Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
-Psalm 51:6 (ESV)-
The intentional spread of false information in the media, falsely presented as accurate reporting in the public interest, has risen sharply in recent years. This concerning trend often masks hidden motives, whether to advance a specific agenda or to generate lucrative advertising revenue. The rise of distorted narratives, now commonly known as “alternative facts”, has plunged journalism into troubling depths. As a result, news consumers are more sceptical, questioning the very foundations of the media they once trusted. Therefore, it has become crucial for the media to intensify its efforts to rebuild the lost trust of its audience.
In South Africa, the situation is just as bleak. The Wits Centre for Journalism’s annual report, The State of the Newsroom, examines the urgent issues facing the country’s media scene. The 2024 edition begins on a sombre note, stating, “It is difficult to preface the State of the Newsroom in South Africa on a positive note—…” It is not surprising, as the decline of mainstream media is simply old news.
This report highlights the concerning job losses affecting the industry alongside the recent national elections in the country. However, job losses and financial constraints can never be used as an excuse for questionable journalism.
For those of us deeply concerned about the erosion of ethics in mainstream media, the pervasive negativity that saturates news coverage raises critical questions: How significantly has the decline in ethical standards contributed to the deterioration of mainstream media’s credibility and relevance? Is it not now the time that we become more positive and ethical in our news reporting?
CASE STUDY: THE NEWS24/KWASIZABANTU REPORTAGE
The KwaSizabantu Mission has faced a smear campaign orchestrated by opportunistic family members and disgruntled former workers, who planned a hostile takeover, resulting in significant media attacks. However, none has been as personal or persistent as the News24 campaign titled “Exodus, Uncovering a Cult in KwaZulu-Natal,” which started in 2020 and continues to some degree. During this campaign, the late Mission’s founder was labelled a cult leader. Following an intensified personal attack, Adriaan Basson, the editor-in-chief of News24, became the centre of controversy. His role in covering the allegations attracted attention from other media outlets, making him the story when his motives were questioned.
For instance, the investigative magazine, Noseweek, suggested that Basson had a personal agenda influencing his coverage, given the extensive reports about the Mission and the repetitive nature of these stories. Noseweek also noted that there might be an alternative narrative regarding the Mission that deserved exploration. Gerda Potgieter was interested in uncovering this untold story; she investigated the various narratives surrounding the News24 coverage and published her findings in the book “A Journey to the Truth: The Case of KwaSizabantu Mission”.
(Source: A Journey to the Truth: The Case of KwaSizabantu Mission, by Gerda Potgieter.
