By: Carl Niehaus
Censorship is not only carried out by dictatorial governments.
The worst censorship comes from privately owned media houses, with vested interests, and who no longer allow objective journalism reporting about the news, but have become active and biased political players serving the interests of their owners, who pay their salaries.
It is well known that there are WhatsApp coordinating groups where White Monopoly Capital (WMC) captured journalists decide about how to develop and frame stories, and who to interview and also who not to interview. How to promote a story when it serves their WMC owners/masters’ interests, and how to kill a story when it does not serve those interests.
I have been informed several times by the the increasingly few journalists who still have some conscience, and professional pride, that they are instructed by their editors not to interview me, and more recently that they have been instructed not to carry the story of the continuing legal existence of the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA), and the urgent legal application that we are bringing to nullify the sham so-called ‘All Inclusive MK Unity Conference’ , and the establishment of an illegitimate structure called ‘MK Liberation War Veterans’.
A couple of days ago alleged journalist and commentator, Redi Thlabi, tweeted openly in favor of censorship against MKMVA. She is a well known member of the cabal of journalists who are WMC agents, and who lobby for, and coordinate censorship against people like me, and in general those whom they disagree with, and the stories they want to ‘spike’/‘kill’.
I have to fight on a daily basis against these WMC agents. The most recent example is an invitation that I have received yesterday, via WhatsApp, from NewzRoom Afrika to participate in a discussion with Thabo Mdluli on his InFocus actuality show about the urgent MKMVA court interdict against the ANC.
After I agreed to participate in the interview, I was suddenly un-invited by an embarrassed producer, who had evidently been instructed by her editors not to have me on the show.
It transpired that the Convener of the Interim Steering Committee of the so-called ‘MK Liberation War Veterans’, Dan Hato, was on an earlier show, and evidently I would have spoiled his narrative, which the NewzRoom editors wanted to push …
Shame, the poor producer tried to cover up, and took responsibility for what was clearly not her decision, but what she was simply instructed to do. I have sympathy for her, but certainly not for her unprofessional biased editors.
I messaged her back, and made it clear that I can see that Mr. Hato was given priority. I also made further enquiries with staff and producers, who I know are deeply unhappy about the un-professional manipulation that they are being subjected to, and are instructed to carry out by their senior editors.
In a WhatsApp exchange that I have attached hereto, it was confirmed to me that I have been blacklisted. I am posting herewith the WhatsApp exchanges that I have had with Zinhle Nkosi, the producer of the InFocus actuality show, unfortunately I cannot protect her identity, but it is also not necessary because she was just trying to do her job under very difficult circumstances – also being a pawn in the insidious censorship executed by her senior editors.
The identity of the other person who confirmed that the NewzRoom Afrika editors blacklisted me, I am protecting for obvious reasons.
Sadly, none of this is surprising because when one watches our TV News Channels, and general mainstream media coverage, it is glaringly obvious that this kind of censorship is rife.
I also need to emphasize that this does not only happen on NewzRoom Afrika (they are not even the worst example), but across the board, certainly including eNCA and the SABC too.
I am specifically presenting this incident, that I had yesterday with NewzRoom Afrika, because it is my most recent experience. In the past, I certainly had reason to complain about other media too. Which I have done, and a cursory look at my social media postings will bring to the fore an array of such complaints.
I am often told, well what else do you expect? Why are you surprised? No, I am not surprised any more, because I experience this kind of journalistic unprofessionalism and insidious censorship, and the manipulative framing of stories, personally on a daily basis. However, I am certainly outraged by it.
No matter how prevalent this awful censorship is, I will never accept it. I will never stop fighting against censorship. I and many other liberation fighters, have fought for freedom in our country – including freedom of speech, and the right for our people to know the truth.
I will never accept censorship. Not from the State, and certainly also not from privately owned media houses, that are overwhelmingly in the hands of White Monopoly Capital.
The general news consuming public, who are on a daily being fed skewed stories, who are subjected to censorship, and who face the daily manipulation of a biased news media should certainly be informed, and warned, about it.
All of those who implement censorship, and media manipulation must know that in me they have an impeccable enemy that will never stop challenging them. –
ZIYAKHALA!
A LUTA CONTINUA!
*Carl Niehaus is a member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of MKMVA, and National Spokesperson of MKMVA. He writes in his personal capacity.
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