This Sunday, South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) talk show “In the Public Interest” debated the local coverage of the Israel Palestinian conflict with studio guests David Monyae, Ferial Haffegee and Professor Hussein Solomon.
The show provided a strong example of how SABC news and current affairs presenters take sides in the debate, even going to the lengths of answering their own questions before allowing their guests to answer.
Instead of probing the thoughts of the studio guests with challenging questions, the SABC presenter, obviously following orders (she read the question word-for-word from her notes), asked, and I quote
| “Do you think there is little reporting of the difficulties that Palestinians face in their daily lives? And if uh, if, if Tel Aviv is bombed and 4 Israelis die in an attack then that makes international headlines and yet, you know, if Israel pounds Gaza and leaves 80 dead then you hardly hear about it except from smaller and more concentrated media.” |
You hardly hear about it? Come on! What a grotesque inversion of reality. But it is no surprise.
The presenter then asked the studio guests if it is possible to get fair reporting on the conflict. If I was a guest I would have responded that it is possible but not at the SABC.
I would have reminded the SABC presenter that only last year the SABC head of news and current affairs Dr. Snuki Zikalaka admitted that he had a blacklist of journalists and commenters that were no longer acceptable to the SABC. Among the commenters and reporters on the list was Jewish reporter, Paula Slier. Zikalala allegedly said that he cannot have a “white Jewish girl” reporting on the Middle East. Zikalala defended his position saying, “from the movement I come from, we support the Palestinians… you can’t undermine the Palestinian struggle, you can’t. For me it’s a principle issue.”
Since a google search on David reveals NO comment of his on the situation in the ME (whatsoever), I'll assume he's perfectly "neutral" and unbiased.
That leaves what appears to be a perfectly balanced panel that should have lead to a very interesting debate ...
(Watch out for that flash flood of sarcasm ...)
Posted by: Hillel | June 20, 2007 at 12:53
Steve,
What did Ferial Haffajee say in the debate? As editor of The Mail and
Guardian she is extremely even-handed in her coverage of the Israel/
Palestinian conflict. Her columnist, Ronno Einstein never distorts
history or the facts and she only uses "double standards" when Jews who
incorrectly dispute his version of events write to the paper.
If democracy, freedom and human rights etc are to be upheld it is
crucial that Ferial's approach is supported at all times. She refuses
to answer my emails but that is only because she has a full time job
finding space in The Mail and Guardian for Ronno Einstein's perceptive
and truthful analysis of Zionism and events in the Middle East.
Posted by: THE BLACKLISTEDICTATOR | June 20, 2007 at 13:22
Hillel,
The question I highlighted was referred to David. David replied that Palestinians don't get a fair amount of coverage and that he needs to rely on his favourite journalist Robert Fisk to ask the right questions!
For readers who don't know, Ferial Haffegee is the editor of the Mail & Guardian.
David Manyao was described as an "international relations expert".
Do you know who Prof Solomon is? Here is an article from him in the JPOST .
This link is for a search for him on this blog. - IAS Search - Hussein Solomon
Posted by: Steve | June 20, 2007 at 13:24
Dictator,
She said that Israel reminds her of apartheid because Chris McGreal did an article for her showing the similarities.
She did however, to her credit, say that we mustn't let this deflect attention away from other travesties of justice like Burma etc...
Posted by: Steve | June 20, 2007 at 13:27
What is the diffrence between the M&G and MSG (Monosodium Glutimate).
MSG is better for your health than the M&G.
Posted by: Gary | June 20, 2007 at 13:30
Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouLRr8UXRPI
I'm pretty sure that didn't make headlines at the SABC!
Posted by: Jak | June 20, 2007 at 15:13
You know what annoys me most about the anti-Israel hostiltity is that the vast majority have never sat down to think of the rights or wrongs of the situation.
They automatically hate Israel and support the Palestinians, because that is simply the thing to do if you are on the Left.
Posted by: Gary | June 20, 2007 at 18:53
This Sunday, South African Bulls@#t Corporation (SABC) talk show “Not in the Public Interest”
The truth must be avoided at all costs.
Posted by: Dsinc | June 23, 2007 at 09:52