• Subscribe to our newsletter
The Media Online
  • Home
  • MOST Awards
  • News
    • Awards
    • Media Mecca
  • Print
    • Newspapers
    • Magazines
    • Publishing
  • Broadcasting
    • TV
    • Radio
    • Cinema
    • Video
  • Digital
    • Mobile
    • Online
  • Agencies
    • Advertising
    • Media agency
    • Public Relations
  • OOH
    • Events
  • Research & Education
    • Research
    • Media Education
      • Media Mentor
  • Press Office
    • Press Office
    • TMO.Live Blog
    • Events
    • Jobs
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • MOST Awards
  • News
    • Awards
    • Media Mecca
  • Print
    • Newspapers
    • Magazines
    • Publishing
  • Broadcasting
    • TV
    • Radio
    • Cinema
    • Video
  • Digital
    • Mobile
    • Online
  • Agencies
    • Advertising
    • Media agency
    • Public Relations
  • OOH
    • Events
  • Research & Education
    • Research
    • Media Education
      • Media Mentor
  • Press Office
    • Press Office
    • TMO.Live Blog
    • Events
    • Jobs
No Result
View All Result
The Media Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Press Newspapers

Independent Media misled public on Alide Dasnois, says Press Ombudsman

by Marianne Merton
August 2, 2016
in Newspapers
0 0
0
Activists to picket Indie offices over Dasnois dismissal
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In a damning verdict, the Press Ombudsman found that several Independent Media titles had misled the public in their reporting of a settlement with Alide Dasnois, former Cape Times editor. Humiliating apologies to follow.

The Press Ombudsman on Monday ordered several Independent Media newspaper titles to apologise for their reporting of the settlement with former Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois. It’s the latest twist in the saga which started after the Cape Times published a wrap-around on Nelson Mandela’s death, and a newspaper front page on a Public Protector’s report on an R800 million fishing vessel management deal involving Sekunjalo, a company linked to Independent Media. Dasnois was sacked by mid-2014, but approached the Labour Court, where a joint statement in which the company withdrew allegations of racism against her was part of an out-of-court settlement just before the hearing in early May 2016.

Press Ombudsman Johan Retief did not deal with the merits of a press statement by Independent Media featuring the views of its Executive Chairman, Dr Iqbal Survé, on the settlement. This fell outside the Press Council’s code of ethics and conduct, Retief found, as Survé had the right to express his views and to have these published – “even if the newspaper(s) expressed an opinion by Survé, which went contrary to the letter and the spirit of the agreement”.

However, Retief wrote, “where the ombud does come in is on the issue of whether the public was misled as to the content of the agreement” between Independent Media and Dasnois. And in this domain he found a number of apologies were necessary, for different reasons.

Dasnois said she welcomed the ruling.

Ruling welcomed by Sanef

South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) media freedom chairperson, Sam Mkokeli, also welcomed the ruling. “It is a bitter sweet feeling when we have this kind of outcome,” he said, adding newspapers should be unapologetic defenders of freedoms and rights. “It’s sad when they find themselves on the other side.”

Independent Media was approached for comment on the ruling and whether it would appeal as is possible. On Monday mid-afternoon it indicated a statement would be issued, but by 10pm this had not been forthcoming.

In his ruling Retief considered the headlines and reporting, not only of the Cape Times, but several of its sister newspaper titles.

While the Cape Times article is prominently based on Survé’s comments made in the company press statement, the newspaper also ran details of the joint statement. “Having scrutinised the text in the Cape Times, I am satisfied that there is nothing in it that contradicted anything in the joint announcement – where it differed from the agreement, it was portrayed as opinion and not as fact.”

Joint agreement

Just ahead of the Labour Court hearing on 9 May this year, Independent Media and Dasnois reached a joint agreement as part of the settlement that said:

  • Dasnois’s conduct was not motivated by racism, not intended to disrespect Madiba or his legacy or any intention to embarrass Independent Newpapers, its owners or management;
  • While the parties disagreed over how Dasnois exercised her prerogative as editor, it was hers to make.

However, the Cape Time’s front page headline “Independent vindicated as Dasnois settlement reached” was a different matter, and “problematic”. By using the word “vindicated”, it created a wrong impression of fact, rather than interpretation and opinion – and for this the newspaper must now apologise.

Headlines must stand on their own, as previous Press Ombudsman rulings found, because readers often do not go on to read the report. According to Section 10.1 of the code of ethics and conduct, headlines must “give a reasonable reflection of the contents of the report…”

The Cape Times headline was not a reasonable reflection of the article: “Many readers’ would reasonably have concluded that Independent Newspapers has in fact ‘won’ the case and that Dasnois has ‘lost’ it,” Retief found.

The headlines in other Independent Media newspapers were “above reproach”, but not so the overall reporting.

