If a person decides to take a gun and shoot someone, you wouldn't blame the gun for killing the person right?
A senior of mine called me and told me about a story that I needed to go and cover. The incident, which I cannot disclose at the moment was not really what I would call hard hitting but it was a story none the less. We arrived at the scene and I interviewed all the relevant people. On our way back he comes out with it..
He (my senior) tells me that he wants the story to be a big scandal. He continued to say that he wants to make sure that they (perpetrators) feel his wrath because they had a fall out in the past. He went on and on about how nervous the person I was interviewing was. It was at that point where I realised that hey, wait a minute...
I'm not properly in the profession yet and already I am being used as a decoy to settle vendettas. "Tit for tat" he said. He was honest enough to tell me straight to my face.
The story I was covering wasn't even newsworthy according to me. But then again I cannot feel entirely bad because I was just doing my job right? Well not tarnishing someones reputation but simply covering a story. Journalists in South Africa do not have a good image. A colleague sitting next to me just commented saying that the media destroyed Zola 7's reputation. Never mind the fact that he openly admitted to physically abusing his girlfriend and later denying it. But he still insists that the media is to blame. Then there is the love-hate relationship between the media and government were journalists have been labelled 'the imperial capitalist owned media' amongst many other names given by politicians. This was only one case but I wondered, how many phone calls am I going to receive about stories only to find out that I am just a pawn in a vicious game.
This weakens the analogy given above about blaming the gun for shooting someone. Although it is your job to report, it is still imperative to ensure that you investigate all sides of the story. Every story should be weighed against the news values that determine what makes a good story. And of course you should have the backbone to tell your boss that uhm, that story you want me to do is really not newsworthy ... *note to self*
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Random!
Eyes:
In your eyes I saw a young woman with a lot of heart
Her character bears strength, bravery and wisdom
A closer look reveals...
You at five. Innocent childhood stolen forever
Your life plunged into a spiraling darkness. Afraid! Confused! Angry!
Confused! Scared! Why? Why? Why me Lord?
Plagued by these emotions and questions for years
He took it, for months it was his and you were oh but a babe
At the tender age of ... .... never mind
Smile:
Your smile exudes courage, a warm heart and contentment
Fading smile:
Misunderstood. Judged. Scorned. Bullied. Tossed to and Fro. Whispers as you walked on by. He says, she says. Now that you're stronger you're tempted to tell them, fuck you haters
Second Thought
Not worth the effort. Embrace them. Love them that hate you for naught
If kindness doesn't kill them, your success might just
Shoulders:
... once carried burdens before they were properly developed
Back:
... once ridden by a body 5 times its size over and over
Blink:
Zeal like a raging furnace that consumes anything that stands in its path. In your eyes I see battles won, demons slain, mountains conquered.
A shattered past overcome
Eyes Closed:
I feel your gratitude for the grace of God that carried you through
And through
And through
Clutched fists:
Fury and passion enveloped in your tiny fists, ready to protect all that was once stolen from you
With every fibre of your being, you fight to keep your dreams alive.
Always moving forward and pressing on
Close Eyes:
Inhale:
Exhale:
Open eyes:
I said to the mirror
I AM a VICTOR
In your eyes I saw a young woman with a lot of heart
Her character bears strength, bravery and wisdom
A closer look reveals...
You at five. Innocent childhood stolen forever
Your life plunged into a spiraling darkness. Afraid! Confused! Angry!
Confused! Scared! Why? Why? Why me Lord?
Plagued by these emotions and questions for years
He took it, for months it was his and you were oh but a babe
At the tender age of ... .... never mind
Smile:
Your smile exudes courage, a warm heart and contentment
Fading smile:
Misunderstood. Judged. Scorned. Bullied. Tossed to and Fro. Whispers as you walked on by. He says, she says. Now that you're stronger you're tempted to tell them, fuck you haters
Second Thought
Not worth the effort. Embrace them. Love them that hate you for naught
If kindness doesn't kill them, your success might just
Shoulders:
... once carried burdens before they were properly developed
Back:
... once ridden by a body 5 times its size over and over
Blink:
Zeal like a raging furnace that consumes anything that stands in its path. In your eyes I see battles won, demons slain, mountains conquered.
A shattered past overcome
Eyes Closed:
I feel your gratitude for the grace of God that carried you through
And through
And through
Clutched fists:
Fury and passion enveloped in your tiny fists, ready to protect all that was once stolen from you
With every fibre of your being, you fight to keep your dreams alive.
Always moving forward and pressing on
Close Eyes:
Inhale:
Exhale:
Open eyes:
I said to the mirror
I AM a VICTOR
An sms from Pam
The sin of being too busy? More like the lust of being Superwoman or miss Incredible!! I chucked some things off my plate... now I'm a bit bored *sigh* Hope you're fairing better. miss you ((HUG)) That's for days when it all gets too much. I love you
Ok, everything after the words fairing better is not entirely relevant. But it was quite comforting to know that I am not the only one in that predicament. When you're doing too much you start sinking and when you 'do the right thing' and focus on a few or even one thing you feel mega bored.
