I am almost tempted to open this piece with a disclaimer stating that the views expressed here are not in any way a personal attack on the main character, but then again based on my main character’s evident thrill from personally attacking people, what the hell.
Last night, in an attempt to get my monthly hairdo, I visited my hairdresser’s home to find that she, and her whole family, were glued to South Africa’s first free television station waiting zealously for the flight of the next dramatic dose of 3rd Degree.
I am not one for TV and I make a conscious effort not to watch it because it’s depressing. This post, might I warn, is not in any way about my TV preferences, nor is about the reasons behind my short-lived career in TV news journalism (if there is such a thing).
What this post is about is the level of influence that current-affairs television shows, like 3rd Degree, have in the stability of our country. I have always disagreed with the style of journalism, or rather the interviewing technique, of the fierce and forceful Debora Patta. Her importunate style, which is a characteristic we can all safely agree is needed to get to the bottom of issues involving politicians, is something I personally (professionally, and otherwise) do not aspire to.
In last night’s episode I noticed something in Patta’s interviewing that unsettled me and left me asking questions about the level of responsibility journalists have in maintaining peace and stability in our country.
Patta’s personalisation of almost every matter unpacked in her weekly production makes it unfeasible to uncover the bottom line of issues. This episode in question was on race where, subsequent to Eugene Terre’Blanche’s death, Patta and her crew went to Ventersdorp to find a deeper angle to the alleged race killings in the area and across the country.
Now, I am sure we all know that there is a race problem in South Africa and dialogue is probably the one way we can deal with it.
On two occasions in last night’s show, Patta behaved in a manner that, I felt, based on my journalism training and as a citizen, was close to inciting violence. During an interview with a young Afrikaans woman regarding her racial concerns, Patta, who is the journalist and should know better than to interject when an interviewee is speaking, dared to oppose the young woman’s rightful opinion that white and black people should live separately by saying “how do you think my black camera man feels standing here and hearing you say this”.
Her disdainful tone led to the assault of the camera man by an Afrikaner man who felt (as much as I did) that Patta was being irrelevant and was trying to get a reaction.
Later on in the same show she, instead of professionally interviewing a student leader of the Freedom Front Plus party at the University of the Free State, unashamedly accused the leader of being a racist, questioning her reasons for wanting to preserve Afrikanerdom.
Journalists like Patta is the reason why this country is taking so long to recover. I feel that there should never be a time in a journalists’ life where you need to call an interviewee a racist (not to their face anyway) and if you do, give them sufficient carte blanche to defend themselves against your accusations instead of getting your power back from seeing tears in their eyes because of you (the supposedly objective member of the Fourth Estate) and your imposed judgements on them. I was shocked, to say the least.
True, Patta’s reputation is that she brings everyone to their knees, but it’s that she does it in the most patronising way and in a way that makes people want to defend themselves, almost on a personal level. And because her tone is somewhat aggressive and erratic, I often miss what her point is.
Anyway, my opinion of her style of investigation, especially regarding race relations, is that she’s a catalyst for racial conflict (based on last night’s show and a couple of others). Think about it, where else in the world have you heard of a documentary crew taking posters with the words “I am proudly black” and “I am proudly white” to a university that is already battling out severe racial conflict? If those posters were not there to prompt reactions and to resurrect what may have been dead wood to some students, then what were they there for?
You know, the more I think about it the more I become conscious of the fact that Julius Malema’s obsession with race is on the same level as that of Ms Patta, how ironic … of the few times I have watched 3rd Degree, I have heard too many intense race-related stories and that unsettles me. I am worried because it seems as though the one person who possesses the power to deliver us from racial conflict is, in my opinion, stoking the fires.
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102 Responses to “Ms Patta, lead us not into racial tension”
One word: Sensationalism. It does not just stop with presenters like Patta either, just look at the favorite rags in the Cape and how they use any opportunity to create hatred and conflict where little exist to start with. And their purpose? To make money, of course. That is when journalists really deserve the bad name they have acquired. I prefer reporters, who simply tell objectively what they see and ask questions to clarify, not rile. Subjectivity is a sign of insecurity and therefore immaturity.
Bravo - I wholeheartedly agree that journalists wish for nothing more than a racial “war” to begin in South Africa - their cupboard is going to look pretty empty of juicy news stories once the world cup is over, so they would love to stoke a new fire! Journalists undeniable have such power to do good and reconcile our country with positive stories. I am not saying we must ignore the bad, but why keep at it like a dog with a bone. I think the journalistic fraternity is quite disappointed that there was not a racial war following Terreblanches murder - quite an anticlimax for them!
I do not mind if she hammers a matured politician who is blatantly lying. But to irritate ordinary people, convinced of being honest to themselves and their “ancestors”, beyond the point where they could argue with reason, is unprofessional.