Unfair to Dasnois

The Mercury and Pretoria News ran articles and the key points of the joint statement, thus satisfying the code of ethics and conduct criteria. “Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about The Argus, Daily News, Diamond Fields Advertiser and The Star. That, I submit, was unfair to Dasnois,” said Retief.

And so the newspapers were ordered to apologise and, with the apology, also publish the salient features of the joint statement on the same page as the original stories. This was “not because of inaccuracies in their reporting, but because the central elements of the joint agreement had been omitted,” said Retief.

Sections 1.1 and 1.2 of the ethics and conduct code, which require “the media shall take care to report news fairly”, and the presentation of news “in context and a balanced manner”.

Retief found it was key whether the newspapers published the content of the joint statement. “Of course, Dasnois will not agree that everything in these articles is correct … – but again, that is a matter of perspective, and the newspaper had the right to hold its own view on this matter (and on others)”, he added later in the ruling.

This story was first published by the Daily Maverick and is republished here with the permission of the editor.

Tags: Alide DasnoisAneez SalieDr Iqbal Surveindependent mediaJohan RetiefPress Ombud

Marianne Merton

Follow Us

  • twitter
  • threads
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Kelders van Geheime: The characters are here

Kelders van Geheime: The characters are here

March 22, 2024
Dissecting the LSM 7-10 market

Dissecting the LSM 7-10 market

May 17, 2023
Keri Miller sets the record straight after being axed from ECR

Keri Miller sets the record straight after being axed from ECR

April 23, 2023
Getting to know the ES SEMs 8-10 (Part 1)

Getting to know the ES SEMs 8-10 (Part 1)

February 22, 2018
Sowetan proves that sex still sells

Sowetan proves that sex still sells

105
It’s black. It’s beautiful. It’s ours.

Exclusive: Haffajee draws a line in the sand over racism

98
The Property Magazine and Media Nova go supernova

The Property Magazine and Media Nova go supernova

44
Warrant of arrest authorised for Media Nova’s Vaughan

Warrant of arrest authorised for Media Nova’s Vaughan

41
AI in sponsorship: Beyond the buzzword

AI in sponsorship: Beyond the buzzword

May 9, 2025
Upping the ante: Tracking the year-on-year growth of gambling in SA

Upping the ante: Tracking the year-on-year growth of gambling in SA

May 9, 2025
Seven Days on Social Media: Tonya’s in hospital, the nation’s in chaos and SA doesn’t care about Joshlin

Seven Days on Social Media: Tonya’s in hospital, the nation’s in chaos and SA doesn’t care about Joshlin

May 9, 2025
Social media platforms are replacing Google

Social media platforms are replacing Google

May 8, 2025

Recent News

AI in sponsorship: Beyond the buzzword

AI in sponsorship: Beyond the buzzword

May 9, 2025
Upping the ante: Tracking the year-on-year growth of gambling in SA

Upping the ante: Tracking the year-on-year growth of gambling in SA

May 9, 2025
Seven Days on Social Media: Tonya’s in hospital, the nation’s in chaos and SA doesn’t care about Joshlin

Seven Days on Social Media: Tonya’s in hospital, the nation’s in chaos and SA doesn’t care about Joshlin

May 9, 2025
Social media platforms are replacing Google

Social media platforms are replacing Google

May 8, 2025

ABOUT US

The Media Online is the definitive online point of reference for South Africa’s media industry offering relevant, focused and topical news on the media sector. We deliver up-to-date industry insights, guest columns, case studies, content from local and global contributors, news, views and interviews on a daily basis as well as providing an online home for The Media magazine’s content, which is posted on a monthly basis.

Follow Us

  • twitter
  • threads

ARENA HOLDING

Editor: Glenda Nevill
glenda.nevill@cybersmart.co.za
Sales and Advertising:
Tarin-Lee Watts
wattst@arena.africa
Download our rate card

OUR NETWORK

TimesLIVE
Sunday Times
SowetanLIVE
BusinessLIVE
Business Day
Financial Mail
HeraldLIVE
DispatchLIVE
Wanted Online
SA Home Owner
Business Media MAGS
Arena Events

NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION

 
Subscribe
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2015 - 2023 The Media Online. All rights reserved. Part of Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • MOST Awards
  • News
    • Awards
    • Media Mecca
  • Print
    • Newspapers
    • Magazines
    • Publishing
  • Broadcasting
    • TV
    • Radio
    • Cinema
    • Video
  • Digital
    • Mobile
    • Online
  • Agencies
    • Advertising
    • Media agency
    • Public Relations
  • OOH
    • Events
  • Research & Education
    • Research
    • Media Education
      • Media Mentor
  • Press Office
    • Press Office
    • TMO.Live Blog
    • Events
    • Jobs

Copyright © 2015 - 2023 The Media Online. All rights reserved. Part of Arena Holdings (Pty) Ltd

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?