News / Africa
Newspaper prints front page apology to Malema
16 Aug 2012 at 02:09hrs | Views
The Times newspaper printed a front-page apology to expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema on Thursday, abiding by a ruling by the press ombudsman against an article published in October.
The story, headlined, "Malema on the ropes", on October 31, reported that a police probe into Malema's financial affairs was "as good as complete".
The Press Ombudsman found that the newspaper report breached Article 1.1 of the Press Code (fairness and accuracy), and twice breached Article 1.4 (verification) and Article 1.5 (obtaining comment).
"The Times gladly corrects these mistakes," the newspaper said, adding that, at the time, it did try to get comment from Malema and the then ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu.
It said it had written the story "based on information from sources who had been entirely reliable previously".
The ombudsman said the fact that there were several investigations into Malema's affairs was not in dispute, but the newspaper inaccurately reported on the state of those investigations by saying they were "as good as complete".
Malema told The Times: "I am happy with the ruling and that The Times has complied with it."
The story, headlined, "Malema on the ropes", on October 31, reported that a police probe into Malema's financial affairs was "as good as complete".
The Press Ombudsman found that the newspaper report breached Article 1.1 of the Press Code (fairness and accuracy), and twice breached Article 1.4 (verification) and Article 1.5 (obtaining comment).
It said it had written the story "based on information from sources who had been entirely reliable previously".
The ombudsman said the fact that there were several investigations into Malema's affairs was not in dispute, but the newspaper inaccurately reported on the state of those investigations by saying they were "as good as complete".
Malema told The Times: "I am happy with the ruling and that The Times has complied with it."
Source - SAPA
