Media commercialisation a threat to media freedom - Right2Know

File picture: David Ritchie/Independent Media

File picture: David Ritchie/Independent Media

Published May 26, 2017

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Johannesburg - The Right2Know Campaign on Friday expressed concern over what it deemed an attack on editorial independence at media giant, Media24.

This follows controversy around the publication of a piece titled “Could it be Time to Deny White Men the Franchise” on the Media24-owned Huffington Post SA website earlier this year.

The piece, written by a user using the pseudonym Shelley Garland, advocated for white men to lose their right to vote and as a result, sparked public outrage.

Questions were raised on whether Huffington Post had verified the author’s details and after some investigation, it was discovered that the user did not exist.

Since then, the publication took down the piece and calls were made for then-editor Verashni Pillay to be fired over the scandal.

Pillay has since resigned in her role as editor and reports have now emerged that Sipho Hlongwane is facing disciplinary action for his part in publishing the piece.

R2K said Media24’s actions contributed to a dangerous trend where media houses were increasingly being turned into uncritical mouthpieces of the corporate media monopolies that own them.

“In disciplining Hlongwane, the Media24 management are responding to commercial and political pressure to suppress critical voices in the SA media,” the organisation said in a statement.

“Management has failed to act despite Pillay and Hlongwane both proposing measures to strengthen quality control systems.”

R2K blasted the media house for failing to act on this advice and instead opting to get rid of the journalist whose news agenda does not conform to their commercial interests.

Furthermore, Media24 was criticised for putting pressure on staff members in its pursuit of increased profits, a measure which served to further weaken editorial quality as well as the credibility of South Africa’s media.

“The impact of the commercialisation of media – and the concentration of ownership – poses a major threat to media freedom in South Africa,” R2K said.

The organisation reiterated its call for media transformation to ensure there was a more inclusive media landscape.

Furthermore, R2K said it would make requests to have Hlongwane’s hearing open to the public.

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