Cowboys don’t cry

Journalists are hunting in packs trying to silence a South African politician 

Something odd is going on in South Africa. Journalists are incensed at Helen Zille, the opposition politician, for using social media. Why? Zille accused a journalist, Carien du Plessis, of bias on Twitter. On top of that Zille had the temerity of claiming that this bias is influenced by racial politics — see here and countless of tweets. To add insult to injury, these journalists are outraged that she has not apologised and that she keeps defending her position.

Race matters. Especially in a country with South Africa’s history. Race is key way how power operates in society. And in South Africa its truer than most other places. There should not be a general rule that says race is not allowed to be a part of a debate. On that I’m sure we all can agree.

There has however been a subtler accusation against Zille. That Zille is “playing the race card”. In other words: When somebody appeals to race in a superficial, gratuitous, and unjustified way to win an argument. A diversion if you will. Is that the case here?

Zille claimed that Du Plessis feels she has to curry favour, because she is white. Therefor her reporting is biased. It is hard to prove definitively any which way whether Zille is correct or not. Is it demonstrably superficial, gratuitous and unjustified? No. Is this a valid argument for Zille — or anybody else for that matter— to make? I think so. Is it offensive? Yes, she is accusing a journalist — at best— of being biased, at worst of having no principles. Who is this offensive to? Journalists that think they are objective and an establishment press who thinks it writes without fear of favour about any topic.

What to do with this offensive statement if you are a journalist? Argue with her. Refute her. But to try and silence her? Carien Du Plessis has been mum, and other journalists have been imploring Zille to shut up and repent. How very odd.

Ask yourself, would journalist du jour Glen Greenwald — the man behind the Snowden revelations— have kept quiet if a politician attacked him? Would he have called for them to be silent or for her phone to be taken away? No. Quite the opposite, he would have relished it. Bring it on.

South African journalists however do not want to argue with politicians, because they are still wedded to the old fashioned View from nowhere. This way of thinking about media is closely linked to the idea that they are somehow special, that journalism is a profession. It’s not, its something you do. If you get paid for doing it you are part of a lucky few.

Jeff Rozen defines it well:

“What authority there is in the position of viewlessness is unearned– like the snooty guy who, when challenged, says, “Madam, I have a PhD.” In journalism, real authority starts with reporting… If in doing the serious work of journalism–digging, reporting, verification, mastering a beat–you develop a view, expressing that view does not diminish your authority. It may even add to it.”

Is it prudent for a politician to be speak her mind like this? Most spin doctors — especially traditional ones—would certainly advise against it. There are so many risks, so many ways you can loose control of “the message”. Social media gurus on the other hand preach the gospel of authenticity. The public might for once like a straight talking politician. Both sides are right. Being real helps heaps —if a person does not say stupid things.

But journalists? They should welcome it with open arms! Is this not what we want, a unfiltered view into the dark heart —or not— of a politician? If nothing else, it makes for great copy.

There is one other peculiarity about this storm in a tea cup. Journalists writing things like this: “You read that correctly. Zille is accusing Carien du Plessis of writing particular articles because she is a white Afrikaner”.

There are other examples of this allegation. I did read it correctly, Zille never mentions the word “Afrikaner”. So why is it being brought up? Could it be that the South African media pack believes English whites have nothing to be ashamed of? A little more self reflection would go a long way.