Living in South Africa is exhausting. We are always one small step away from mass hysteria. Or that, at least, is the impression you’d get if you based your knowledge entirely on the news media, Tuesday being the most recent and vivid example.
Now, it’s understandable that if big political events take place the media should report on them as rapidly as possible. Thus when the presidency announced the resignation of 10 ministers, along with the beloved Trevor Manuel, it was fair for every website and radio station to get that news out to the country.
However – and it’s a big however – don’t we expect more of the media than to simply broadcast the most inflammatory version of the information at their disposal without any thought of the consequences? Some investigation. Some interrogation. Some thought. At the very least.
Within three seconds of hearing the news the most obvious question to me, the layperson, was: well, is this a resignation or a formality? Is this in the spirit of the establishment of a new cabinet, or a radical change in position from a week ago when Manuel quite clearly stated he was available to stay?
Why was THIS not the headline, then? “Manual resigns, but it may just be a procedural formality”.
The obvious reason is simply the news media want drama, want a frenzy, want chaos. Nothing draws more attention in an economy than devastation, collapse, madness and terror. The media hungers after larger-than-life events and we, the readers and viewers, cheer them on with our eyeballs.
We also, these days, cheer them on with our comments. From the staid and managed radio call-in shows of the past we have moved to online discussion boards and forums where the filters to the hysteria are all but invisible. Within minutes of the news being posted on sites like Moneyweb, dozens of misspelt and frankly ridiculous comments had arrived. The most infuriating being the endless variations of “it’s been fun, see you in Aus”.
It was instructive to watch how the comments evolved as the news about Trevor Manual cleared itself up like an outbreak of bronchitis. The early commentators vanished as fast as they had appeared, with no way to take back their extremist drivel. And the later ones turned to assaults against Manto Tshabalala-Msimang for not being included on the list.
Here’s the thing: the ‘general public’ such as we are cannot be relied upon to offer up anything more than predictable, emotional and knee-jerk responses. To be honest one can learn just about nothing from reading the comments on these kinds of forums, other than that people tend to behave just as you’d expect them to.
This is why blogs (TL excluded, since it is both edited and moderated) are a fundamentally poor source of news and only a slighter better source of analysis. They provide reaction. And they have their place.
But the professional news media have a different kind of role and a greater responsibility. They need to moderate themselves because there is no one who will do it for them. So when the markets plunge and the streets are filled with blood, yes it is the politicians who are ultimately to blame. But the media must own their role: they might just be the messenger, but a messenger of the most dangerous kind; one whose own agenda is to provoke the biggest possible reaction.
To say it clearly: the reporting of the entire saga around Zuma and Mbeki over the past months, and especially the last week, has, on the whole, been appalling, irresponsible, alarmist and destructive. You, the media, should be ashamed of yourselves.
I only wish the applicability of the above sentence ended now. But there is more coming, of that we can have little doubt.
Give us a break. Its Friday! Even that serial blogger Sentletse took the day of! Now you may apply for a post at http://WWW.MILLS AND BABOON.COM
Local media still panders to the insecurities that many of us whitey’s have. Why? Because, for the most part all of the large media corp’s are run by whining, negative insecure whitey’s.
It is time for the media to become responsible. I am personally at the point where I don’t believe the headlines — some are clearly done for shock value and sometimes have very little in common with the article.
Do we not expect the media to investigate and put forward a balanced view of news rather than annoy our senses with skewed and perverted reporting?
Manuel’s resignation was a very strategic move. He knew that there was no way that he wouldn’t be reappointed, and being invited into the cabinet anew strengthens his hand against Cosatu and the like.
I want news instantly, unmoderated and uncensored. If the news is ‘startling’ as in this week – the NEWS MAKERS should consider the consequences of their actions and announcements. Especially the party that is the public’s servant ! Every act has a reaction.
That is called Press Freedom.
Hear Hear!
My sentiments exactly. Has anyone ever done a major study as to why the media focuses on the negative, the philosophy of “if it bleeds, it leads”?
A friend of mine recently remarked that if you don’t read the newspapers, South Africa is actually a very nice place to live
I agree with Old,female,paleface. News must be written immediately without censorship or moderation and the consequences must be dealt with by those who overstep their mandate – both the newsmakers and those that report it.
Don’t underestimate the intelligence of the majority of readers (the ones that don’t post emotional OTT comments) who come to more rational and reasonable conclusions even after having to wade through volumes of regurgitated sensationalist drivel.
Don’t shoot the messenger. Things have the potential to go from bad to worse. Manual sent out his resignation, and more than an hour later clarified his position. Why? He should have known what effect it would have had….
So you prefer everyone to dig their heads in the sand and only report good news? Give me a break.
South Africa is up shit creek. All the positive thinking and jib jibing does not change the reality of that situation. The media is negative because the situation is dire
1) Inflation has rocketed
Healthcare is collapsing
2) Interest rates are high
3) Corruption has never been this high
4) The battle against HIV is being lost
5) Illegal immigrants pouring in
6) Crime is the one of the worst in the world
7) Skilled people are leaving in droves
9) Education is collapsing
10) Infrastructure is collpasing
11) The standard of living is on the decline
12) Heavy taxation for the middle class
13) BEE policies make doing business difficult
14) Municipalities are on the verge of bankruptcy
15) Political instability
16) Affirmative Action
17) Disgusting actions on the UN security council
18) Dwindling reputation internationally
I could go on and on and on. These are not minor issues. These are serious issues that are in fact being under reported. It all seems so overwhelming because it is in fact overwhelming.
The media is not being negative folks. The situation is really really bad. Boil a frog slowly eh?
Wake up SA
Well said sir.
Come on Wayne, get some perspective!
Most of the issues (bar BEE, AA and crime) are experienced the world over. The US, UK and Europe are experiencing many similar issues.
Perception is reality. If you feed yourself negativity all day your world will be shaped by it. Sad thing is, your perception moves with you to Aus or NZ…
I quite agree with this post. You’re good when you’re not rambling about vegans