She did not make her points. By interrupting repeatedly the communication element in the conversation was killed. She seemingly was just there to stir in an already sensitive situation.
I was left with the feeling of the old Afrikaner/English hatred relived.
After the Saturday euphoria in Soweto, she managed to put herself on the same platform as the ANCYL in Cape town. Destructive journalism.
I love the end of your article and completely agree with your disapproval of media and journalism who create contraversy for personal gain (ratings and fame and fortune).
But, sadly, I think that a huge proportion of media is guilty of this behavior, and that even more sadly, it’s driven by human nature - we are entertained and fascinated by bad news, especially if it’s happening to someone else.
Debra just happens to have more of the spotlight than her intellect and integrity deserves …
Bua Lihle, bua!
She has always forgotten the first rule of journalism: “take yourself out of the story”.
She was too eager to prove that she is a “good mlungu” and forgot to do her job. If you ask people’s opinion, then listen to it - even if you disagree… 3rd Degree is just a vehicle for her bloated ego - she wouldnt last a day in a REAL newsroom where facts are more important than grandstanding.
I know many great journos - she is not one!
Well done Lihle
Deborah is way over the top she almost has the air of superiority over us mere mortals. However last night was the worst I have seen her in a long time it is tantamount to baiting. She is quite rightly in the same league as Malema a sensationalist and probably a social racist who sits on the fence crossing it to suit her own agenda. People have a right to want live apart others why does Deborah not live in the middle of Soweto for instance? Or why don’t I live amongst some Indian friends down the road am I racist for not wanting to? No people are comfortable in certain situations and let them be and respect that. In short Deborah is just not worth watching anymore its same old every time “wind people up get an angry reaction “ the plot is predictable the outcome even more so
I also noted that Patta is weak on scientific details - in her expose of Samora Machel’s plane crash, she lacked the basic knowledge of aviation that would have made me take her seriously. It was a ‘gee whiz’ programme to try to come to a sensational conclusion when the real experts from IATA had come to a boring but scientifically correct conclusion.
I also think her interviewing style is based on a US TV law program where the prosecuting attorney bullies the witness into losing the case …interrupting someone and talking them down does not override making logical points clearly and calmly.
We need expose journalists in south Africa. It is probably our only safeguard. Handling it professionally, fairly and with empathy is difficult. When handled by an arrogant and self opinionated reporter, it can be pretty disgusting!
We need to fix this, but we need exposé journalism even more. Our lives depend on it.
In a nutshell - her journalism isn’t about the story, it’s about her. Disgusting travesty of journalism. She and Julius have so much in common. Now there’s a good starting point for good race relations, if either one is able to stop pandering to the needs of their huge egos.
@Lihle
I can only wow. I never thought I’d say this but perhaps black journalists should interview whites on racial issues.
Patta’s tactics are sometimes necessary by in to many instances she reminds of a pit bull more intend on destroying the person instead of addressing the issue. I think her sense of objectivity is colored by too many personal issues? Someone will bring her down to size eventually.
I agree with you, Debra was totally out of order, she has turn her show into a witch hunt, instead of investigative reporting as it is suppose to be. Give us the revealing facts and leave us to decide. But to decide for people has become a bit too much
Thank you for your well-considered article. I too found something deeply disturbing about Patta’s show on racism.
One senses that Patta’s agenda is not to investigate and go where the evidence leads, but to follow a predetermined agenda, and to bend the evidence to where she wishes the conclusion to go.
I personally do not believe that there is nearly as much of a racial problem in SA as journalists and politicians try to construct. In fact, I think there is a remarkable amount of goodwill between the races across a very broad level indeed.
Patta could go out tomorrow and make a very good case for this proposition, but she chooses not to. She also is quite determined not to let in a shred of evidence to contradict her agenda.
Her world is one of black & white — no pun intended. There are no subtleties and no place for compromise. The ironical result is that her productions often compromise the full truth.
I agree with your sentiments and also find Debra’s interviewing technique too abrasive and confrontational.In fact I am switched off by her style and won’t watch again. she should take a leaf out of the books of good TV interviewers like Amanpour of CNN .
Funny how its ok when she behave like this towards ANC members but every1 have a problem because she asked a woman ( she was SRC leader for 2 years 2 years ago. she is probably around 24 +) who is the leader of a well known racist organization(ff+) you seem to have a problem now. but I am sure this will be blocked cuz its im not with the biased majority here
Nonsense! Patta shows absolutely no fear nor favour, and goes after people of every race, faith, age and social status equally. That’s good, compelling TV journalism. Yes, it’s edgy, but edgy is good. And, so what if she exposes “racial tensions”? These tensions existed long before Patta was born, and they’ll be around long after she’s dead. Denialism is unhelpful and dishonest. Truth needs to be confronted.
Lihle, I’m afraid I have to agree with you. We’re too interested as a nation in labelling people, rather than working together to build up the country.
