Print media hates SABC - Dali Mpofu

"The most surprising thing since I took this job is the print media's hostile attitude towards the SABC," Mpofu told journalists and communicators. "I do not know whether it is based on the commercial side of things or it is much more political. And I also do not know why they see us as their competitor.

"This cannot be refuted... Just look at the way they deal with us. Sometimes we get negative coverage, selective coverage, funny cartoons, the 'Mampara of the Week' or just nothing. That is it."

Mpofu also said that in many cases the print media fail to cover most of the public broadcaster's positive stories, focusing instead at what they see as sensational stories and negative criticism.

He said he was shocked to find out that only one newspaper covered the story of SABC winning the broadcasting rights for 2010 and 2014 last week. "I could not believe it. I mean let's face it - 2010 is a big thing and a matter of national pride, but the print media just ignored it for no apparent reason," he said with emotion.

Independence questioned

However, media analysts, opposition political parties and conservative trade unionists believe everything started when Snuki Zikalala was appointed to the helm of the news department. "That signalled the end of the public broadcaster's independence. Snuki has really messed things up. His hypocritical policies suck and one can see why," one source told Bizcommunity.com, on condition of anonymity for fear of being victimised, "banned" or even "blacklisted" by the SABC.

"Just look at the news and current affairs programmes. They are no longer what they used to be. Anyone with an enlightened mind can smell something fishy. Maybe the print media is just capitalising on that, feeling that these guys are not running the corporation the way a public broadcaster should be run," added the media source.

Critics accuse Zikalala of using his influence to promote certain political figures and groups' interests and overlooking others, thus undermining democracy and violating freedom of expression in the process. Many observers insist that could be the main reason why the SABC is taking a serious and regular beating from the print media.

But Mpofu launched a prompt counter-attack at this criticism, saying it is baseless and unfounded. "Again, I challenge critics who accuse us of being biased to put tangible proof on the table to prove and sustain their allegations. I had several meetings with different people and groups, but none of them passed that test. In return I do show them hard evidence that we also cover their activities just to demonstrate our independence and prove them wrong," he said.

"This is a very serious issue. You cannot judge us or assess our objectivity by watching one news bulletin and one current affairs programme. One cannot achieve all the diversity or plurality of views in one programme," he added.

"Critical eye"

Nevertheless, it is a fact that the print media will be disappointed and alarmed by Mpofu's allegations. "I do not care who says what and who does what. I stand by my statements and I have enough hard evidence to back them," he told Bizcommunity.com.

Johannesburg Press Club chairman and Business Day political editor, Hopewell Radebe, was appalled and saddened by Mpofu's allegations. He told Bizcommunity.com: "It is regrettable that the SABC should feel that we are hostile towards it. The media, especially print media, tends to look at public institutions with a critical eye. But that does not mean it is an act of intransigency towards these institutions.

"There was a time when the government also thought that it was unfairly targeted by the print media. What we did, we sat down with them and ironed out these issues. So it would be appropriate to also sit down with the SABC at the level of SANEF (the SA National Editors Forum) and work it out. We must do that as soon as possible to avoid this kind of issue divides the nation."