Dear Readers,
We have taken note of the outpouring of your anger, grief and fear in response to the article. Although we generally do not respond to commentary we felt it important to acknowledge the criticism we have faced and to inform you that we attach weight to these responses, both positive and negative.
As the comments arise from differing viewpoints, so too were we “torn between” the decision on whether to publish or not.
We empathise with the family, friends and the community at large for their loss, however the speculation and panic aired on social media prior to the article being published and the urgency of the message conveyed in the article by the task team who works on the frontline, tipped the scale towards publishing in the public’s interest.
It is evident that the decision to publish has deeply offended a number of people and traumatised others, we sincerely regret this. We have responded to calls for deletion by referring the report to industry experts and asked for honest feedback as to whether the article was justified.
It was found that the article did not violate the Press Code, nor any laws or policies. That being said we never took the decision to publish light-heartedly and did our best to provide a factual, balanced article with official comment.
We understand the raw emotions that come with such a shocking loss which is amplified by the stress, fear and anxiety that the pandemic and subsequent lockdown has aroused yet we will continue to do our best to keep the broader community informed.
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as ‘fake news’) is circulating online.
Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth, in order to keep you adequately informed.
Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor, Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser, Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
Contact us
WhatsApp: 082 874 5550
Email: Reveshni Douglas (Editor) at reveshni@caxton.co.za
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