i feel this whole concept of a 'free press' is misleading. South Africa does not have a free press. the Newspapers are owned by companies or organisations and are funded by advertisers. What is published is what the editor wants and ultimately what is wanted by the Shareholders and to a certain extent readership. If we look at the mail and gaurdian for instance, it has a Readership of mainly Middle class readers. the adverts in the mail and guardian appeal to this demographic. if it where to change to a less anti ANC line then the majority of its DA, ID readership will probably flood it with complaints and its readership will reduce (unless picked up by a different demographic of course) damaging sales and ultimately stopping advertisers from wanting to advertise in it. Similarly i find it quite amusing that the USA and UK are viewed as bastions of the free press, a few examples. if your presidential reporters report negativly of a president or ask unwanted questions they are black listed- something George Bush was more then happy to use against a fare few of his outspoken enemies. Editors do not risk loosing the privilege of going to these press meetings and therefore report positivly on them....very free and fair that is. again from America....have you ever heard of the patriot act and the negative effects the anti terror legislation has had on the media. in the UK: the US defence department funded right wing think tanks to wine and dine British journalists (who are know to not be morally sound) in order to come into line on there position on the war in Iraq...which they did. another sign that money makes the media go round. also im guessing you never heard that the TIMES newspaper was a full supporter of the Nazi regime even when the persecution of jews was well under way, All because its owner had interests in Nazi germany (that would be an example of money over mind).
finally, i am somewhat embarrassed to read this slippery slope argument that the degradation of the "free" media will lead to a situation similar to Zim. well for all intensive purposes look at Cuba at what you would deem to not be a free media and there is no destruction of of rights there. just as an after thought : ""Never forget it is the capitalist countries who send millions $ of financial aid and other resources such as doctors and medicines to the poor countries (despite their anti-poor values) - or do you suggest that they should not do this? What is the alternative?"" Cuba send far more doctors in aid then any other country in the world, and after Katrina in new orleans the US government refused to let cuban doctors come to the aid of the people of New Orleans. i think we can clearly see who has got the better system in North America when it comes to moral values effecting the poor. Brendan --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
