The Fourth Estate

OVER the past few decades there has been a decline in the quality of media and perceptions around the media’s primary task. A large portion of the formerly prestigious fourth estate has perpetually degraded itself through its love and pursuit of controversy. The key tenet of the media, in my understanding, is to provide the public with information to which it would otherwise not be privy. The media was never established to pass judgment on people, it was not founded to take political positions and throw its support behind one person or another and it certainly was not founded to hound people and harass until a story was obtained.


Something horrible happened somewhere along the line that changed the media from an institution that served the people to becoming a self-righteous institution that passes judgment and selects who to sanctify and who to castigate and bring down. I have never been a fan of the ugly side of the media, the inherent need to sell newspapers, magazines or raise viewership by pursuing angles which were controversial or “spicy”.

There have been nasty examples of the media’s appetite for the ugly both locally and internationally. Michael Jackson was a criminal in the eyes of large sects of the media until he died; Edward Kennedy was often castigated for his “unsavoury” habits before he died; Tiger Woods has recently felt the wrath of the supposedly objective observers – the list goes on. Here at home, Jacob Zuma has had to face a media which is not in favour of his presidency and continues to sensationalise any wrong move he makes. Despite the fact that he has not been convicted of any crime the media in this country persists in hounding him and attacking him personally through op-eds and stories which lack substance but come attached with screaming headlines.

I suppose an apt question at this point would be, “Aren’t you part of the media?” The answer is yes I am, but I do not have any affection or regard for the ugly part of the media which is obsessed with creating stories where there are none, simply to generate income and interest. There was a time when being a journalist was something to be proud of, something to put at the top of your CV; nowadays the profession is in an embarrassing state. To be called a journalist is as great an insult as to be called a vagabond, for both are unfortunate and shameful dispositions.
The advent of tabloids and the unrestricted filth they publish and call acceptable has hastened the fall from grace of a once vaunted profession. British news outlets in particular seem to have no regard whatsoever for ethics or morals. Some newspapers match the quality of tabloids thereby creating confusion over whether it’s a newspaper or a tabloid.

Freedom of speech has so many different interpretations nowadays that it’s hard to keep up. Some journalists even believe that illegal acts should be protected under that act, as was evident when the Sunday Times illegally acquired Manto Tshabalala-Msimang’s health records. Drawing profane political satire cartoon such as Jonathan Shapiro does for a living is rewarded in the media realm and applauded for being “brave” and “wonderfully refreshing”. I do not share those sentiments and believe that these people and their various media houses represent an affront to society.
I am not proposing that the media should be muzzled or regulated but I believe that more should be done to ensure that the media stay within the ambit of its foundational purpose; namely to provide objective information. We cannot advocate for the protection of people who flout laws in the name of freedom of speech such as eTV did a few months ago. The media is not above the law and when it is out of order it should be responsible enough to admit it and deal with the consequences rather than hide behind freedom of speech.

Thomas Jefferson once said, “If we can enlighten the people generally, then evils and the oppression of mind will vanish like evil spirits at the dawn of day.” That statement wonderfully describes what the media should seek to pursue. In his day I’m sure all the media cared about was the truth rather than sensationalism. How lovely it must have been to have lived back then.

Written by Tatenda Goredema, the Deputy Editor of Varsity Newspaper.

Back to Basics

Politics is often called “the dirtiest profession in the world”, where corruption and deceit are considered constant characteristics. There have been rare occasions in the recent past when politics brought hope to people across the country and the world; however the successes and positives that emerge from politics are often overshadowed by the disappointments and negatives that have become a mainstay in contemporary politics. Whether it’s politicians caught engaging in extramarital activities or politicians caught taking kickbacks, selfish and corrupt individuals have repeatedly tainted the image of the profession and seemingly lost sight of their main goal of serving their constituents.


The ancient Greeks did not conceive the idea of politics to promote self-gain and self-aggrandizement; nor did they imagine a system in which some could be wealthier and better off than others. The foundation of politics is the idea of creating a better life for all. Whilst corruption and self-promotion have become fixtures of this noble profession over the years, the basic foundation of politics should never take a backseat in the vehicle of human development.

The rush for personal ascendency in the political sphere is paired with intemperate and discourteous language. While we laugh at people like Julius Malema and shake our heads at some of the arguments and the tone of the rhetoric passed between political parties, we should not encourage the notion that this manner of debate is acceptable or tolerable. Uncivil discourse and threats of violence by prominent politicians are not going to help anyone and should have no place in national debates.

Some say that the political system is against change and that nothing can be done to shift bureaucratic policies which have been in place for decades. Red tape and obfuscation have become common fixtures in the lives of the disinherited and disenfranchised who do not enjoy the privilege of an education and access to unlimited resources.

Robert Kennedy once said, “The future does not belong to those who are content with today, apathetic toward common problems and their fellow man alike, timid and fearful in the face of bold projects and new ideas." This is as true today as it was in 1966 when Kennedy said it, for there are many injustices in the world, but the first step to correcting these injustices is to speak out. In my view it is unconscionable and improper to be content or joyous when other people still suffer in this country, across this continent and in other parts of the world.

The disparity in wealth and accessibility to resources in this country is shameful and disgraceful. Whilst it is true that not everyone shares the same skills or is gifted the same opportunities, something must be done to correct social imbalances that allow some to enjoy Blue Flag beaches, five star hotels and luxurious cars whilst others languish in abject poverty, live in structures that barely provide shelter and risk illness with every sip of water from unsafe sources.

It is therefore incumbent upon educated, better off citizens and those in power to do all they can to assist the disadvantaged. This assistance, however, cannot and should not be disguised in grants that promote the idea of a welfare state in a country that admittedly has a small tax base. The government should not promote the idea that idle citizens who are able and capable of working can get paid for sitting at home and doing nothing. Incentives must be provided for those who want to and can work and assessment structures should be put in place to route out those who are capable yet prefer to live off the government without any plan to gain employment.

There is no doubt that in South Africa one cannot discuss politics without discussing race, for the history of the country that helped shape today’s politicians is dominated by race and racism. Like it or not, race is still a big issue in South African life and will continue to be so for years to come until greater equality between races is achieved.

I do not profess to be an expert on transformation, BEE or Affirmative Action, but there is no doubt that they are necessary policies to level a playing field that for many years was unfairly tipped. There are continued debates to be had about the precise means of implementing these policies and their effectiveness, but there is no doubt in my mind that they are relevant and necessary regardless of the arguments made by some academics.

Some argue that the domination of the ANC has stunted politics and will have a negative effect on the country in the long term. This is probably partly as a result of the electoral system of proportional representation which, in my opinion, does not cater enough to the electorate and does not provide enough accountability controls to the voters. Whatever the ANC’s failings, it remains the only party in the country ready to govern. And if the goal of a better life for all is ever to be achieved, more must be done by those in power to clean up the image of politicians and reignite the idea that government primarily exists for the purpose of improving and assisting its people. There is a Latin saying which best sums up the approach which must be adopted by government and people in positions of power: “u pluribus Unum”, meaning “out of many, one” – one people enjoying equal opportunities and equal wealth.


Written by Tatenda Goredema, the Deputy Editor of Varsity Newspaper at UCT.