The media's ridiculous coverage of Cyril Ramaphosa

I took some time today to look back over the past 18 months or so at the endless confirm/deny loops that the media are in around a possible run for president by businessman Cyril Ramaphosa.

There are two obvious conclusions:
1. No one has any idea whether this man is in line to run for president.
2. The media are using cheap tactics to gain readership, knowing that his running would be popular especially among the anti-Zuma sector of the population, which, it has to be said, includes many readers of the Sunday Times — which in September conveniently reported and then denied his running in the course of a single day. The Times, despite saying it was “official” he wasn’t running, now reports as late as this week that he is a possible candidate.

We all have short memories these days when it comes to news. Overwhelmed by information, it’s hard to remember from one Sunday to the next or one month to the next who said what. However, the media should remember that they are indexing their own content, to say nothing of Google and the like, and this, frankly, manipulative nonsense is far too easy to spot.

Have a look for yourselves:

“Ramaphosa joins ANC race”
City Press, July 22 2006

“Ramaphosa denies political ambitions”
Business Day, July 26 2006

Ramaphosa enters race for President
Sunday Times, September 2 2007

“Ramaphosa denies interest in ANC race”
IOL, September 2 2007

“Ramaphosa joins ANC leadership race”
Mail & Guardian Online, September 2 2007

Cyril Ramaphosa will not stand for the ANC presidency — and that’s official.
The Times, September 3 2007

“Cyril joins leadership race: paper”
Citizen, September 3 2007

“Ramaphosa rumblings denied”
News24, September 3 2007

“Ramaphosa has ‘no interest’ in standing for president”
Citizen, September 4 2007

“South African businessman Cyril Ramaphosa denies any interest in becoming the country’s president after a report that he had entered the race.”
Polity.org.za, September 6 2007

“compromise candidate … could include Cyril Ramaphosa”
Citizen, October 8 2007

“Other ANC presidential contenders include businessmen Tokyo Sexwale and Cyril Ramaphosa.”
The Times, November 11 2007

“Cyril Ramaphosa will not avail himself for the position of ANC president as long as President Thabo Mbeki is running.”
City Press, November 11 2007