MEDIA BIAS


A man's reputation is at the mercy of public writings more than ever in the age of the internet, because any quick online search brings up the same references every time. That these entrenched references may be inaccurate is seldom taken into account, especially by journalists on a deadline, editors in a hurry, researchers who want a meaty quotation - in fact anyone who needs a quick soundbyte about one "John Bredenkamp'.

"If it's on TV, it must be true," used to be the ironic saying in the pre-internet age. But the gullible world and its opinion makers now rely even more blindly on the most convenient information resource of all: the world wide web. "If it's on the internet, it must be true" is today's mantra.

Part of the problem with this self-perpetuating reputation in the media is that I am often confused with, or bundled together with other media targets.

Also, the reporters and repeaters of information have the habit of preference for bad news. The average journalist seldom bothers with the 'good' side of the story. For example they will gleefully refer to the United Nations allegations and subsequent investigation into my business affairs - but seldom continue to reprort the rest - that I was subsequently cleared of all assumed wrongdoings.

I heartily wish the media hacks and commentators would take the time to check their facts, and have the courtesy to make the distinction between myself and other supposed players in Mugabe's game.  
 
That I find myself today still on the list of sanctioned Zimbabweans is a direct result of this kind of casual misrepresentation. It is grossly unfair, libellous in fact, to call me cowardly and a "silent white collaborator" of Robert Mugabe. It has been over 24 years since I last met Robert Mugabe.

In the old days, impugning a man's reputation would result in a challenge to a duel. Fortunately those days are gone, and instead of obtaining satisfaction at dawn with pistols at 20 paces, armies of lawyers are recruited to restore one's honour instead. However, in the face of practically unlimited numbers of printed and online news sources, radio programmes podcasts, blogs, editorials, wikis and all the rest, it is impossible for me to sue everyone.

The only way I am now able to counter each of the intended and unintended smears to my reputation, is to offer a defence through this website and other conventional means of communication.

To illustrate my stance against such biased and unaudited media practice, I have selected three classic pieces of reportage spanning seven years (and still counting). During the intervening years media swipes against me have been relentless – however, at last the internet provides me with the means to instantly hit back and I will not hesitate to do so. I end with the invitation to ANYONE who takes it upon themselves to write about me, to have the courtesy to ask me directly and personally, for the information they require.

J A Bredenkamp, December 2009