Heaven only knows there are enough points of contention - we should be focusing on common ground. The perception is of course - born out of experience - that you need to be controversial to sell…
So where does that leave the Tutu’s of the world ? We shouldn’t plaster over cracks in society - but driving a jackhammer at a wall does nothing to improve structural integrity…
I read this a while ago in a news paper article. It said that SAn journalist and media houses were spoiled during apartheid, because they did not have to invest their time and money on reporting because there was blood and gore readily available they didnt have to go look 4 it. They quickly learnt that if it bleeds then it sells… Journalist and media houses are still on the Apartheid mode still looking for blood and gore and if they can’t find it they create it like Debrah is clearly doing. We do not hav investigative journalism in this country, only have agents of distruction, willing to go to print and air on hear say.
I find it rather dishonest when a journalist uses the words, ‘aparently’ or ’sources close to’ in their reports. I shows that they never went beyond what the sources said… I know that there might be many good investigative journalists out there but ur work is out weighed by the trash that is more popular with da consumers… To even think that woman, Debrah, won Journalist of da year, i think last year, is a disgrace to SAn journalism…
Nonsense! There’s too much pussy-footing around the race question in SA already, at least Deborah Patta calls it the way she sees it! She uses the same style regardless of who she’s dealing with, be it a taxi driver, a high ranking politician, or a racist Afrikaner person.
The problem with people like Lihle is fear of the truth.I hold no brief for Miss Patta but I agree with her on calling a spade a spade.Telling a racist he or she is a racist in thier faces is a correct way of addressing SA’s race relations and dealing with these white denialist about them being racists.
Patta has been like this for a long time - she can only survive in the world of journalism by pouring petrol onto fires that shouldn’t be burning at all. She is not only an enemy of white Afrikaners, but of all South Africans who are trying to make SA work. Let us stop her in her tracks - we can!
Deborah Patta is way out of her depth dealing with race and other serious issues in SA. Her interviewing style is combative, and solely designed to get her view across. She is seemingly all-knowing and all-powerful (on her show).
She should stick to the gutter/tabloid journalism she excels at, like documenting the decline of super-obese control-freaks like “Big G”, whom she actually referred to as such (can anyone say ‘professional journalist’?).
We watch eNew rather than SABC, but they’re running close currently - ANC mouthpiece vs the fruitcake.
Did anyone else notice how she kept her fancy sunglasses on when harassing the people on the show? It seemed to remove her as a person from the exchanges, and allow her to become ‘the media’, able to act with impunity? It must have been like arguing with a piece of wood (or MS windows on a bad day), as it doesn’t matter what you do, “it’s” not going to listen/co-operate/engage in meaningful debate.
Poor, Deborah, poor.
In the past (read pre 1994) journalist often annoyed me as they were simply too soft on (especially)politicians. A politician would duck and dive and that follow-up question is never asked. Journalists need to more forcefull and get to the bottom of the problem.
However Patta’s style simply gets personal without addressing the issue. And she also pick on the less strong. I was wondering if she would have the guts to deal with Boet Ju Ju in such a fashion. I think not.
She should perhaps look at Hardtalk on BBC and see how a journalist wipe the floor with a politician without ever getting personal, followed by the customary handshake and smiles at the end of the interview.
I also agree. I watched the interview of the Free State University female Afrikaans student leader and thought Patta was being too unprofessional in her conduct. Frankly, Patta was doing her best to pressure the poor “student” into admitting racism that I did not see. In fact, the more the student related incidents where she tried to connect with others and make them feel welcome, the more Patta seemed to push her the other way. What a shame!!
I thought I was the only with such perceptions. I just think generally the South African madia precominantly white spends most of their time pointing their magnifying glasses into the lives of blacks in this country. E tv largely Indian and white spends over 95% of their coverage scoping becks and their way of life and so does the news papers of this country. I have been lvivng in Faerieglen for over 10 year and no gets to hear how people live their lives and their current affiars. It is as if we are Unganda or Tnazania where almost 100% of the poipulation is African.
It has become the norm that even the politicians do not question it. But when it comes to entertainment and good stuff then the focu shifts to mainly whites.
I did not see the show, and I don’t have a tv - The interesting thing is often when I do get to watch local TV, I am aware of slants, opinionated angles and general journalism which at times borders on propaganda.
I’ve had a couple of chats with people who watch TV regularly, and many wholeheartedly agree that the experience leaves them more racially charged, more angry at the country and more hopeless about our situation than those who don’t. This is a pity, and a waste of a potential avenue of unity in our nation..
I think that “MTV Jackass” journalism, should be confined to the Jerry Springers of this world, and should not be brought into mainline investigative journalism.
