JOURNALISTS DON’T PLAY NICELY

I am not a news writer.
At best, I would give my personal take on stories that are already in the news, but I never have to go out and find stories that are newsworthy.

Still, finding material to write two articles a day is not an easy task, and my heart goes out to journalists whose job it is to go out and find the news stories.
But, surely one does not have to create some of the bull that these writers come up with?

Today the headline on one news site read ‘Cele in Hit and Run Case.’

Granted, Bheki Cele is fair game.
I could probably fill pages just writing about the man's dress code alone.
He is the picture of what I imagined when I first heard the song Mr Bo Jangles.

His comments are also more often than not food that eager journalists can feed on.

But surely it is unfair to have a headline such as this one?

Durban businessman Prince Sifiso Zulu's hit and run trial is scheduled to start in the Durban Magistrate's Court on Monday.
Zulu faces two charges of culpable homicide after a hit-and-run accident in March 2008.
On 29 March, last year, Zulu's BMW X5 was involved in a hit-and-run accident with a Mitsubishi double-cab.
Two members of the Soul's Harbor Ministries Church were killed and 10 others injured.

The only reference to Cele is…..
Cele, who was then MEC for community safety and liaison, arrived at the scene shortly after the accident.

Come on guys.
The guy may have a quirky dress style, and he should probably think more carefully before he speaks, but is inferring links to criminal activity the only way to get readers’ attention?

Kader Khan
Editor
info@yummie.co.za