South Africa in press freedom quandry

On one hand, it is almost completely free. President Jacob Zuma keeps insisting that his government stands by the notion of a free press.

On the other hand, however, over the past few years draft legislation before Parliament clearly contradicts this intention. The fact that it ends up being somewhat watered down is largely irrelevant because the original versions at clearly suggest that Government's idea of a free press and the media industry's idea of a free press are two very different animals.

ANCYL threat to press

Given outbursts by the ANC Youth League and a few verkrampte ANC greybeards, one cannot help thinking that the more pressure under which the ANC finds itself in terms of staying in power, the more the chance that press freedom could be eroded. Certainly, there seems no question of this erosion not taking place, should any of the ANCYL firebrands actually get to control the party's NEC. The most recent election in this country proved beyond any shadow of doubt that the most influential block of voters happened to be largely unemployed youth.

So, all indications are that South Africa's news media cannot rest for a minute and needs to stay on red alert to defend its current level of freedom.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that, if press freedom does become eroded, the media in this country will - to a significant extent - have itself to blame.

Standards, what standards?

For a start, the standards of journalism have dropped alarmingly. Cost-cutting and budget restraints have sliced newsroom staff to the bone which has, in many cases, led to unskilled journalists having to churn out content so quickly and in such volumes that it is well nigh impossible to ensure accuracy.

Right now, there are far too many mistakes, far too many one-sided reports and far too many apologies having to be made. So much so that one cannot blame politicians from becoming increasingly frustrated.

Even more confusion is being added to the simmering pot of media confusion by the fact that the once-solid wall between editorial and revenue generation has in many cases crumbled. Some of the most popular magazines and TV programmes in this country are now 100% advertorial. Something that comes as a knife to the heart of die-hard editors, who find their faith in the power of editorial being shattered since consumer seems to have no problem with, and in many cases prefer, content that is paid for by advertisers and disguised to look like the real thing.

Adding fuel to this fire is that all news media are either in a fight to sustain dwindling market share and revenue or have their backs to the wall trying to survive.

Money, money, money

Editors and journalists, who were once far removed from the world of money and advertising, are now part of the money-making side of media in one way or another. Some editors find themselves doing presentations to ad agencies, while others know that their jobs depend just as much on drawing in readers, viewers and listeners as on producing quality content.

Just as amateur sport with all its gentlemanly behaviour, ethics and sportsmanship turned self-serving, brutal and greedy with the advent of professionalism, so too has the bastion of media integrity been assailed by crass commercialism. Some news media are bravely keeping the banner of editorial integrity and independence flying high, while others have long given up and let go.

Tightening screws

And the more the pressure, the more the tendency will be to drop standards and allow independence to become eroded by sensationalism and inaccuracy. And the more this happens, the more excuses Government will have to tighten the screws of media control, little by little.

There are arguments, however, that governments the world over might just as well give up any ideas they have of muzzling the media because the power of social media is increasing by leaps and bounds. Unfortunately, this in itself also has its dangers because sometimes one has no idea about how reliable or objective the source of information is.

Money and morality

It is not easy being in the news media in South Africa today. It is tough, competitive and decidedly bloody. It is an ongoing battle between money and morality, just as it is in society and government.

So, on this World Press Freedom Day, we can drink a toast to the fact that, by some miracle or other, there are still some countries in which the press is free. But, we need to bow our heads in prayer for those countries where the press is far from free.

And while we're at it, offer up a prayer or two that the citizens of countries which continue to enjoy press freedom will actually be able to continue believing what they read in the papers.