Thank you for your insightful article, I’m glad what’s said has been said. I have often really enjoyed Debra’s show, when she gets to the bottom of hardened politicians and criminals; but aiming her guns at the general public to raise a response is friendly-fire, and she (like anyone with the power of media behind them) should be accountable…
Ms Patta is simply an opportunist and is doing exactly what the viewers find entertaining. Her TV show could be viewed as a Jerry Springer show had it not been for the serious matters that she elects to “presides” over.
Perhaps Debora Patta can learn a few lessons from more refined journalists like Ruda Landman, Derek Watts or Bongani Bingwa. I agree she can be very aggressive sometimes.
Mntaka Tshabalala ngiyadumala ukuthi uhlehlile kwi-journalism. However I have said during the Zuma trial that ‘JOURNALISTS ARE NOT ACTIVISTS’ - they are in a way activists for the truth but it ends there, they should not champion any courses. Patta, Zapiro and in some instances Direko and City Press’s Mda have been such journalists who abuse their power to further their own agendas.
I am glad you see this but then again you seem to be moving away from journalism, so whose gonna fix it mntasekhaya?
I am a former journalist myself (left in 2003-after being in a microbus with 9 journalists talking politics and i found they were all embedded, including my then editor) I think journalism is in such a terrible state in South Africa. And I wrote a letter to the editor about young female journalistts only existing as gossip columns and entertainment writers, of which I got the scars for) We need to find out how we can make people like Xolani Gwala, Tumi Makgabo and produce Patta type!!!
You hit the nail on the head, there, Lihle.
What happened to everyone being entitled to an opinion? Instead, the moment we hear the plitta platta of tiny feet, we know there’s trouble on the way. Platta should save her comments for the studio.
There’s a wider element in SA that’s sowing destruction. Platta’s one; Malema another. There are yet others, like Hofmeyr, for instance.
It would be such a good idea to lock them all into a Big Brother house and throw away the key. In these cases, none is likely to win a round, because none can keep ‘its’ mouth shut.
And for once the general population could see them ‘for real’.
I’m sure we’d find we all have significant things in common: our opinion of them, for starters.
South Africa’s biggest problem is how much the supposed ‘movers’ and ’shakers’ have to say so publicly. The rest of us just want to get on with our lives as peacefully as possible.
Completely agree. It’s great to see hard-hitting interviews but not letting people reply gets you nowhere. Remember “don’t touch me in my studio”? That whole situation could have been avoided if the interviewer had let the interviewee respond.
Agreed, in fact a while back she interviewed Eugene Terreblanche who subsequently walked off in anger. As a black person I sympathised with Terreblanche and his frustration with her. I think that illustrates how bad it can get when your interviewing style actually prompts sympathy by a black viewer for a white supremacist because I felt for him on a personal level and she irritated me on a personal level rather than what they were discussing.
I’m of the opinion that the truth has many faces; a story that could be told from many angles. There is no single, objective truth as we are all beings with individual and unique experiences. The trick is to find and agree upon common ground.
That’s why I say hunting for the “truth” no matter what the costs in a context like this is utterly self-serving and irresponsible. I think how you choose to portray the “truth” says more of an individual’s personal, not professional, integrity. And it is a very clear-cut choice.
Agreed … Atleast there’s someone out there who has balls … ooops … guts to tell Debra where to get off. I have always maintained that she’s way overrated. Lihle you are a journalist par excellence
Well said Lihle. Debora certainly has lost the plot. Could it have something to do with her new high profile @ e-TV? I think it has everything to do with that.
The analogy featuring her alongside J. Malema is relevant also; both pushing the sensation buttons for the benefit of their respective shareholders…
Finally, you have written what I have felt for a long time. Ms Patta’s style of interviewing has offended me to the point that I cannot handle watching her for more than a minute. She is confrontational to the extreme and one gets the sense that the truth is not what she is after. She interjects the people she is interviewing and as you mentioned, personalises everything. Surely it is important to gain the trust of the interviewee so that they’ll open up and allow for more probing questions which might ultimately lead to more honesty. Too often, Ms Patta has put other people in the line of abuse and degradation, such as the cameraman you mentioned, all for her own benefit and incitement.
I will happily watch or even just listen to a provocative interviewer such as Michael Parkinson, but will go far out of my way to miss seeing Debora Patta. My reasons are very simple.
A truly classy, ethical and journalistic interviewer such as Parkinson remains focused on getting actual answers to intelligent questions. While he may often provoke anger and other negative feelings in his interviewees, this is the result of probing, sharp-edged questions, not the result of an irritating personality or personal rudeness.
Patta on the other hand, thinks that she’s scored a point by provoking anger in an interviewee, when in fact it is only the result of rudeness or her irritating personality. Quite frankly, it wouldn’t take any hidden guilt on my part to react badly to being interviewed by Deborah Patta.
