The information shared does not only malign fellow comrades but is also libelous and projects the party negatively. It is unfortunate that we have some journalists who swallow line, hook and sinker what they are fed with. Being told something by a source and giving the right of reply does not absolve a reporter from wrongdoing. Some of our reporters do not bother to do preliminary and independent investigations. They have now turned themselves into malicious gossip purveyors.
The expectation is that if one comrade is loyal, committed and sincere, he/should first raise whatever issue(s) he/she has directly with another comrade or within the party structures and not run to the gullible reporters. These reporters tarnish the integrity of the profession and expose their media houses to unnecessary litigation. They also make the nation lose confidence in such an important democratic institution. What makes it even worse is that the Media Complaints Committee of the Press Council is almost non-functional and reporters do as they wish. We have been waiting for around two years for a decision on complaints we raised against two media houses. This is disturbing.
