PRIMEDIA RESPONDS TO "A CONGRESS OF CLOWNS" CARTOON COMPLAINT
On Wednesday, 28 May 2014 Eyewitness News (EWN) published "A Congress of Clowns" a satirical political cartoon on its website. This was followed by a public outcry, with some members of the public labelling the cartoon offensive and racist. EWN issued an apology on Thursday morning, well before the African National Congress (ANC) became involved in the matter later in the day. The apology was not the result of political pressure but due to EWN appreciating that an aspect of the cartoon had offended members of the community we serve.
The following day a group of protestors, led by ANC Spokesperson Zizi Kodwa, marched to the Primedia offices to demonstrate their displeasure. The delegation was received by EWN editor-in-chief Katy Katopodis and Primedia Group CEO Roger Jardine.
Earlier, Primedia asked that its Internal Ombudsman, Advocate George Bizos, SC, consider the matter.
Adv Bizos found that while the cartoon "may have been in bad taste and facetious," there were no grounds for a claim of defamation or racism, and that EWN's "swift response" had been appropriate. Adv Bizos also ruled that as a news outlet, EWN did not act out of bounds of the Constitution and the Law. In his ruling, Adv Bizos states, " Cartoonist, comedians and satirists use hyperbole once being facetious and humorous, as necessary tools of their profession" and goes on to encourage the cartoonist to be less "facetious" in future (see full ruling here).
As an owner of broadcast media properties Primedia will defend editorial independence, and strongly assert our rights, and obligation to protect the right to freedom of expression. Nevertheless, we appreciate that South Africa remains a young democracy that is grappling with a long and divisive history and that the majority of our fellow countrymen and women were the victims of considerable indignity and abuse.
"As a leading media house it is impossible that we at Primedia will always find the perfect balance between insight and offence in all situations. However, that should not be used as an excuse to limit the freedom of expression enshrined in our constitution. While we are pleased with the finding by Adv Bizos, we need to continue being constructive given our difficult and painful past as a country. It is only through engagement on these issues that voices will be heard and problems resolved. We are committed to the letter and the spirit of the constitution and we will not be influenced in any way to soften our stance on editorial independence nor will we condone any action which tacitly seeks to promote any narrow political interests on our media platforms. Primedia Broadcasting remains committed to fair and balanced reporting," Roger Jardine, Group CEO, Primedia.
Statement issued by Pippa Rowles, Primedia Broadcasting PR, June 5 2014
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