More patriotic style of journalism needed in South Africa: Zuma

[James]

Journalists should put the country first while at the same time report in a balanced and fair manner, President Jacob Zuma said on Tuesday.

Replying in writing to a Parliamentary question, Zuma clarified his recent statements calling for more "patriotic" news coverage while addressing Tshwane University of Technology journalism students last month.

"The coverage of news in a more patriotic manner does not mean that journalists should not report in an...read more here: More patriotic style of journalism needed in South Africa: Zuma

[Ike_009]

All reporting is balanced just some news agency's *cough guptas cough* are more balanced than others hey mr Zuma. But seriously patriotism and corruption in the same sentence, who is he kidding.

[DieGrootHammer]

While I do not like to say this, I tend to agree somewhat to his statement. Journalism has become a money making scheme any many sites and so-called experts are voicing their opinions and rumours as fact. An article based loosely on a rumour that may be scandalous is a much better way of pulling in more readers, thus more money, than something more positive.

My point is that all journalism should be based on proven facts, and not just hear-say or rumours. The latter type of articles tend to rile up the most anger from people, only basing their anger on what some writer said and not on any real hard facts. It is for this reason why I try and avoid most of the online new sites (especially Beeld and News24) as they will post just about anything based on the smallest shred of evidence.

I also have a problem with journalists twisting the truth of a matter to be more sensationalistic. Rather than stating hard facts, which is boring, they would put their own spin on something. Mostly these types of article tend to either blame government, big business or any other agency/business the general public loves to hate.

And then you have the people eating up the various flavours of bull#@&* journalists can come up with. Just look at what people tend to tweet or put on Facebook after something minor. The media just blows something small out of proportion to draw more people into their publications.

And why do the media do all this? Well, to make money. It is becoming more and more difficult to hide in our world, what with the internet and websites like Twitter and Facebook spreading filth like wild fire. With a mere Google search you can get almost any type of news you want, at your fingertips, so why would you buy a newspaper, or subscribe to their news site. So media businesses fudges some of their so-called facts to lure you in and to take your money. All at the cost of the general public, and to the detriment of the country.

This will probably be the first, and last time I actually agree with JZ on a subject matter...but just wait for the fallout media article to completely take this out of context and make it more sensationalistic.

[Lycanthrope]

Journalism is very patriotic, just to the people and not the dictators.

[okuhle94]

Zuma is only making this shit up because he doesn't like the journo's exposing his and ANC cronies asses!

[Tsar]

All they want is news they think is fit.

[chan0o]

So... JZ want journalist to write like this: "...in our beloved mother city, Cape Town, proud South Africans demonstrated their displeasure by Toi-Toing. <some deity> bless South Africa" ?

[ArchieChoke]

I would be more concerned about the words used and the facts. Its easy to be patriotic, South african man found dead in ... Rhino poaching in South Africa on Rise...


But when articles get written like this....Oohh eh eh
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...024_101607.jpg

[to0kenZA]

What he's actually trying to say is "Oh no, they're exposing me. Teach the journalism students to rather side with corruption *wink* *wink*"