Maravi

State media's coverage of VJ shameful - PFC

State media's coverage of VJ shameful - PFC
By George Chellah
Wednesday April 11, 2007 [04:00]

THE conduct of the Times of Zambia and Zambia Daily Mail over information minister Vernon Mwaanga's matter is a source of shame to journalism, Press Freedom Committee of The Post (PFC) chairperson Webster Malido has said. And Malido advised the two state-owned newspapers to realise that lies are infectious. Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata has denounced the two state-owned newspapers for what he termed ‘below-par journalism standards’ in the manner they are handling Mwaanga's lies.

Malido yesterday said it was very strange that the two state-owned newspapers, through their support of the fabricated transcript of Mwaanga's interview with Democratic Republic of Congo journalists, had accepted that lies should be a necessary part of the profession of journalism.

"We take particular notice of the article on page 5 in the Times of Zambia of today (yesterday), especially the note at the end, and the letter on page 7 of the Zambia Daily Mail. The two articles were but an arrogant, feeble and futile attempt to impose as the truth Mr. Mwaanga's manufactured transcript, which he claimed was the official version of his interview with journalists in the DRC on March 31, 2007," Malido said.

"The conduct (or misconduct) of the two state-owned newspapers over this matter is a true source of shame, especially to journalists who aspire (or pretend to aspire) for professionalism. We find it unimaginable that professional journalists can accept lies as a normal part of their work, especially when these lies emanate from someone who has recently been moralising about the need for ethics in the media."

He said the PFC was disappointed with the conduct of the two newspapers because it believed that reporting and telling the truth, and not reporting or justifying manufactured transcripts from truth-bending politicians, should in fact be a source of great pride to journalists who respect and are truly devoted to their profession.

"We do not need a philosopher to educate us that fabrications in whatever format, manufactured transcripts (as those of Mr Mwaanga) are complete lies and they cannot be relied upon because they are not true words, regardless of the message contained therein," Malido said.

"We wish to state with a clear conscience and in plain truth, that lying is an accursed vice and those who are part of it have every reason to be ashamed, a million times."

Malido advised the two newspapers to realise that lies are infectious and they not only infect those who utter them, but also those who willingly present themselves as their conduits.

"We urge the two newspapers in particular and the media in general to escape from the tendency of accepting lies as part of normal human existence and return to the reality that lies are evil and they can be infectious on those who provide space for them. Let the truth, and not lies, prevail!" said Malido.

And Sata has denounced the two state-owned newspapers for what he termed as 'below par journalism standards' in the manner they are handling Mwaanga's lies.

"As PF we take great excerption to this type of journalism that is shameful and below par. How can a journalist worth his or her name even attempt to defend Mwaanga's lies?" Sata asked. "Mwaanga's lies are indefensible so there is nothing to defend and no amount of propaganda will clear those lies.

"We know they are state-owned newspapers but what message is it sending to their readers if they begin to defend things that are on video? We won't be surprised seeing them writing stories of VJ arguing that somebody had distorted his face in the video from DRC."

He also said Mwaanga's statement in the DRC had confirmed a number of things.
"He was bragging that he was editor-in-chief of the Times of Zambia so he knows newspaper operations well... Is he now confessing that when he was editor-in-chief of the Times of Zambia they used to fabricate or manipulate stories to consolidate the one party dictatorship?," Sata asked. "Especially that when VJ was editor-in-chief of the Times of Zambia they were using inferior type writers and there was no fax or Internet."

Sata said The Post was an independent newspaper, which was not open for manipulation like other newspapers.

"He shouldn't hide in The Post, let him just say the truth," said Sata.
Yesterday's edition of the Zambia Daily Mail on its people's views column from a concerned citizen stated that there was no difference between Mwaanga's statements regarding the gist of what he said. The newspaper concluded that it was therefore difficult to find the basis of the controversy.

And on its features page, the Times of Zambia reproduced Mwaanga's version and a transcription of the video footage. But below the article it stated that:"The question many readers are asking is whether there is a difference in content of the two transcripts since in both the minister was quoted as saying he was aware that governor Katumbi has sued the Zambian government for the maize he delivered in 2001."

However, Mwaanga in Parliament last week had accused The Post of having distorted what he had told Congolese journalists. He went on to read to Parliament what he claimed was the correct version of what he had said in his interview with journalists.

The Post has however reproduced the video version of Mwaanga's interview, which is in sharp contrast with what Mwaanga is claiming to be the right version of his interview.

Labels: MEDIA, PFC, THE POST, VERNON MWAANGA

posted by MrK @ 5:07 AM