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Reporting our biggest problem

Guy Berger Rhodes University

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What is this problem?:

Aids? School crisis? Corruption? Women/child abuse? Economy? Race? Government-media relations?

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SECTION A: Introduction

Inyoka nesele? Chalk ‘n cheese?

One of the problems: Govt vs Media

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Should & could it ever be …

Umtya nethunga?

(milking harness and pail)

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Or is it a case of …

Singamaphuti ahlathi linye?

Media & Govt in the same boat?

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It depends what you look at:

For me, one problem stands out as our country’s worst pest,

and we need combined

Govt-Media work in order to

tackle it

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Its ugly name is: POVERTY

Let’s look at: Why Poverty is Public Enemy no. 1 Learning from elsewhere The journalism of poverty in SA The poverty of journalism in SA Conclusion: what’s to be done?

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SECTION B: Public Enemy No 1.

Whose problem is poverty:

the poor? government? civil society? business? individuals? media?

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The pinch of poverty What’s bad about poverty?

People are cashless, foodless, homeless, landless, illness, stress, powerless.

Note: jobless does not = poverty Many indirect effects:

doesn’t cause crime & Aids, … but it does contribute.

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The pillars of poverty An act of God, or an act of man? Quiz: What are the underlying causes?

A local issue, or a global issue? Quiz: UN Millenium Goal for 2015?

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Questions 1:

What’s the delay in ending poverty? What are the solutions? Who is part of the problem?

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Questions 2:

Can media help change poverty? What’s media’s role in relation to

other actors: govt, business, civil society, individuals?

How “poor” is our journalism in reflecting & serving poor people?

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Impact on policy & practice?

On govt policy? On govt practice? Investment strategies? Conscience of the rich? Empowerment of the poor? On local-global compassion?

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SECTION C: Looking elsewhere for answers:

“Development journalism” in Africa

Free market media in USA/India

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Development journ discredited

Theory: educate, uplift, nation-build

But:Poor grasp of causes of povertyTop-down view of passive poorParrot of inappropriate ideologiesButtressed bad governance.

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Development journalism effect: Reinforced poverty. Bad journalism: “lies, easy

victories” Responsibility, no freedom.

Backlash = community media, Backlash = watchdog media.

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Lessons: Community and watchdog media

roles are good for fighting poverty

but …

Baby thrown out in bathwater: we still need to educate, uplift, nation-build.

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Elsewhere: Free market model 1

USA: little journalism on poverty, Middle-class audiences resent it, “Comfort the afflicted, afflict comfortable”

versus “Neither publishers or readers clamour

for stories about the poor”. Indian media “panders to elite”. Freedom, no responsibility

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Free market model 2: Stereotypes of lazy, failed people. Disproportionate racialisation:

“most US poor are white, but you’d never know from the media”

Individual, rather than govt/societal issue. “Deserving poor” vs blameworthy. Absence of voices of poor people.

Clearly:

Elitist model is wrong for SA media

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SECTION D: Journalism of poverty in SA

There is some coverage here. Overview comments. Some examples coming up. Analysis and critique.

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Not negative – (due to our history). But it’s racialised – starving or fat cats. Racialised – empowerment gloss-over. And: poor voices are absent – esp. in

policy issues. Also: poor portrayed as purely victims. Too little debate about cause & solution.

SA coverage of poverty – overview

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SA: journalism of poverty – examples:

Business Day: high finance-politics Generally, wealthy are uninterested –

but not in South AfricaKevin Wakeford: “Put poverty on top of

the agenda”Neva Makgetla: “Poor pay more for

services”

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SA: journalism of poverty – examples:

Sowetan: grassroots poverty. “Stink over bucket system” “Lonely, exiled death of woman with Aids”

Dispatch: charity anglesDonation of rugby kit to schoolAfrica wants better aidRejoice R40m to uplift poorLittle too late, G8

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SA: journalism of poverty – examples:EPH: Implicit, rather than explicitGrenades used on stone-throwing pupilsBig brother man at Aids-charity dinner

Critique of DD and EPH: Neither looked at how cold hits the poor. Housing protests, pensions – no poverty info. Very little on how development relates to poor. Money comes into E Cape– but for who?

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Analysing journalism of poverty 1

Comments: Party-politicisation coverage

players eclipse the ball (BIG, Psam) Little scrutinisation of stats

unemployment: 30% or 40%? Little debate – except in Sowetan Reliance on external columnists

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Analysing journalism of poverty 2

Comments Little follow-up (cf. Poverty Hearings) Absence of poor voices on policy issues. Dichotomy:

Stories of people who are poorStories of “poverty”

Starvation coverage – a charity or govt issue (no depth)

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SECTION E: Poverty of Journalism in SA

Spinning the story:Our journalism in general needs

changing – Why and how.

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Complex coverage:

Poverty has many faces: Hard to reduce, so therefore singular

stories or broadest concept, and no connection.

Poverty hidden under other frames – crime, gender, AIDS, strikes, unemployment

Challenge to cover a process vs. event

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Problems in journalism

Poverty does not have to be covered. Poverty = enterprise reporting

Few press releases! Few lobby actions. We remember women, race

(sometimes), not class. Survival not seen as an achievement. Solutions-oriented journalism is atypical.

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SECTION F: Conclusion

What’s 2B done? Conscious editorial strategy:

ProactiveMaking linksAllow new formats: not only events.Use newspegs (petrol, weather)Get voicesBuild sources (AIDS orphan families)

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New agenda:

Recognise real achievements Seek out solutions Stop conflating race & poverty Remember gender Train for debate, depth & think-pieces “Demand more time, agitate for more

space, revisit the subject”

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Summing up the point: Poverty is everyone’s problem. While media must be free, it can well keep

responsible spirit of developmental journalism.and

SA must avoid elitist role of free market media. Inform, expose, debate, hold accountable,

give frontline voices, inspire, educate, empower.

Even break hearts.

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Summing up the point: Are editors giving leadership? Is govt playing ball?

Can we construct consensus about prioritising this problem, and to transparency, and debate, in tackling it?

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Making impact together: On policy, practice,

agendas, public opinion, understanding, attitudes, emotions, skills.

Only then will govt & journalism

become the rich resources for reconstructing our society.

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And one day, perhaps, we will not have this biggest problem to report anymore.

Thank you