|
The change of our company name from Newsworks to MediaToday is far from cosmetic.
The change is a further step in the consolidation of the MediaToday company ethos and culture. We attempt to empower readers providing them with the information and the analysis of what is actually happening in the country. We say it as it is. This commitment to plain speaking, without fear or favour has become our hallmark. It is done irrespective of the political and commercial consequences we carry.
Our unique selling point remains our distance from both the political parties and big business. We know from experience that too cosy a relationship between politicians, businessmen and the media leads to a diminishing of the effectiveness of the media. We are anchored to the culture of people’s right to know and the media’s right to tell.
Since this newspaper’s birth, but most especially since the last election, the relationship between this paper and the political parties has not been an easy one. There has been many a bumpy ride. We have been accused of being unfair, arrogant and, yes, a nuisance.
These sentiments betray a lack of appreciation of our role in society. They stem from a local tradition whereby the media is subservient to people in positions of influence where off-the-record briefing sessions are too often an attempt to silence in return for the privilege of being pre-informed.
When we are excluded from these privileged briefings we are strengthened in our resolve to soldier on in spite of the lack of respect being shown in our regard. We remain determined not to cut and paste the press releases of newsrooms run by spin doctors nor send pre-set questions doctored as interviews. Our role is to probe, analyse, question and scrutinise.
These functions should be carried out fairly honestly and most especially accurately.
Where we fail these tests we are opening ourselves to rightful criticism and apologies are in order. Where we however accurately write about shortcomings, abuses and incorrect behaviour we should be seen as catalysts for change and resignations should follow. All too often irregularities, just like the proverbial saying, is water over a duck’s back for many a politician. We do not ask for the approval or acquiescence from the persons walking along the corridors of power but respect, and that the parties and the media operate in a climate of mutual respect.
We fully respect the role of an elected government and opposition just like we understand the need for the existence and the operation of political parties, although we have serious misgivings on the domination of the political parties within the media. We find this incursion not in the long term interests of the parties both for financial reasons as it will inevitably lead to their bankruptcy and for the long term interests of democracy in the country since the persons who should be scrutinised today are the scrutinisers of one another and not of themselves.
Bridging with the political parties is all about respect and acceptance by the parties of the proper role of the media. A lack of respect is shown when invitations to be interviewed by our journalists are turned down, when probing questions meet a simple no comment reply, when the paper is politically pigeon-holed.
The final arbiter of the credibility of our paper is neither ourselves nor the political parties but our readers. Every time a copy is bought or an advert is placed a statement is being made. That statement has financial consequences which nurtures our brand.
We remain a news-driven and reader-focused media company. We see our readers as the real owners of this paper and look forward to inviting them to participate fully in this project. We do not aspire to be a political party nor to play God. We just see this as a project opening up people’s eyes to appreciate fully what is going on around us. We do this without fear or favour. Most of all we do it out of respect for the reader, the real owner of this paper.
|