It's good to be passionate but I have found that trying to swallow an elephant all at once has left me with a few unwanted kilo's. Too much drive and hunger at times blinds a person especially if your drive is motivated by perhaps an environment you are trying to change or get away from.
Of course the double standards around women in the workplace, women in power, women in male dominated positions or women in general who aspire to be more than a token wife for example don't make it any easier. This is probably the part where I start singing the woman empowerment song and condemning chauvinism and blaming the past, the system and absent fathers for this messed up world we're living in. But I'll skip that cue
But either or. Whether it's the sin of being too busy or the lust of being Superwoman. It beats rolling over and playing dead. Our society doesn't seem to be quite ready for women who want IT so you have to grow a pair, fist in the air and pierce your way there just like ...
Ok, everything after the words fairing better is not entirely relevant. But it was quite comforting to know that I am not the only one in that predicament. When you're doing too much you start sinking and when you 'do the right thing' and focus on a few or even one thing you feel mega bored.
It's good to be passionate but I have found that trying to swallow an elephant all at once has left me with a few unwanted kilo's. Too much drive and hunger at times blinds a person especially if your drive is motivated by perhaps an environment you are trying to change or get away from.
Of course the double standards around women in the workplace, women in power, women in male dominated positions or women in general who aspire to be more than a token wife for example don't make it any easier. This is probably the part where I start singing the woman empowerment song and condemning chauvinism and blaming the past, the system and absent fathers for this messed up world we're living in. But I'll skip that cue
But either or. Whether it's the sin of being too busy or the lust of being Superwoman. It beats rolling over and playing dead. Our society doesn't seem to be quite ready for women who want IT so you have to grow a pair, fist in the air and pierce your way there just like ...
Friday, May 27, 2011
Is oil thicker than blood?
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| janbanning.com |
The family of the late photographer Anton Hammerl who was killed in Libya and the South African media are mourning his death for more reasons than one. Hammerl went missing in Libya and was reported dead several weeks later.
In a statement released in the last week of April in the Star, Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane was quoted as saying that the South African government had proof that he was alive. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Anton-Hammerl-was-shot-in-Libyan-desert-20110520. This turned out to be untrue after news of his death were brought to the family. Hammerl is reported to have died on the 5th of April by journalists who were freed from Libya, later the International Relations and Co-operation spokesperson Clayson Monyela denied the report saying; "That issue of the minister's quote was not captured correctly." The family have since written a letter to President Jacob Zuma requesting him to return with his body.
In a statement released in the last week of April in the Star, Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane was quoted as saying that the South African government had proof that he was alive. http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Anton-Hammerl-was-shot-in-Libyan-desert-20110520. This turned out to be untrue after news of his death were brought to the family. Hammerl is reported to have died on the 5th of April by journalists who were freed from Libya, later the International Relations and Co-operation spokesperson Clayson Monyela denied the report saying; "That issue of the minister's quote was not captured correctly." The family have since written a letter to President Jacob Zuma requesting him to return with his body.
 |
| news.za.msn.com |
This is also a blow to the gut for aspiring journalists, some of which have expressed their discontent with the way the government handled the situation. They feel the government did not put enough preasure on the Libyan government to come out with the truth in time.
Although one might argue that people die in the line of duty all the time, his death has sparked a few questions in the minds of some South Africans. Are journalists taken seriously in the country? And the most controvercial of the lot not only to South Africans, has oil become thicker than blood?
Although one might argue that people die in the line of duty all the time, his death has sparked a few questions in the minds of some South Africans. Are journalists taken seriously in the country? And the most controvercial of the lot not only to South Africans, has oil become thicker than blood?
Pulled over with an ak47
It's past 3am and we were just pulled over by the police, normal sounding right? Wrong. One of the police officers had a gun pointed at us.
He did not have to shout 'freeze' because the car we were traveling in was a few degrees short of fridge temperature, so that part was pretty much covered. If the police weren't on such a killing spree I would not be alarmed. I was sleeping in the back seat and woke up suddenly when the car stopped. I lifted my head and the first thing I saw was a police officer with an ak47..
Now I've been reading, hearing, and reporting about some of the police brutality incidents that have been happening around the country. So you can imagine the horror movie that went through my mind right there and then.
All these tragic and fatal occurrences have exposed the very thin line between fear and respect. Although General Bheki Cele has openly condemned the killing of police officers but has had little to say about police officers killing civilians.
I guess it is a case of, when a dog bites a man it's no big deal but when a man bites a dog it is a catastrophe that should not be ignored.
He did not have to shout 'freeze' because the car we were traveling in was a few degrees short of fridge temperature, so that part was pretty much covered. If the police weren't on such a killing spree I would not be alarmed. I was sleeping in the back seat and woke up suddenly when the car stopped. I lifted my head and the first thing I saw was a police officer with an ak47..
Now I've been reading, hearing, and reporting about some of the police brutality incidents that have been happening around the country. So you can imagine the horror movie that went through my mind right there and then.
 |
| image from cracked.com |
I guess it is a case of, when a dog bites a man it's no big deal but when a man bites a dog it is a catastrophe that should not be ignored.
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