Mulling over the manner in which people feel they are entitled to address my staff led me to the decision that it is time to take a stand against unacceptable behaviour by (admittedly a minority) members of the public towards staff at the Addie and our sister paper, the African Reporter.
As a cub journalist, sage editors tell you that no matter what people say to you, you can’t go around telling your readers off.
For the most part, it’s a good piece of advice since we rely on our community to inform us about what’s happening in the town.
However, there is always one person who takes liberties with journalists that they wouldn’t take with anyone else.
While these readers may be in the minority, it doesn’t make their vitriol any easier to take.
Just because we are the local newspaper, tasked with telling you what’s happening around you, does not give you the right to swear at us simply because some service provider hasn’t actioned a solution the minute you reported a fault.
It also does not give you the right to be racist and belittle my staff simply because they happen to be the same colour, speak the same language or wear their hair in the same style as the person who upset you.
Your prejudices are your own and shouldn’t be taken out on the very people you approach for help.
Two weeks ago I had a very junior, Indian staff member in my office when a not quite gentlemanly chap called to demand that a white, Afrikaans speaking woman be sent to cover his story immediately.
He made it blatantly clear, in less than salubrious language, that he would not deal with anyone else and proceeded to tell me exactly why English speakers and all other race groups are unacceptable to him.
Never have I seen eyes as large as those of my shocked journalist who, having never heard the likes of this before, was brought to tears by the sheer hatred being spewed by this … person.
When I told him that I did not have that particular make and model of journalist available to tend to his needs he launched into a tirade calling my staff, our extremely efficient switchboard operator and myself names that would make the proverbial sailor blush.
And then, for good measure threatened to get me fired because I would not immediately acquiesce to his demands.
Having never met any of my staff, this man felt perfectly at home being rude, sexist and racist simply because “you are a public newspaper and you have to do what I want. Come right now or you’ll be sorry.”
While his threats didn’t have me quaking in my slops, my colleague was very upset which reminded me just how harmful words can be.
Sadly, it’s not the first time that someone has called in and used truly heinous language simply because he didn’t like the colour or language preference of a journalist.
But the saddest part is that he felt entirely justified in treating me to his colourful vocabulary, going so far as to give me his name, telephone number and address.
People like him are rude and abrasive and believe they have the right to swear at us, threaten us and generally belittle us simply because we are the press.
However, these are the same people who expect us to run to their aid when they have a problem no one wants to help them solve.
However, when all the swearing is done, there is comfort to be taken in the fact that they seldom get their way and, with a little bit of saccharin sweetness, they are left even less satisfied then when they began their tirade.
Treat them to their own medicine or tell the racist we don’t aid people like him and suddenly, when it’s levelled at him, he’s suddenly not as pro-prejudice language as he was before.
Quite frankly, I’ve had enough of the awful way in which people like this believe they are entitled to treat my staff so if you launch into an attack of my staff don’t be surprised to find that mid-tirade you have the sound of me putting down the phone in your ear.
We certainly don’t have to be polite and listen to this type of vitriol and we certainly won’t be taking this treatment any longer.
So, when you find you’re waiting on the pavement for a journalist who never arrives, don’t call me to moan or try elicit sympathy because chances are they stood you up on my suggestion.
It’s time to take back our power, and self-respect and refuse to deal with bullies with nothing better to do than abuse people simply trying to do their jobs.
