Newspapers Forums South Africa

When Journalsits do not do their jobs properly, you get- Catwalk, the comma and the Combrink.

Journalists did not confirm their sources at Catwalk Fourways Mall

It's astounding, the power of grammar. Especially bad grammar.
The Citizen newspaper printed an article last week about Catwalk - an events place in Fourways Mall - who allegedly were going to supply drugs and alcohol to minors. Saying "Cops warn about drug parties."
The reason for all the hoopla is actually ridiculous, it is due to the misuse of a comma in one of Catwalks' flyers for an under 18s party.
The flyer which was distributed to schools read "Under 18's only (Right of Admission Reserved). No over 18's, Illegal Substances and Alcohol Allowed." The misuse of that comma confused the cop Captain Jan Combrink who went straight to the media to warn journalists that the events place was actually allowing under 18s to drink and use drugs. The problem is that none of the journalists actually bothered to confirm the details so they ran the story, to their detriment and eventually The Citizen printed a retraction letter.
Combrink accused Catwalk of shady activities and then later in the retraction letter said that the issue was pulled out of proportion. Really, how out of proportion is it when you tell Journalists that you are going to go to the party, raid it and arrest the owner - er because of a comma. Well ya, it was blown out of proportion the minute you assumed they would actually allow minors to use drugs and alcohol on their premises.
Lets be realistic no company would ever say that they would allow illegal substances to be supplied - on a flyer! Nor would they say that they would be supplying alcohol to minors. Especially such a high profile Events place as Catwalk. It's simply ridiculous.
The owner of Catwalk said that Combrink did not even come and investigate his allegations nor did any Journalists phone or come see him about the accusations.
The Journalists did not investigate properly as good journalist should and now the owner has opened a case against Combrink and the Citizen because of the unjustified damage this has done to the good reputation he spent so long building. Really because the cop could not use some common sense, and the Journalists forgot to even try to be objective.

Let's do Biz