I refer to the News’ article about Paul Riseborough and your editor’s note in last week’s edition.
My concept of journalism is that it must be ethical, researched properly, responsible and truthfully at all times.
I have known Paul for the past five years. How long have you known him? My comment on your article was based on my extensive journey with Paul, his girlfriend and her brother for the past five years, all of them being heroin and crystal meth addicts.
In Krugersdorp we face major challenges regarding the fight against substance abuse. Do you regard encouraging the public to enable these people with monetary donations as contributing towards the fight against drug abuse? We are a group of people in Krugersdorp actively involved at grass-roots level trying to educate the public not to give these people begging at the robots and in the streets any money. As an alternative we are promoting the Tower of Life voucher system (vouchers can be bought by the public at R20 each and handed to the beggars instead of cash). The recipients can then go to the shelter at night with a voucher and receive a good plate of cooked food, a warm shower and a bed to sleep on for the night. At the shelter the vision is the provision of life-changing solutions for the complex challenges facing homeless/ destitute individuals, eventually enhancing sustainable livelihood solutions for these persons.
Please understand that places such as the shelter provide services to between 80 and 100 individuals every night and cannot operate without rules and regulations, which many homeless persons choose not to adhere to.
Referring to your comment in your note about publishing my indiscretions, will your articles be based on rumours and stories you heard or on actual facts (also understood by me as ethical, truthful and responsible journalism)?
* Dear Melodie, thank you very much for your response. This is exactly what we strive for here at the News; community involvement and discussion through our articles. To answer your question about how ethical, truthful and responsible our reporting is – it is – in every way. We regard it like the oath a doctor takes: first do no harm. Please understand that there was no mention of Paul’s indiscretions in the article simply because he did not admit them to us, even after we asked him to be truthful. He had every right to not admit to anything, and there is no reason why should we investigate further. Paul is not a government official squandering municipal funds to support his drug habit. He is just an everyday person who made some unwise decisions in his life. Why should we keep on reminding him of that? We should also not underestimate the residents of Krugersdorp. I am sure they are all aware that most of the beggars at the traffic lights are indeed addicts in some way or other and they have the right to decide if they want to intervene or not. We were just trying to put a name to a face begging at a traffic light and tell his story. This discussion is now closed. — Ed.