As has been said before in this forum, this is not journalism, it is pure, unadulterated sensationalism and image building. Any valuable information that might be gained from such an interview is not only completely tainted, but also absolutely coincidental. If you poke anyone often enough with a sharp stick, or in this case tongue, they are almost sure to say something that they’ll later regret, or that will be further twisted, and used as a goad to more indiscretion.
Politicians must govern,and journos must report and show the public the stories as they are,if you cannot stomach tough Patta,just tune in to SABC1 programme called Asikhulume.Please do not prescribe to Debra as to what suits the 3rd degree viewers.I also do not like her style but that is not for me to say she must stop
what to do when some are gods unto themselves… am thinkin maybe your column can mobilise many to put off the tv and leave doubting debbie to have a conversation with herself, on her own, and maybe, just maybe she will realise that indeed the race situation is geroek. so best we tread constructively! many thanks for your words. amandla!
Initially I adopted the attitude of writing to 3rd degree to express disapproval of her methods but sometimes comments not read through to the end, Debra has a very skewed notion of what she calls investigative journalism,she is almost never on a fact finding mission but approaches most subjects/interviews with a bias and a seeming clear agenda that makes her famous amongst a segment of the population. True she puts passion into her work which is good, I think with a little more maturity should could match the reputation she thinks she’s currently enjoying.
95% of the time she seems to be trying to prove a point and I cannt help but ask, if you already have all the answers then why do u stretch out your microphone to your interviewees.
Debra should resign from Journalism and become a chief wip of a narrow-minded agenda ladded political faction,she does better at pushing through hidden agendas then engaging in a fact finding mission to place the cards on the table and let her audience judge for themselves.
She is engaged in shaping mindseets than informing South Africans,she is a residue of a misguided contrue of a free democratic society leaning on the pillar of ‘Freedom of the press’, Elas!! with debra as in other segments of our rainbow nation,maturity needs to come to dinner with our freedom and democracy!!!
I read Journalism and Media Studies and cringe at the low level merits of Patta & other sensationalist types. Their style is unprofessional and the gratification, short-lived. The media play such an essential role in our democracy and need to be held accountable for the manner in which they conduct them selves.
Lihle — not only are we both ‘former’ journalists, but we both have denounced the stupid box!
Perhaps we South Africans also deserve journos like Patta. I have been patiently waiting for any (a single) eulogy on a man every single party in this country agreed was a great man and a wonderful example to us all. But? Nothing. Lolly Jackson got so much more… Perhaps that is our destiny, the destiny we want for ourselves. We only want the figthing and hatred and anger, no-one wants to spend a moment thinking about a man who worked for unity and peace.
This I believe is the words of one of the silent majority.
If more people can express them in this manner without being branded a counter revolutionary a, coconut, a racist or whatever degrading term this country will be a better place.
Good article about a very badly presented programme. I too was shocked by Patta’s unprofessional and badgering style of enforcing her own opinion on the unfortunate interviewees. Probably most shocking because we have come to expect professionalism from Patta.
I always thought that journalists kept their own opinions to themeselves. Debra Patta is a clear example of the opposite, Ipso facto, she is not a journalist at all, just a rabble-rouser. My wife and I cringed and will not watch third degree again for fear of future embarrassment. Dreadful.
Do you have a personal problem with debtra patta, because if I read your information about who you are one can put the dots together… you worked for a short while at e-tv africa news, now the tone of that is interesting because Debra was the News Head of E-Tv, so that made her your boss. Ag I am going to ask it straight… what did she do to you, slap you on the hand. In general people say they should not get personally involve… that is totally rubbish… you are a human and so you would totally be involve… And if you don’t like it don’t watch it, or should we rather become a state like Zimbawe???? Media Expression… And for your information the FF+ are racist just like AZAPO so I don’t feel a rats ass about the UF student leader…
The miracle of the new South Africa is not that everybody transformed and we suddenly have a non-racist society, but the fact that we now have a society where non-racialism can grow.
We can all agree that the sensationalism espoused by certain South African ‘hard-hitting TV investigators’ lacks any resemblance to true journalism. However, when confronted by the vile opinions sprouted (without even a molecule of discretion) by Afrikaner hardliners I have to ask myself: ‘how would I have behaved?’ When we speak lofty about the need for a diversity of opinion and an open tolerance for all ideas, we do so from our comfortable armchair of civilized discourse. We forget the degenerate ideology of Eugene Terre’Blanche (may he rest in peace) and his many Afrikaans adherents. And while we cannot excuse the actions of ‘investigative reporters’ like Patta, I doubt that I could remain silent and listen to such revolting hate-inspiring fifth without reaction. However, I am not a journalist and therefore it is not required of me to disguise my disgust at this element of Afrikaner culture. But, despite the grotesque nature of the opinions she encountered, I agree that Patta should have maintained a degree of impartiality. Freedom of speech and opinion is one of the guiding lights of the New South Africa. This freedom sets our nation apart from the cruel oppressive censorship and propaganda of Afrikaner-Nationalist-Ruled-South-Africa. I think we can all agree that what we need in the New South Africa is true journalism and not the kind of racial propaganda that was propagated by the Old Afrikaner Nationalists.
