WeeklySA_AdminToday we launch the Weekly SAMirror, a brand-new online newspaper whose mission is to add to the diversity of media ownership in this country, contribute to the shaping of the country’s young democracy, and give voice to the millions of South Africans still entangled in the shackles of poverty and hopelessness.
We believe there is a place for a newspaper like ours, that primarily seeks to minister to the concerns of the majority of the population in this country rather than swim in the direction of the general tide of prime news. Our mission is also to shine the mirror to the powers: that be: to reflect on the progress made so far in redressing the historical imbalances of the past, recognising that our society is much different today from the one before the advent of our democracy in 1994.
Indeed, millions of lives have changed since then as government’s spending priorities focused on addressing the inequalities oft he past over the years – yet the challenges to turn the tide in the war against rampant poverty still abound. Millions are jobless against an ominous backdrop of moral decay in our society, the spectre of corruption in the private and public sector, dilapidated public infrastructure, porous borders, crime and grime, and the parlous state of the public health system and black education.
Still, millions of black people are still subjected to insufferable living conditions –denied basic resources that include running water, housing, health care and education– rights proudly enshrined in the country’s Constitution. Worse, hundreds of black children still attend classes under the sun; cross bridgeless rivers to go to school; walk kilometres to school daily; some schools have no latrines; running water; and no electricity.
As if that was enough, the Covid-19 pandemic has introduced a hugely unwieldy and unprecedented dynamic to the mounting challenges facing this country – casting the ailing South African economy to an indeterminate future. That said, we want our readers to hold us to the highest standards of journalism. To that extent, we commit ourselves to adhere to the Press Code at all times.
Where we have dropped the ball, we will readily admit so, and expect our readers to reserve the hardest of brickbats for any lapses. On our part, we commit to perform our duty to the best of our ability. As we do so, we will continue to derive inspiration from Henry Grunwald’s enduring quote, that:
“Journalism can never be silent: that is its greatest virtue and its greatest fault. It must speak, and speak immediately, while the echoes of wonder, the claims of triumph and the signs of horror are still in the air. ”As we ponder Grunwald’s words, we turn – for further inspiration – to the lyrics of Michael Jackson’s song The Man In the Mirror:
I’m gonna make a change For once in my lifeI t’s gonna feel real good Gonna make a difference Gonna make it right. As I, turn up the collar My favourite winter coat This wind is blowing my mindI see the kids in the streets With not enough to eat Who am I to be blind? Pretending not to see their needs A summer disregard, a broken bottle top And a one-man soul They follow each other on the wind ya’know‘ Cause they got nowhere to go. That’s why I want you to know, I’m starting with the man in the mirror. I’m asking him to change his ways. And no message could have been any , clearerIf you want to make the world a better place,Take a look at yourself, and then make a change…
