The Johannesburg Star reports that Dr. Snuki Zikalala got away with a “verbal warning” for blacklisting reporters from the South African Broadcasting Corp. Zikalala is the SABC’s director of news and our honored Worst News Executive of 2006. The Star writes:
“The board had decided that he should be given a verbal warning jointly by the group’s CEO and the chairman of the board … that he be instructed to co-operate in the remedial steps recommended by the commission, and that he be warned that should the conduct in question be found to occur in future, stronger action will be taken,” said Padayachie.
Most reporters and analysts were banned for their views on South African politics, but Paula Slier found herself blacklisted because her coverage of the Mideast conflict crossed Zikalala’s red lines. He wrote in a memo last year:
From the movement where I come from, we support PLO. But she supported what?s happening in Israel?. I said no, you can’t you can’t undermine the Palestinian struggle, you can’t. For me it’s a principle issue.
The South African media is no more satisfied with the tongue lashing than we are.
(Hat tip: It’s Almost Supernatural)
