Independence at last?
Friday is the deadline for a deal for Tony O’Reilly to sell the Independent in London to Russian mogul Alexander Lebedev. Let’s hold thumbs.
Continue Reading Add comment February 23rd, 2010
Unknown citizen wins a George Polk Award
One of America’s most prestigious journalism prizes, the George Polk Award, has gone to the anonymous cellphone videographer who captured the dying moments of Iraqi protestor Neda Agha-Soltan.
Continue Reading 1 comment February 21st, 2010
Taco Kuiper Award takes off
We have received 32 entries for the 4th Taco Kuiper Award for Investigative Journalism, and are told another six are on the way. That’s three times more entries than last year.
Continue Reading Add comment February 21st, 2010
Remember this incident
A UCT student has been arrested, had his house searched and been questioned about his political affiliations after gesturing at President Jacob Zuma’s convoy of vehicles, IOL reports. Remember this incident, because if the blue-light brigade are not pulled up for it, we will recall it as a turning point in freedom of expression and democracy.
Continue Reading Add comment February 17th, 2010
Who can editors blame? Editors?
Are our editors giving up the fight for a journalism of quality and credibility?
Continue Reading Add comment February 17th, 2010
Zuma: It is not the media which is different this time, it is his ‘allies’
A few years ago, the Citizen newspaper made a big story out of remarks by commentator Max du Preez that then-president Thabo Mbeki was a womanizer. The president’s hired gun, Essop Pahad, intervened and the paper was made to climb down quickly.
Continue Reading 5 comments February 12th, 2010
An early warning for our media
A little over a year ago, award-winning British reporter Nick Davies turned his investigative skills on his colleagues in the media and produced a book called Flat Earth News. It shook up British journalism.
Continue Reading 1 comment February 12th, 2010
Lessons from the eTV subpoena saga
Fortunately, good sense has prevailed in the sage of the subpoena to force eTV to identify the criminals they recently interviewed. The police have reportedly agreed to follow the path of consultation and conflict-avoidance set out in the 1999 agreement between government and editors.
Continue Reading Add comment January 26th, 2010
I got married because of a Section 205 subpoena …
These days I seem to get published more in Afrikaans than English. For Rapport, on Sunday, I wrote about my marriage … and Section 205 of the Criminal Procedure Act.
Continue Reading 1 comment January 25th, 2010
On the making of bad law
In Beeld this Saturday, I wrote of the implications of the Minister of Communications publishing what was the worst piece of draft legislation I have seen ever. What does it mean if one puts out a scrappy, contradictory, ill-considered Bill that has not even been discussed with your cabinet colleagues?
Continue Reading Add comment January 25th, 2010
And how about a lazy newspaper reporter …
I also had a bad experience of lazy journalism from a leading national business publication this week - one from whom I have come to expect higher standards.
Continue Reading 1 comment January 25th, 2010
Simelane slams the shutters down
The new National Director of Public Prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, has reportedly banned all 3 000 prosecutors who fall under him from talking to the media without permission. In doing so, he is showing, again, his lack of appreciation for the principles and values enshrined in our constitution. He is also flying in the face of ANC policy.
Continue Reading Add comment January 21st, 2010
Somebody teach the SABC the basics of journalism
I just had a call from SABC Durban, a reporter from Radio Lotus, asking me to be available for their morning news programme tomorrow. I will phone you before to tell you what questions we are going to ask you, so that we don’t catch you off guard, he said.
Continue Reading 2 comments January 21st, 2010