The lines “appeared to have been blurred” between a report on infrastructure development and advertising, broadcaster e.tv said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“Lines appear to have been blurred between an undertaking to report on infrastructure development in South Africa since 1994 and a commitment by economic development to spend advertising on the channel,” it said in a statement.<\/p>\n
“The perception that the news was paid for is deeply regrettable and we wish to reassure our audiences that eNews remains an impartial and independent news outlet.”<\/p>\n
It said Sabido, the owner of e.tv and eNCA, had initiated a review of the infrastructure series which aired on both channels earlier this year.<\/p>\n
Sabido chief operating officer Mark Rosin said policies and procedures would be amended should this be necessary.<\/p>\n
“We are committed to editorial output that is truthful and transparent,” he said.<\/p>\n
The infrastructure series had come under scrutiny following the resignation of chief executive of e.tv and eNCA, Marcel Golding, and chief operating officer Bronwyn Keene-Young.<\/p>\n
Golding was suspended last month as HCI executive chairman. Golding appealed against his suspension in the Labour Court and lost the application on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Hosken Consolidated Investments (HCI), which has a 63 percent stake in e.tv, said it was suspending Golding pending a disciplinary inquiry into allegations of gross misconduct.<\/p>\n
According to eNCA, HCI accused Golding of an unauthorised share trade, saying he did not have board approval to acquire shares worth R24 million in technology company Ellies.<\/p>\n
Golding reportedly claimed he was being ousted in a battle for control of e.tv’s editorial independence.<\/p>\n
HCI denied this, saying the issue was the unauthorised share trade. HCI director Barbara Hogan resigned at the same time, according to the report.<\/p>\n
She reportedly cited the fact that a probe into the Ellies share transaction unfolded in an unprofessional way, and that major e.tv shareholder, the SA Clothing and Textile Workers’ Union, had issues with e.tv’s editorial policy.<\/p>\n
In the statement on Thursday managing director of news Patrick Conroy said it was clear the news division should have been more directly involved in the discussions at the time.<\/p>\n
“The news division was at all times operating independently. In our view the advertising placements were non-editorial and separate. We felt it had no impact on the stories we were telling and we were reassured that editorial [control] rested with us,” he said.<\/p>\n
However, Conroy said it became clear that boundaries of editorial control were not clear to everyone involved.<\/p>\n
“Despite this at no point did our editors surrender control.”<\/p>\n
He said since then eNews had not entered into similar agreements.<\/p>\n
“The exact nature of deals needs to be clear, especially where there may be a perception that paid advertising in one respect has a impact on editorial matters in another.<\/p>\n
“This needs to be clear internally and in relation to third parties,” Conroy said.<\/p>\n
E-tv COO resigns<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n