Business Day *Tribunal will fix mess* *Morgan Phaahla, Letters, Business Day, 22 July 2010*The call by the African National Congress for the establishment of an independent media tribunal to deal specifically with unethical journalism is long overdue. We cannot continue to allow a situation where a former journalist is being paid by the media to adjudicate on matters affecting itself in the public interest.
It's only an independent body that can realise this objective.The complaints of journalists over-stepping the mark and publishing allegations without taking reasonable steps to verify any accuracy have fallen on deaf ears because the ombudsman is not only uncomfortable with tackling former colleagues, but reluctant to bite the hand that feeds him.
I further endorse a call for an independent zero-fault system to deal with corrupt journalists and editors susceptible to "brown envelopes" in order to champion a certain political agenda. This includes those playing a part in narrow factional interests to catapult conspiracy theories driven by the desire to publish diabolical allegations and dirty gossips about others without a care for their reputation, dignity and standing in society. I do not know why there is such resistance to the tribunal when its existence will harmonise the current system of self-regulation, to help the media regain lost credibility and dignity.
Media practitioners should be compelled to use freedom of the media to promote the spirit, purport and objects of the constitution.
Now is the time to put an end to the cynical agenda of the media to impose its own right to inform the public with distorted news and stories fraught with falsehoods, all driven by profit and desire to up sales. The tribunal remains the only way forward.
*Morgan Phaahla* * * *Ekurhuleni* *From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=115524* * * /With comments/ -- 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] .
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