MediaWatch: August 1990
Table of Contents:
- MediaWatch: August 1990
- Pro-Abortion Bias Detailed by L.A. Times
- NewsBites: The Untouchables
- Revolving Door: Gannett's Big Gun
- Reporters Bemoan Loss of Court's Liberal Activist
- Bashing Buthelezi, Mouthing Mandela
- Reporters Agree on Pro-Abortion Bias
- Reporters Discuss "Subversive Mission"
- Janet Cooke Award: A and E: Woman in War
Bashing Buthelezi, Mouthing Mandela
SOUTH AFRICA? GATSHA COVERED
Given the choice between a moderate black who believes in democracy and capitalism, or a terrorist who doesn't, which one do the media portray as the best hope for South Africa? When NBC finally introduced viewers to moderate Zulu Chief Gatsha Buthelezi July 14, reporter Robin Lloyd blamed him and not Nelson Mandela for violent clashes in Natal between Mandela's African National Congress (ANC) and Inkatha, Buthelezi's Zulu organization.
Lloyd declared: "Buthelezi's power and the ruthlessness of those who claim to be his followers is more apparent than ever in the three-year-old civil war in the province of Natal. Ever since Mandela's release in February, armed members of Buthelezi's militia have invaded neighborhoods loyal to Mandela and sharply escalated the fighting. Buthelezi claims his men aren't initiating the violence. Although there's no evidence that he personally ordered the attacks, many believe he's allowing them to continue." Lloyd ignored Buthelezi's repeated pleas with Mandela for a meeting to end the violence, which Mandela has refused.
Lloyd questioned Buthelezi's political motives: "Anti-apartheid militants consider Buthelezi a sellout....Buthelezi denies that he is planning an alliance with conservative whites, but he has held several meetings with President F.W. de Klerk and been outspoken in his opposition to blacks pulling together into one party." Mandela has met with de Klerk, and is closely allied with white Communist Party leader Joe Slovo, yet Lloyd didn't question his motives.
CBS, which ignored Mandela's violent past during his U.S. tour, finally brought up the subject of South African violence June 30, only to make Mandela's case. Reporter Harold Dow focused on the death of a black youth shot by police: "This is what Mandela says the struggle is all about. He's been telling audiences across the U.S. that the ANC cannot renounce its struggle against South Africa long as government forces remain violent." Dow made no mention of ANC-inspired violence, specifically black-on-black violence. He concluded: "Nelson Mandela leaves the U.S. with his goals achieved -- sanctions against South Africa remain in place, and millions of dollars have been raised so that the ANC can continue its struggle for freedom."
