Comments on: Black Wednesday, white lies? http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/10/30/black-wednesday-white-lies/ Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:41:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: MLH http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/10/30/black-wednesday-white-lies/comment-page-1/#comment-99438 MLH Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:33:38 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/10/30/black-wednesday-white-lies/#comment-99438 I so often try to forgive the ANC for having such a lousy role model to follow, but they aren't babies and there are so many things about which they should know better. When I've written in stories that several requests for info from government have been ignored, editors actually cringe and expunge the detail. What do you think you are up against, Chaps? Personally, I believe the state's interests in publishing should not reach beyond the Government Gazette; we have more than enough state-owned companies that they are already wrecking! Their voters are criticising them in homes all over SA. They need to toughen up, but of course, if their intention is, as so many believe, to climb into bed with Mugabe, they need to put on an innocent, injured face. I so often try to forgive the ANC for having such a lousy role model to follow, but they aren’t babies and there are so many things about which they should know better.
When I’ve written in stories that several requests for info from government have been ignored, editors actually cringe and expunge the detail. What do you think you are up against, Chaps?
Personally, I believe the state’s interests in publishing should not reach beyond the Government Gazette; we have more than enough state-owned companies that they are already wrecking!
Their voters are criticising them in homes all over SA. They need to toughen up, but of course, if their intention is, as so many believe, to climb into bed with Mugabe, they need to put on an innocent, injured face.

]]> By: Dave Harris http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/10/30/black-wednesday-white-lies/comment-page-1/#comment-99435 Dave Harris Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:00:23 +0000 http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/readerblog/2009/10/30/black-wednesday-white-lies/#comment-99435 This risk to SA media freedom results from an ugly BIAS prevalent in SA media: -Unlike the rest of the world, our digital-divide is invariably split along racial lines with a glaring absence of black voices. -Apartheid education and language issues, relegated blacks to servitude so seasoned black journalists and editors are rare in mainstream media and are only now being educated. -General white opposition to AA, keep blacks marginalized in media jobs. -The affluent privileged are more likely to have their voice heard in the media via blogs, commentary etc. -We all know who controls the media corporations and the corporate advertisers that bankroll the media. Some of the rumblings of discontent about the media has been the result of the overtly biased vicious personal attacks on Jacob Zuma, Malema ...that have portrayed them as "evil, rapists, baby-eating monsters". I can point to numerous blogs here on TL from the usual suspects, that constantly seek dehumanize blacks in the name of freedom of speech. Luckily, SAns in general are not as gullible and have a healthy degree of skepticism for the media. The days of corporate control of the media are numbered since the emergence of the internet, the true democratization of information. Old business models are being overturned and a new media world-order is being established at lightspeed! Its no surprise that SAns, especially blacks understand the importance of media freedom - a freedom we finally secured, for the FIRST time in our history, after liberation! This risk to SA media freedom results from an ugly BIAS prevalent in SA media:
-Unlike the rest of the world, our digital-divide is invariably split along racial lines with a glaring absence of black voices.
-Apartheid education and language issues, relegated blacks to servitude so seasoned black journalists and editors are rare in mainstream media and are only now being educated.
-General white opposition to AA, keep blacks marginalized in media jobs.
-The affluent privileged are more likely to have their voice heard in the media via blogs, commentary etc.
-We all know who controls the media corporations and the corporate advertisers that bankroll the media.

Some of the rumblings of discontent about the media has been the result of the overtly biased vicious personal attacks on Jacob Zuma, Malema …that have portrayed them as “evil, rapists, baby-eating monsters”. I can point to numerous blogs here on TL from the usual suspects, that constantly seek dehumanize blacks in the name of freedom of speech. Luckily, SAns in general are not as gullible and have a healthy degree of skepticism for the media.

The days of corporate control of the media are numbered since the emergence of the internet, the true democratization of information. Old business models are being overturned and a new media world-order is being established at lightspeed! Its no surprise that SAns, especially blacks understand the importance of media freedom – a freedom we finally secured, for the FIRST time in our history, after liberation!

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