Newsmakers or makers of news?

So on the weekend, Tata Mandela, our former president and global moral beacon came out and re-affirmed his support for the ANC. Speaking on his behalf, his grandson proclaimed that “when he gets to heaven, the first thing he will do is enquire about the local ANC branch”. A sentiment that Mandela did express a few years ago. But that is not what moved me to write this piece.

Making my way to the desk gig this morning I encountered two posters attached to a nearby (and functional!) streetlight. One said “Madiba magic for ANC”, the other “ANC plays Madiba card”. Now, though neither poster rejects the objective fact of what happened — a long-time ANC cadre standing behind his party — to say that they create divergent views on the matter would be an understatement. The one all but proclaims an electoral slam dunk for the ANC, the other tells a tale of desperate cynicism. And that right there gets my goat.

Newspapers are allowed and indeed should be encouraged to give informed analysis and opinion of news events. They play an important role in helping shape and inform public opinion. However, and this is where I might be showing some naivety, is their primary duty not disseminating news first and above all? The “what, where, who and how” surely is the core reason for the existence of informative media? Where is the line drawn between news and opinion? Is it even drawn still?

Again I might be naive but surely an objective way of reporting this piece of news is something along the lines of “Mandela pledges support to ANC” and the analysis of whether this will clinch the election for the ANC or whether it is a shamelessly cynical move by the ANC should be saved for the op-ed pages and not splashed out on the streets as if it and not the actual occurrence were the fact?