It would have been surprising if Venson-Moitoi did not attack this publication on Wednesday's, 'The Eye' but we were surprised rather by the one-sidedness of the show.
It was but a sham 'debate' that the government-owned television station organised for their boss. Venson-Moitoi should know very well that according to journalistic practice, it is unheard of for one party to be the single discussant in a debate that holds several sides, some of them often conflicting. In other words she should have been surprised, as we were, to find that she was expected to explain her position on the Bill, in opposition to the media fraternity's position, without allowing the latter an opportunity to counter her claims on the same show. However, it would seem the minister was not the least bit surprised, let alone concerned. She went ahead and discussed the media bill. The presenter seemed ill-at ease, for how does a journalist host a show without counter-points to engage? It was then that the minister just ran her show pushing her own agenda and sometimes consciously or unconsciously misinterpreting the arguments made by the media fraternity. The history of the state media is replete with editorial interference from the political leadership of this country and thus it is not surprising that the minister has chosen to turn to that instrument in her arsenal that could twist the standards of professional practice to accommodate her agenda at the state media.