I enjoy Deborah Patta, but sometimes she oversteps the mark. Seeking out controversial, even abhorrent, opinions (as at ET’s funeral) would have been interesting, but provoking a confrontation that declines into incoherence and violence is hardly the best use of a programme dedicated to investigative journalism. If you want to prove that among ET’s supporters are those capable of racism and the odd bout of violence, well, I think we rather all knew that!
Regarding the young lady from the FF+, she seemed not to want to understand her perspective. Ms FF+ hardly came across as a fire-breathing neo-Nazi. In any event, are concerns about culture and heritage insignificant? Do they have no role in a democracy? You can disagree with the stance the young lady took, but at least record it properly. I rather think the casualty was Ms Patta: to my mind, she came across as an condescending, elitist snob.
She did the same with Pallo Jordan over the refusal to grant the Dalai Lama a visa - rather than let him hang himself on the position the government had taken, she let him escape by just keeping quiet and letting her do all the talking.
Once more, it’s a shame - she has often proven her worth, not least over Leonard Chuene.
Okay guys, don’t get to edgy, give Debby credit. I thought you’re the lot who sing praises for Oprah Winfrey, Jerry Springer. I love Ms Patta! Zim needs junos like her who can raise hell.
@ Rejoice Ngwenya:
I think you missed the point. The point is that Jerry Springer and Oprah seldom tackle issues that are of national importance and when they do the do not IMPOSE their opinions on and attack their subjects. The reality is that what DP is doing is not Journalism, let alone invastigative journalism and that is the point of this blog.
And for your information the FF+ are racist just like AZAPO so I don’t feel a rats ass about the UF student leader… says the Afrikaans
thats utter rubbish, when have ever AZAPO uttered racists ideologies, AZAPO stands on Black Consciousness, if thats racism to you then you are the most uneducated person with access to the internet. To call AZAPO racist is to call Steve Biko a racist and to me thats the worst bull posted in this blog.
I saw her quite a while ago interviewing Julius Malema and was shocked at how she managed to make HIM look like a sympathetic, well spoken victim of her vicious, arrogant attacks.
I then stumbled on her interviewing Bheki Cele last week and was very impressed by his civil tone in the face of her unprofessional conduct.
Had Ms Patta applied the same inteview techniques to both groups equally then there may be some merit in her technique. Sadly she did not do this, she harrangied and victimised a young lady, she went to a funeral where she KNEW emotions would be running high and she was downright inciteful and accusatory to those particular parties. The same was not done when interviewing people from the other group whcih, I believe, makes her a coward.
The programe was biased and inciteful towards one group, she kept on hammering on why people should stand up for their culture - NOT ONCE did she ask ANY black person why they stood up for their culture.
Thankfully Justice Malala and Eusebius McKaizer brought some sense and sanity to the while debacle with their comment
I just think that just because the person being interviewed is wrong it does not help the ‘interviewer’ to be ‘wronger’(as Patta seems to do) Its not really about the contest but getting to the truth, maybe we should all ask that Patta be sent for more training in the art of getting the most out of you subject, unless that’s just how she likes it, rude, disrespectful and self-righteous. If you have seen again and again her piece on Malema you will note she went all-out for character assassination, which made me a Malema fan more than someone who critics his thoughts or political views.
It’s interesting that most of you have suddenly seen how Debra Patta conducts herself after interviewing the Freedom Front / AWB clan. E-TV has been pushing a race and a political agenda when reporting “news”. They conclude their hypothesis before getting facts right. There have been instances where politicians were made to account by her but there were also instance where she didn’t want them to state facts in order to negate her insinuations, we enjoyed her insolence. Didn’t we? Why not today, hypocrites?
Lihle very good article. I am also a so called “racist afrikaner” just for being conservative. I have not seen the program but as a Vf+ supporter it makes me sick that we are often called neo-nazis and racist just for standing up for our own culture. Every colour,white or black, should be given breathing space. It is however true that some rightwingers are racist and supporters of nazism. The FF+ is not about racism and that girl on the program is not a “nazi”. As a history buffin i actually hate Adolf Hitler because he treated eastern european nations like Poland and Chechoslovakia like scum. There is for instance many Afrikaners who support Isreal and other who support palistine. The media is sometimes to black and white in theire reporting. You can actually be a nationalist without being racist.
After one of her earliest programmes on TV, during which she “exposed” a group of Neanderthals who refused entry to a resort to “non-whites, I eMailed Third Degree and asked Ms. Patta if she had nothing better to do with her air time. These people will not go away or be transformed, and neither, it seems, will Ms. Patta.
