Comrades, The timing of media reports with intent to incite unjustified controversy into the personal life of the country’s president and ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, had a clear political motive. This is not only utter disrespect for the feelings of others bordering on a cheap style of tabloid journalism. But a shabby work of editors who are susceptible to hoaxing, manipulation and shallowness to compromise journalistic ethics that are sacrosanct to the profession.
This emerging culture of tabloidism endangering the freedom of the press and the right to privacy and human dignity will not go unchallenged. The role of the media has been to strengthen the human rights culture with the effort to guarantee all citizens the equal enjoyment of the very rights embodied in our constitution, regardless of their race, party affiliation and station in society. What we saw of late was dirty under the illusion of limitless media freedom. All of this makes it impossible for us to watch journalists to do as they wish. And it is the very reason the ANC sought to establish a media appeals tribunal to strengthen, complement and support the current self-regulatory institutions (Press Ombudsman/Press Council) in the public interest. We cannot tolerate journalists who are open to invasion by sinister forces involved in spiteful scandals to achieve a particular agenda. It’s time to shape up or learn the hard way. Amandla! Awethu! Morgan Phaahla, Ekurhuleni --- On Tue, 1/27/09, Norman Mampane <[email protected]> wrote: From: Norman Mampane <[email protected]> Subject: [YCLSA Discussion] Outrageous Disrespect for our Elders and Leaders To: [email protected], [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2009, 2:01 AM Dear Editor We are hereby expressing our discomfort,disrespect,misbehaviour and unethical news coverage of the life of Our President,Cde Kgalema Motlanthe. If indeed our media are operating like paparazzi that led to the continued private lives intrusion of our leaders and We think media transformation in South Africa should be a priority.What is most embarassing is that you feel proud to unsettle families when you should channel your space to worthy and revolutionary duties Our President continues to play for the people of Zimbabwe and the rest of SADC. We continue to support initiatives such as made by City Press to establish Media Academy as a result of an open secret that our production of sound journalists and analysts in this country is in dire need.The case in point,is the Media Trials of our Leaders. This must Stop with immediate Effect!!!! How dare such a paper cover stories that are shwashi aligned maybe consider becoming "township/surburb tell lies". We ,young leaders in the country are discouraged by this kind of behaviour.We are enlightened around issues of Media Ethics and think this was over-board. The newspaper must apologise to the people of South Africa.Or we will consider starting campaigns to boycott sales of your newspaper until you apologise. We used to like your sound reporting but now we are disturbed by this. Yours Comradely Mampane Norman (POPCRU National Educator writing in his personal capacity) Auckland Park Johannesburg 0720737959 --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
