The DA, and Helen Zille in particular, is furious about a letter they received from Independent Newspapers, inviting the them to advertise in a special feature on the ANC’s centenary celebrations. The proposition for advertising in the supplement appeared on a letter with the Independent Newspapers letterhead alongside an ANC logo, and may be perceived as endorsement, according to Zille.

Zille has written an open letter on the DA website and states that the proposition for advertising in the supplement appears to be in violation of section 3.1 of the Press Code which states:

The press shall not allow commercial, political, personal or other non-professional considerations to influence or slant reporting. Conflicts of interest must be avoided, as well as arrangements or practices that could lead audiences to doubt the press’s independence or professionalism.

Zille continued that she would today be laying a complaint with the Press Ombudsman in this regard and that:

It is crucial that a signal is sent out to all media that the one-sided promotion of a political party is not okay. It violates the very principles of independence that all media should adhere to. If this is the way that the Independent Group is framing the ANC’s centenary, I shudder to think what the SABC is planning.

Independent Newspapers do not have to wait until the Ombudsman makes a ruling. If the Independent Newspaper Group wants to live up to its name, it will withdraw the supplement immediately. I will today write to the Editor-in-Chief of Independent Newspapers, Moegsien Williams, to ask that he do so without delay.

The special feature on the ANC’s centenary celebrations is due to run in The Star, Pretoria News, Cape Argus, Daily News, Diamond Fields Advertiser and Isolezwe on 13 January 2012, reaching more than two and a half million people.

It will also be run once a month for the remainder of the year as a dedication to each one of the 12 former ANC presidents.

Zille quoted a full-page full colour advertisement at R563 544, and a half page advert at R281 177 – also stating that when her office called the Independent Group’s advertising department, “the consultant confirmed that they have no concerns over government departments advertising in their feature.”

Check out Helen’s letter by following this link.

[Source: DA]