Press Ombudsman Upholds GroundUp's Complaint Against TimesLIVE for Unfair Reporting

The South African media landscape was recently reminded of the stringent standards of journalistic integrity when the Press Ombudsman ruled in favor of the news agency GroundUp, compelling TimesLIVE to update a previously published article with correct facts. This serves as a call to reaffirm the commitment to truthful and fair news reporting, as concerns were raised regarding the blurring of lines between opinion-based writing and factual news delivery.

This ruling emanates from a complaint lodged by GroundUp and its editor, Nathan Geffen, about an article on TimesLIVE authored by its editor, Makhudu Sefara. The contested piece titled "Ray Joseph and GroundUp’s unethical pursuits and the journalism of suppositions," dealt with events dating back five years and has been scrutinized for its accuracy and fairness.

The complaint asserted that the TimesLIVE article violated multiple clauses of the Press Code, notably the requirement to report news truthfully, accurately, and fairly. Among the key issues contested was the characterisation of GroundUp's response to a query from TimesLIVE as being "flippant" and the presentation of the said response as if it were factual when it was largely an opinion.

Upon examination, the Ombudsman found that Sefara's assertion about the nature of GroundUp's response lacked congruence with the actual occurrences. This misrepresentation led the readers to perceive that GroundUp had not taken necessary corrective steps after a particular story was pulled in December 2020, a narrative that stood in stark contrast to GroundUp's prompt and detailed explanation upon their return from holiday break.

This misreporting led to an adjudication that TimesLIVE failed to take a fair account of all material facts, infringing clause 7.2 of the Press Code. The Ombudsman mandated an online update to rectify the breach and clarify the nature of GroundUp's response without demanding an apology, a point that deviates from the precedent set in previous rulings.

The situation foregrounds the importance of maintaining clear boundaries between reportage and editorializing, underscoring the responsibility media entities have towards providing the public with accurate and trustworthy information. The Ombudsman's decision not only corrals TimesLIVE to rectify the record but also signals to the broader journalistic community the need for heightened diligence in conforming to ethical standards.

With an appeal from TimesLIVE pending, the matter remains a significant case study in media accountability. The Press Ombud's intervention serves as a testament to the robust checks and balances within South Africa's media ecosystem and affirms the crucial role of such institutions in safeguarding the public's right to truthful information.