SELF CENSORSHIP

Using News24.com as an example critically discuss the importance of Self-censorship especially with regards to the listing of reader comments

Definition

The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as the “control of what you say or do in order to avoid annoying or offending others, but without being told officially that such control is necessary”.

NB: – most newspapers refer to it as moderation or screening of comments

News24 Background

News24 is a Southern Africa and Africa's premier online news resource, with round-the-clock coverage to bring you local and international news as it happens, when it happens.

News24 is accessible via the web at www.news24.com, on DStv, and via mobile phone at m.news24.com

The main news sections are South Africa, Africa, World, Sport, Sci-Tech and Entertainment. News24 also brings you the latest business news through Fin24. Other related content sites include Wheels24, Property24, Women24, Health24, Careers24 and Food24.

News24 also produces regular Special Reports, bringing you in-depth coverage of the biggest news events of the day.

You can also read News24 in Afrikaans at Nuus24.com and Zulu at isizulu.news24.com

Ananzi, MWeb, Moneymax and SuperSport, among others, have all chosen News24 as a preferred content partner.

News24 also hosts Afrikaans websites for Beeld, Die Burger, Volksblad, Sake. It also hosts websites for Sunday newspapers Rapport and City Press.

Importance of readers comments

Encourages interesting dialogue and participation

Allows people to express different opinions on a larger platform

Provides the editor with an insight on the real issues that people are concerned about

Could be leads for other stories Feedback shapes the content of

newspapers

Why Censor?

To avoid personalising the issues being discussed - (diversion)

To stem out racist, inflammatory and offensive posts

To encourage more honest, and civil exchanges

To ensure comments are short and precise

Examples 1

Malema story, (on News24)

Malema lashes out at Zuma attracted more than 300 comments

Comments spiralled out of control

Example 2 The New Haven Independent It is an online-only publication that reports on

news about the City of New Haven, Connecticut 5 days a week and its produced by local journalists and local people.

Independent founder Paul Bass called for a “time out,” on all comment sections on all its articles “citing deteriorating civility and increasingly personal, offensive, harsh comments on the site’s articles. He claimed that negative comments left his editorial team exhausted and disillusioned”

Daily mail online

An example of a reader’s complaint about the Daily Mail opting to remove his comment. Watch the video

Ways to monitor or regulate readers comments

Through Readers comments policies

News24 requires that readers register using Facebook

All commenters need to log in before commenting. They can do this only with their Facebook account so as track users and their accounts on the system, and take the necessary steps should they contravene our policies.

Second, users – logged in or not – can flag any comment as abusive by clicking the link next to each comment. This flags the comment with News24 editors and ensures the speedy removal of any comment that they feel does not comply with their terms and conditions.

More on regulation

Users are encouraged to report untrue, inaccurate, defamatory, illegal, infringing and/or harmful content available from the News24 web site and News24 undertakes to correct and/or remove such content or any part thereof if the person reporting such content provided reasonable grounds to prove the alleged nature of the content.

Users undertake not to post content to the News24 web site that may be illegal, defamatory, infringing, harassing, obscene, commercial advertising, personal marketing, profane, untrue, incorrect or harmful and News24 reserves the right to remove such content.

Other online media

The New York Times - Does not allow submission of any libellous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, abusive or otherwise illegal material.

Promotes use of respectful language that does not abuse or discriminate on the basis of race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual preference, age, region, disability, etc. Hate speech leads to immediate and permanent suspension of access. They delete, move or edit messages that they deem abusive, defamatory, obscene, in violation of copyright or trademark laws

Is it possible to totally censor?

Most media institutions are in agreement that it is extremely difficult

There is need for manpower to monitor comments, hence becomes expensive

Going against the ideals of freedom of expression News24 for example and other publications are

online 24/7 and information flows every second. Hence its tedious to go through each and every comment. While readers are encouraged to share and comment on the posts online, some find it difficult to write their honest opinions if they have to give their real names

Norway President’s quote

“We are Norway. Our basic values are of democracy, humanity and openness. With these values as a base we shall respect differences. And each other we must accept the debates. Welcome them. Even the unpleasant”

The End