Harber comments on Oscar trial
JOBURG- With the Oscar Pistorius trial dominating headlines in South Africa, Caxton Professor of Journalism Anton Harber had some insights to share on the media coverage of the trial.
Harber is currently the Caxton Professor of Journalism and Media Studies at Wits University. He has enjoyed a long career in journalism which started with community newspapers and saw him become co-editor of the Mail & Guardian and vice-president of the South African Society of Journalists.
The Oscar Pistorius trial has become a topic of daily conversation for most South Africans and social media is abuzz with tweets about the trial. “Put together a photogenic fallen hero of determination and courage and a beautiful model for a victim, all on Valentine’s Day, and you are going to get everyone’s attention,” he said. However, he explained that underlying this is the sense that the trial is more about the dark underbelly of South African society with its high levels of domestic femicide, its gun culture, and the deep fear of intruders – as suggested by Pistorius’ defence.
Harber’s opinion of the 24-hour media coverage of the Oscar Pistorius trial is that it has been healthy. “The saturation coverage [of the trial] has brought extensive discussion and debate around the justice system and its workings, as well as important issues like domestic violence and our gun culture,” he said.
Harber also addressed the conduct of the media during the trial. He explained that while the rules of sub judice do not restrict the media much, there is still a need to be accurate, balanced and fair. “I also believe that the media has a special responsibility to explain the complexities of the justice system and to get people to see that this is not an isolated incident, but part of a general pattern of violence and gun-mania,” he said.
Harber explained that the whole ecology of South African media is changing because of the use of social media. “Social media is on the frontline of reporting and a lot of the traditional media are having trouble keeping up with the pace,” he said. “Social media is also driving the national conversation around the trial and the issues it raises.”
When questioned about the conduct of the media in their coverage of the trial so far Harber responded, “When the media is operating in a pack then there will always be elements who bend the rules for a scoop. I am sorry to say that the frenzied pack is not journalism at its most attractive.”
