This is a malaise that affects most mainstream media and most media companies. Kriel has not highlighted anything that those of us in the industry decades are not aware of. It's a malaise affecting most print media as ad budgets wane and staff cuts increase. Delivering a quality service to the reader becomes more and more difficult as staff get more junior and senior staff leave for greener pastures and less stress: communications, online media, freelance writing, anything but a newspaper. Those glory days are gone.
This unfortunately is the century we will see newspapers die and the rise of online and the citizen journalist.
It is inevitable. Rigid, inflexible media companies which rely on disciplinary hearings to keep staff in line instead of true leadership, will be the first to go.
Respect Llewellyn Kriel, may your star shine brighter.
Shame on the Sowetan!