OFTEN the media is subjected to such criticism that it is easy to lose track of what responsibilities we as newspapers carry.
Many complain that newspapers - and other forms of media - are simply not what they used to be.
It is largely a generational argument, with those that were around in the "heyday" quick to remind the Johnnies-come-lately that that is not how things are done. Standards are dropping, they'd declare.
But in today's world of fast-paced news and a saturation of information it becomes important how a story is told and packaged for maximum impact.
A reader is simply bombarded with information that will mostly be rendered useless in their everyday lives. They would read an article and be wondering, "So what?"
That's when the crusading journalist would answer the call. There are many heart-wrenching stories of real people out there. People for whom it would seem April 27 1994 never dawned.
For them this freedom thing was a mirage that promised much and disappeared into nothingness when they reached out to grab it.
Last week we told the tale of a paralysed 72-year-old man who was living a life of virtual slavery on a farm in North West. He earned R300 a month and had no ID, which meant he could not access basic state services such as an old age grant.
Many would have dismissed the story as negative when the plight of the man was first revealed. But a sorry tale was turned on its head when - a few day later - we again ran the story of Elias Tshililo.
In the place of a sad, destitute man there stood a man all too grateful to be reunited with a long-lost brother. An NGO had read of Tshililo's plight, bought him a wheelchair and placed him in a retirement home.
The department of social development is also assisting him to obtain his identity document.
It is sadly a typical South African story: the system failing people whose misery is brought to the fore by the much-maligned press and ordinary South Africans doing something to help a fellow countryman.
The likes of Tshililo shouldn't be waiting for newspapers to highlight their suffering before officialdom decides to do something about their lot.
A few months ago Parliament was in recess and some parties declared that MPs were being sent back to carry out constituency tasks. We can only hope that such work entails finding many other Tshililo's out there and make freedom a reality.
Freedom day delayed
OFTEN the media is subjected to such criticism that it is easy to lose track of what responsibilities we as newspapers carry.
Many complain that newspapers - and other forms of media - are simply not what they used to be.
It is largely a generational argument, with those that were around in the "heyday" quick to remind the Johnnies-come-lately that that is not how things are done. Standards are dropping, they'd declare.
But in today's world of fast-paced news and a saturation of information it becomes important how a story is told and packaged for maximum impact.
A reader is simply bombarded with information that will mostly be rendered useless in their everyday lives. They would read an article and be wondering, "So what?"
That's when the crusading journalist would answer the call. There are many heart-wrenching stories of real people out there. People for whom it would seem April 27 1994 never dawned.
For them this freedom thing was a mirage that promised much and disappeared into nothingness when they reached out to grab it.
Last week we told the tale of a paralysed 72-year-old man who was living a life of virtual slavery on a farm in North West. He earned R300 a month and had no ID, which meant he could not access basic state services such as an old age grant.
Many would have dismissed the story as negative when the plight of the man was first revealed. But a sorry tale was turned on its head when - a few day later - we again ran the story of Elias Tshililo.
In the place of a sad, destitute man there stood a man all too grateful to be reunited with a long-lost brother. An NGO had read of Tshililo's plight, bought him a wheelchair and placed him in a retirement home.
The department of social development is also assisting him to obtain his identity document.
It is sadly a typical South African story: the system failing people whose misery is brought to the fore by the much-maligned press and ordinary South Africans doing something to help a fellow countryman.
The likes of Tshililo shouldn't be waiting for newspapers to highlight their suffering before officialdom decides to do something about their lot.
A few months ago Parliament was in recess and some parties declared that MPs were being sent back to carry out constituency tasks. We can only hope that such work entails finding many other Tshililo's out there and make freedom a reality.
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