Global Media: On freedom of the press [opinion]

"...Without freedom a press will never be anything but bad." "We often deal with things that are so complex as to be beyond the limits or our intuitive comprehension. As such, we construct models, simplifications of the real thing, which allow us to study that which we seek to understand. Whether a model is right or wrong is simply a value judgment, whether it is correct or incorrect is something that will be evident in time. The most important question to ask should relate to the extent to which the models we develop promote the intentioned development of our understanding. The extent to which a model aids in the development of our understanding is the basis for deciding how good the model is. A model is a simplification of reality, and as such, certain details are excluded from it." (Gene Bellinger-The way of Systems)

Each one of us has a mental model, and these are basically the assumptions, thoughts and ideas we carry in our head and they represent our reality. These "mental models" are based on our assumptions as a result of experiences or information that we have fed into our minds and our mind then proceed to construct our reality. It is from this reality that we take decisions and engage the world. The power of information therefore plays a fundamental role in influencing our world and our interactions with others. Our oppressors knew that and so they "limited' our access to new information and controlled it so that they could attempt shape our reality. It is Steve Biko who once said: "The most potent weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed".

The media industry continues today to shape our reality whether we like it or not. It has a significant impact on our mental model and on what our reality becomes and can therefore influence our ideas how we interact with the world. He who controls the press has the power to influence our mind and therefore our actions.

It is true to say that, the print and electronic media industry in South Africa is monopolised by white investor groups and employs large numbers of white people compared to other sectors of the economy. Its profile does not therefore reflect that of South African population. Because of this, assumptions have been made that its agenda is therefore not in line with the interests, values, concerns and mental models of black South Africans who form a majority of the population that this industry seeks to serve. Whether it be news content, advertising methodologies, ideas, products and its views about the South African reality. From this observation, it is then assumed that "... What they really mean by freedom of the press, is a licence to denigrate and destroy opponents and to question the bona fides of the government..." Dr Blade Nzimande.

Coincidentally ZANU (PF) have this very same "mental model" about the press and they proceeded to ban newspapers, arrest journalists in order to have absolute control over the print and electronic media so that they could influence our reality.

When these are the messages we get and the experiences we have from politicians with regard to press freedom, it is therefore natural that our mental models are influenced to assume that the ANC and its allies will behave in the same manner as did ZANU (PF) despite assurances that that is not the case. Remember: "Whether a mental model is right or wrong is simply a value judgment, whether it is correct or incorrect is something that will only be evident in time"

History and our experience teach us that dictatorships arise when politicians force their views on us when they believe that it is only their mental model about current reality that is correct. When they announce that such and such will happen whether we like it or not and when we allow them to do as they please assuming that they have our interests at heart. In Zimbabwe, the black middle class during our times failed on its responsibility to continually challenge and engage ZANU (PF) and the latter, proceeded to push their luck until we realised that we had a de facto one party state that we delivered to them on a platter.

In my opinion the fundamental right that South Africans have and must enjoy and protect is that of a free press and freedom of speech for without that, the potential and opportunity for this country to flourish and be a beacon of personal freedoms and hope in Africa will surely have been stifled ... with your consent.

"A free press can be good or bad, but, most certainly, without freedom a press will never be anything but bad." - Albert Camus:1913-1960 (French Algerian author, philosopher and journalist who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957)

-August 30, 2010 by Vince Musewe

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Source:moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page501877  (accessed on 31.08.10)