As long as Patta relies on remnants of racism to fill her programme (and her pockets) we can, unfortunately, look forward to more such irrevelent “exposes”, and the misuse of resources when more important matters could be discussed and and debated.
Debora Patta is turning journalism into sensationalism. She doesn’t seek to uncover the truth, but rather has her agenda and will bully her interviewees by making accussations that arouse sensational reactions out of every one of them. Rather go after the story DP and try be a little more objective in the future.
I was extremely disappointed with Debras program on Tuesday. I will never watch 3rd degree again. She has lost all credibility and my respect. It is a pity.
We first need to establish among ourselves what news is. The definition of news have evolved over the years leaving the ‘now’ generation with a question of what news really is. Racism should not make news anymore, not breaking news anyway. Too many people have been hurt by what we today label as breaking news. Ms Patta intimidates and belittles people. I was also uncomfortable with her interview with Mr Malema. We all know the definition of investigative journalism, and this that we often see on 3rd degree is not it. I say back to basics, define news. What you think of me cannot make news and the same vice versa. Ideologies are not news
Lilo Elo:
Platta does not report. She writes the script, produces and directs the play and even acts in it. She is no journalist, she’s an exhibitionist on a stage.
Can you be sure the interview broadcast was the only one filmed? She took her own placards. There was nothing to report until she manufactured a situation.
Miss FF+ was probably the only sucker Platta could find who was too polite to deny the interview. Her responses were continually polite. Were I her, I’d sue Platta for undermining my rights.
“It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas and myths that surround it” John Pilger.
OH MY GOD!I cannot believe this! Patta is the last of Africa’s true journalists. When I watch her show, I think about the writer Ayi Kwei Armah when he said : “The Beutiful Ones Are Not Yet Born”- a book lamenting the lack of people who have integrity in this continent. Patta belongs to the class of African activists, intellectuals, journalists and pioneers like Nadine Gordimer, Njabulo Ndebele, Wole Soyinka, J.M. Coetzee, Ronnie Kasrils, Joel Netzchitenze to name a few. People who are not afraid to confront the demons that belie African society with integrity and truthfulness. As you may have noted, there are virtually no journalists of that calibre anymore- only theorists and other such thinkers.
Thank you, Thank you and Thank you Lihle for this article.
I was appalled at Patta’s prejudiced and biased “interviews” which essentially enticed hate and ultimately spiraled down into Afrikaner-bashing. Her arrogant, rude, insensitive, irreverent, indecent, uncivilized and un-called for confrontational and offensive “interview” with emotional-laden funeral mourners, grieving the loss of a murdered person, was truly patronising. Shame on Patta who, on realising she was seriously outgunned by a brilliant white female student, resorted to name calling, Afrikaner-bashing and misdirection. I laud this young student for the way she held her ground against Patta and who, unlike Patta, could clearly and unambiguously articulate the real issues at stake. She wiped the floor with Patta. With this episode Patta has elevated herself to the level of Julius Malema in hate stirring and has clearly demonstrated her detachment with SA-reality.
Every person has the right to stand up for their culture, the way Ms Patta attacked the Student Representative was disgusting, she singled her out and literally attacked her and then turned to the others behind her and made like she wa on their side with no antagonism at all. Extremely poor journalism, if she wants to get fair rsponse then interview ALL participants in the same tone, manner and ask the same questions
Wow! good article,i think her apprach on issues is a bit extreme and most certainly uncalled for! i definitely think she needs to be rebuked…i think media as a whole needs to be properly regulated…
About time someone called her out. I’ve always sat in wonderment how an interviewer could be so off-putting as to make me sometimes sympathise with problematic people I would otherwise only condemn (J. Arthur Brown, Malema etc.) The reason? She keeps inserting her off-putting self and her feelings into her stories. A total joke as an “investigative journalist”. For the craft of how to do the same thing more skilfully, without blowing blood vessels and losing your thinking audience, check out Carte Blanche. From Ruda, Derek, Devi, Bongani etc. Total class. Totally effective journalism - without losing integrity or empathy when required.
Ms Patta is best described as the Jerry Springer of South African media.
Me thinks one of the reasons she lost her spot as head of news at etv is precisely because of this kind of…you can’t call it journalism…blatant violence verbal attacks at whoever is stupid enough to allow her within two feet of themselves. That poor camera man that got punched in the face should lay a charge against HER! I don’t know why anyone would still want to work with her…or why eTV continues to broadcast 3rd Degree. It truly is a disgrace not just to journalist, but mankind in general! Gggg pho!
Like you i happened to see the incident in question parenthetically, and felt that, as the Afrikaner would say, she was “soeking”… I suspect that the fellow who punched the cameraman did so because his personal life programming wouldn’t allow him to strike a woman,but i would say that was what he really wanted to do.
