Pallo and the PAP smear

25 Oct 2010

NEWSWATCH: Addressing the Pan African Parliament last week, Pallo Jordan told delegates that the South African media is more interested in 'sexy headlines' than SA's transformation, reports IOL, and two Eastern Cape journalists have apparently been threatened with suffering the same fate as Mzilikazi wa Afrika, reports Times Live. Now for the SABC... It's back making news (what else?) instead of reporting it... Business Day reports that not only is there confusion over the recent resignation of board members, but now the Special Investigating Unit has been asked to investigate alleged abuses of the SABC's advertising discount policy.

For more:

IOL: Jordan hits press... This is rich... telling the representatives of a continent in which the media must be one of the most oppressed on earth that SA's media is being found wanting is like seeking approval of media clamps and bannings from Mugabe. It's a no-brainer, right? Many might disagree with Jordan, however, and reckon the media is doing a great job on reporting the transformation of South Africa... into a kleptocracy awash with corruption, nepotism and incompetence. In passing, we at Bizcommunity.com are doing our bit to avoid 'sexy' headlines and have banned the 's' word from our portals, hence our travel section when describing a trip to the UK will refer only to Middle***, Sus*** and Es***. Happy?
Times Live: Media freedom: actions speak louder than words... A week ago the ANC leadership swore, hands on hearts that it - the leadership - would protect the rights of the media so that they can do their job. So what happens next? Daily Dispatch reporter, David Macgregor, and Port Alfred Talk of the Town editor Jon Houzet, are ordered to report to a PE police station. There they are allegedly threatened with arrest (since two journos are involved we can expect about 50 cops to do the job, should it come to that) if they did not spill the beans about a letter threatening Gugile Nkwinti, Minister of Rural Development and Land Reform.
Business Day: Confusion reigns over SABC resignations... and unit asked to probe SABC... Well of course there would be confusion over the resignations... this is the SABC, for heaven's sake. Apparently what is at issue is this: were their resignations with immediate effect, or not? In passing, if not, then, presumably, they would be eligible to address MPs on what is up the creak at Aardvark Park? But there's more... yes, of course there is... The Special Investigating Unit has been asked to investigate alleged abuses of the SABC's advertising discount policy after it appears advertisers got Christmas more than once last year thanks to unauthorised discounts and airtime deals that went into the stratosphere.