Aziz Pahad Doesn't Know What The Media's Role Is 1
Nothing gives me that warm fuzzy feeling more than when a government official doesn’t seem to understand quite exactly what the roles and responsibilities of the press are. This week it’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs talking about the media and the current crisis in Zimbabwe.
He called on the media to work with government in trying to find a solution in the neighbouring country.
Because helping out the administration clean up their bungled foreign policy is the media’s job.
P.S. The DRC (another of Thabo Mbeki’s pet African projects) is not looking too hot now either, would you like the Mail & Guardian to handle it for you?
This is a personal bugbear of mine – the fact that some members of the governing party fail to come to grips with the notion of a free press in a democracy. When Tony Blair wanted to win an election in the UK he got the mass market Sun newspaper on his side. If the ANC had more sense they would woo the press relentlessly like Helen Zille does. Some ANC types complain that Zille gets a free ride in the media (which she does), but fails to see this is because she relentlessly courts the media and often fashions her response with an eye on the media. See also my post: http://constitutionallyspeakingsa.blogspot.com/2006/11/democracy-can-be-such-bother.html