As for the taunting that provoked the reaction she got, it was a pathetic example of pavlovian, race oriented, sensationalist harassment [calling it interviewing does a disservice to real interviewers] ..
presumably Patta has to stoke up honkeys to justify her Employment Equity credentials by pandering to her master’s craving for racial controversy.
Could you actually imagine a South Africa without its race obsession… could we go a week without it?
Most journalists today are little more than sensation seekers, who cannot produce political articles suchv as those produced by Owen and others of his class.
To almost idolise an idiot like Malema is a case in point.
But, don’t blame Patta and other medoa personalotoes for the race hate in oir country. Blame the ANC which is where it is all originating. The ANC are promoting a hate campiagn by trying to blame their incompetence and corruption on the “white” man.
After 18 years of incompetemce, poor governance, corruption, nepotisim, arrogance and disregard of the Freedom Charter and all those empty promises, the ANC have now reverted to blamimng all their problems on
the Nationalists, (with some reason), the colonials (who disappeared 70 years ago), the DA (who are not entirely snow white), and anyone else who comes to mind. (They’ll start on Mad Bob Mugabe next).
However, until such time as Affirmative Action, Black Economic Empowerment and the Equity Bill are all removed from the statute books, there will be racial tension in this country. The minority groups, which are protected thr world over, are ignored and discriminated against/ To the detriment of our econopmy, our society and our race relations.
And until the black South Africans of our country turn around and let our black politicians know they will no longer accept this situation, there is no hope for our country.
@Lihle: Hoor!Hoor!
(To the linguistically challenged: well said!)
It must be nice to belong to an ethnic minority that can besmirch other people/ points of view with impunity and when the other person turns on you, shout: Racist! Nazi!
Fortunately, more and more people are seeing through this façade, as is amply demonstrated in the anti-Patta reaction.
I believe that the majority of people who keep on looking for news in racism has not grown up as yet and also have major issues in their personal lives like, inter alia, low self esteem and a minority complex. Man, when are we going to grow up and become mature in our attitudes and actions? Debra is one of these. The way she directs 3rd degree just places the spotlight on these issues. Then again, she is one of the most unprofessional journalists I have ever listened to. She likes to play a one-stringed violin and does that very well but that is how far she can go. I think e.tv and3rd degree should look for a more professional journalist to take over from her, maybe someone like Mandla from 7de Laan, he could take over from her and am sure will do a much better job. With allthese responses listed above it would be very unwise for ETV and 3rd Degree to not do anything about the situation. O yes, I did write an email some time ago about her poor skills but did not get any reply. Maybe we are barking up the wrong tree.
“Patta belongs to the class of African activists, intellectuals, journalists and pioneers like Nadine Gordimer, Njabulo Ndebele, Wole Soyinka, J.M. Coetzee, Ronnie Kasrils, Joel Netzchitenze to name a few. People who are not afraid to confront the demons that belie African society with integrity and truthfulness. As you may have noted, there are virtually no journalists of that calibre anymore- ”
In that entire list, Patta is the ONLY journalist. None of the people mentioned were ever journos of this, or any other, calibre.
Heartwarmer it is unfair to compare Ms Patta with Jerry Springer, Jerry Springer is far more professional than she will ever be and Mr Springer NEVER stands in judgement of those he “interviews”, in fact Mr Springer asks one or two minor questions and lets the parties go at it on their own.
One thing that Ms Patta lacks as a so-called journalist is Integrity
Have to agree…always love a well researched & presented piece of revealing investigative journalism, but unfortunately Ms Patta lacks the intellect & finesse to paint her interviewees into a corner. Instead her poor attempts to emulate her more adept peers is often not only just embarrassing, but also frustrating to watch as a decisive conclusion is rarely reached.
Rather offer the job to someone more able …maybe Nikiwe Bikitsha or Jeremy Maggs.
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Lihle Tshabalala is a young, former Mail & Guardian journalist who has also had a short-lived stint in broadcast journalism working for eNews Africa. Lihle has been part of life-changing events like the ANC's Polokwane conference and slept in refugee camps during the xenophobic attacks. Ms T thinks there's still hope for her in news journalism even though she has moved to Marketing Research. Living and loving Soweto is what she is about and is convinced there is a mouthful (blogful) she can share about the intricacies of being a deeply rooted kasi girl. Most of her opinions are light "something to think abouts" that probably won't make headline news in the M&G but will provide some food for thought.
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One word: Sensationalism. It does not just stop with presenters like Patta either, just look at the favorite rags in the Cape and how they use any opportunity to create hatred and conflict where little exist to start with. And their purpose? To make money, of course. That is when journalists really deserve the bad name they have acquired. I prefer reporters, who simply tell objectively what they see and ask questions to clarify, not rile. Subjectivity is a sign of insecurity and therefore immaturity.
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