May I see your Licence please?

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As an editor, and journalist, I obviously have come to hear about Hlaudi Motsoeneng’s recent utterance. He is of the opinion that each journalist in South Africa should be licensed to practice journalism.

To me, this is a mere case of increased government control where their control is not warranted.

The media is regulated. We have our code and its rules are enforced.

Furthermore, we as journalists have what we call a reputation – within and outside of the media. If I am found guilty of fabricating a story, I will never be appointed as a journalist again. Thus, it is safe to say that we all contribute to regulating ourselves, and where we fail, the Press Council steps in.

Being aware of this, why would anyone suggest that journalists be licensed? If this licence came with the salary of, say, doctors or lawyers, it might be an incentive. But it won’t, and it will serve no other purpose than creating room for a smorgasbord of issues.

It will open the door to unfair regulation or waging personal vendettas.

It will give all the wrong people unfair control of the media. It will support conduct that goes against the grain of the Press Code and the Constitution.

We are watching, reporting and exposing – fairly, accurately and factually. We don’t fabricate information to mislead the public into thinking our current government is bad, we work with the facts to show the public how their money is spent (good or bad) and why they are without power for another night. All these things the public has the right to know.

Perhaps those who are so unhappy with the media and what it reports on should use the open channels to engage with that media; write letters to them to prove a point or to defend themselves; for once use their right to comment.

Having an “I-am-superior” attitude will get no one anywhere with the media.