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1. A THREAD.
What Jacques Pauw did is called “malpractice”.
I personally like Jacques. He did not shoot unarmed miners in the back. He did not bomb a crèche. He did not rob a bank of gogos’ hard-earned ZAR.
Doesn’t matter. His career as a hack is over.
What Jacques Pauw did is called “malpractice”.
I personally like Jacques. He did not shoot unarmed miners in the back. He did not bomb a crèche. He did not rob a bank of gogos’ hard-earned ZAR.
Doesn’t matter. His career as a hack is over.
2. A determined, prominent journalist can lie his or her way through the fact-checking and editorial process if they choose to.
Like most seemingly monumental institutions, journalism is based on custom and personal trust, rather than on some inviolable mechanical process.
Like most seemingly monumental institutions, journalism is based on custom and personal trust, rather than on some inviolable mechanical process.
3. Journalistic standards must by necessity be much higher than that of the corporate/government/cultural/social power structures our work is meant to interrogate.
The fact that Jacob Zuma continues to walk free and that government sucks does not give us indemnity to screw up.
The fact that Jacob Zuma continues to walk free and that government sucks does not give us indemnity to screw up.
4. When we don’t keep to high standards, the entire ecosystem starts to buckle. It allows the space for, say, Jacob Zuma to walk free, because truth has just become another fungible commodity, subject to personal preference.
This is catastrophic for democracy, obviously.
This is catastrophic for democracy, obviously.
5. It’s tough to grasp in an era of personal brands and selfie journalism, but our work is a sacred trust and a public service.
We DO write the first draft of history. If we fuck it up, what happens to the 2nd and 3rd drafts? Responsibility. We need to start adulting better.
We DO write the first draft of history. If we fuck it up, what happens to the 2nd and 3rd drafts? Responsibility. We need to start adulting better.
6. There is nothing wrong with style, spice and voice. Go mad. But. Journalism must be grounded in verifiable fact. Every time. Every story. No exceptions.
7. Our journalistic institutions are not perfect. But no one is born eating with a knife and fork: progression is a beautifully, gloriously human trait.
And progress we shall. Because the stakes are too high. And the baddies really want us — nay, NEED us — to fail.
And progress we shall. Because the stakes are too high. And the baddies really want us — nay, NEED us — to fail.
