).

These 2 writers are writing commentary on political issues in SA in an already unstable political environment. Their commentary for me borderlines racism. Do we really need that right now?

The problem I see with it is that press freedom, like we have it, is way too open for interpretation. I constantly see articles being published that is stepping over the line of good reporting and should have been stopped from being publshed by the editors in the first place. If you followed these articles you would have seen from the reactions that people are getting worked-up even more so than they already are. In our present society that can not be a good thing!

I say reporters who writes on public published articles should be restricted, same as you aren’t allowed to shout ‘fire’ in a crowded building. You are not allowed to do that, but you may work a nation into a bloodlust frenzy over your interpretation of events? And you’re talking about a reporter/ commentator that probably doesn’t have any relevant qualifications in the applicable field. How is he or she qualified to give an objective opinion? A mere good writer?

Jake White (Springbok rugby coach: 2004-2007) wrote in his book, ‘In black and White’ about how some reporters wrote half truths and plain lies to sensationalise the stories or had some vendetta against him. That reporter is in being waging various sportmans futures in his hands. How can that be allowed in any way because of press freedom? Some of those reports almost cost our nation the best national event of ‘07- wouldn’t that have been fun to report on.

From what I understand there is some restrictions on press freedom. I say it must be restricted more by an approved counsel that will put clear guidelines in place for reporters to follow.