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SA media out of synch - Zuma
18/01/2008 14:32 - (SA)
Cape Town - The media in South Africa is "politically and ideologically" out of synch with the society in which it operates, African National Congress President Jacob Zuma said on Friday.
"There are few, if any, mainstream media outlets that articulate a progressive left perspective," he said in his weekly newsletter, published on his party's ANC Today website.
Such a perspective was endorsed at each election by the majority of South Africans, and represented by the ANC, its allies and the broader democratic movement.
"This is one of the reasons why, though there may be plenty of newspapers and magazines on our news stands, and a multitude of radio and TV stations occupying our airwaves, the overall orientation of South African media is politically conservative."
Zuma said each day brought "fresh instances of a media that, in general terms, is politically and ideologically out of synch with the society in which it exists".
This phenomenon was most starkly illustrated at election time.
"To an uninformed reader, listener or viewer, following media coverage in the months and weeks leading up to these elections, it would have appeared patently obvious that the leading party in government, the ANC, was heading for a hiding."
'Propaganda and manipulation'
However, in both these elections, not only had the ANC's share of the vote increased, but the actual numbers of people who voted for the organisation increased too.
"The outcome of the 52nd national conference in Polokwane is a most recent example of the media yet again becoming a victim of its own propaganda and manipulation.
"Some are correctly asking themselves: 'How did we get it so wrong?', while others now use every opportunity to 'prove' that there is something that was seriously wrong with ANC delegates at Polokwane."
Contrary to what some claimed, the media was not simply a product of the work of disinterested observers - professionals who were able to detach themselves from their personal views.
"It is instead a product of the various political, social, economic and cultural forces that exist within a society. It is a battle of ideas, and, as such, the media is part of the battle for power.
"The media, viewed in its totality, should be as diverse as the society which it serves and reflects. This is clearly not the case in South Africa today. At times, the media functions as if they are an opposition party," he said.
Making changes
Zuma also said there would be changes made with regard to his weekly newsletter.
"The 'Letter from the President' will now be published on special occasions only, dealing with important themes and events during the course of the year.
"The intention is to open up the journal to a diversity of voices, articulating ANC positions. In this regard, there will be weekly contributions from ANC officials and NEC members," he said.
- SAPA
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