OPINION: "Somizi was wrong to publish a journalist's contact information and ask his followers to invade her privacy."

Idols SA judge. Picture from Google.

The stunt that Somizi Mhlongo-Motaung pulled on the City Press journalist Julia Madibogo was not only distasteful, but it put her life in the mercy of his followers.

Mhlongo-Motaung had every right to be furious about the misinformation regarding his marriage. He is human after all. This did not, however, give him the right to put the journalist in a position of being harassed by his followers. The South African Editors Forum (SANEF) requested an apology from Mhlongo- Motaung to the journalist and also ask his followers to withdraw from harassing and intimidating her.

The article written about Somizi's marriage. Picture from Google.

In his response, on the video he posted on Instagram following the incident, Mhlongo-Motaung showed no remorse. He emphasized the fact that he will not apologize, but did, acknowledge that he was wrong for publishing the journalist's private details. He went on to say that he did that deliberately out of anger, which makes his actions less professional and more selfish.

The journalist followed the right procedures according to the Press Code. She gave Somizi the right of reply. Verifying the information you get from sources and giving the subject of the news a chance to tell their side of the story is vital, and this is precisely what the journalist did. 

"So @city_press has become a tabloid...ok...two can play the game...to stand a chance to win I don't know what to dial the number and let Julia know what it feels like to have your privacy invaded unprovoked."

"I'm not the one to be bullied especially by media...azishe...I'll make you just as famous."
Mhlongo-Motaung claimed that the journalist did not have any substantial evidence to back the claims of the source. Hence his retaliation . We can question the motive the source had on Mhlongo-Motaung, but if he thinks he can fight every journalist from scrutiny against his "private marriage" which he involved everyone in from the beginning, then he has another thing coming.

Somizi's response to the journalist. Picture from Google.

While being a public figure can have its perks, it can also have its downsides too. One of them being under scrutiny by both the media and the public. It comes with being in the public eye. It is in the public interest for journalists to report on public figures and their lives. Once you put yourself in the limelight, then brace yourself.

Somizi is a public figure. What he did gives out a message that it's okay to not only make the lives of journalists difficult, but their jobs as well, and not face consequences thereof.

There are procedures to follow if stories written about you are imprecise. That is, approaching the Press Ombudsman or taking the matter to court.

The retaliation from Mhlongo-Motaung had ulterior agenda which did, ultimately prove that he can fight back the media. This was not because the journalist had the wrong end of the stick, hence why he was wrong in his reaction that led to the journalist's private details being published and her life put in danger, as an aftermath.

Words: 508

Reference:

Https://ethical/journalismnetwork.org/who-we-are/5-principles-of-journalism

Https: www.timeslive.co.za/amp/news/south-africa-/2021-01-19-charge-somizi-call-as-fans-threaten-journalist-for-asking-questions