[imagesource: Thobile Mathonsi / African News Agency]

I know.

I’m sorry.

When we spoke about the Tembisa 10 story two weeks ago, I made a little promise to myself that I would try and ignore whatever comes next. After all, a fire dies if you don’t give it any fuel.

But we can’t ignore the fact that somehow, out of left field, Iqbal Survé’s Independent Media’s baby trafficking series is a finalist in the 2022 International News Media Association’s (INMA) Global Media Awards.

What a massive error in judgement. This from The Daily Maverick:

INMA announced 333 finalists for its 2022 Global Media Awards on 8 March, with the theme “How to capture audiences and keep them close to the brand”.

The winners will be announced on 9 June, but judging was held in February by 50 media experts from 24 countries.

Independent Media described their entry titled “Baby Trade – Tracking the Truth” as a video series “that deals with the spectre of human trafficking in South Africa, was born out of the front-page story that made headlines around the world”.

“The story was at first welcomed for the celebration it should have been but was swiftly thereafter decried as ‘fake News’.”

Allow me to briefly interject here to add that yes, it is fake news.

It’s now been roughly 10 months and we are yet to see one infant, let alone 10.

But Survé, IOL, and Piet Rampedi have never let the truth get in the way of a good story so why start now?

As you can imagine, there’s been some backlash online:

This is ludicrous. Independent Media’s entirely fake news story about a woman giving birth to ten babies has been shortlisted for an award in the category Best Use of Social Media by @INMAorg, the International News Media Association.

— Chris Roper (@ChrisRoper) April 6, 2022

If you’re wondering how this has come to be, and how the International News Media Association could get things so wrong, here’s a clue:

This might shed some light on the decision. Guess who is the @INMAorg treasurer: pic.twitter.com/3wcdBNUD3q

— Kerry Cullinan (@kerrycullinan11) April 6, 2022

Ah, I see.

INMA was reached for comment and gave this response:

“We are aware of the issue at hand and it is being handled at the highest level at INMA and in coordination with the judging panel. You will soon receive a comprehensive statement on the matter that should put things to rest.”

At the time of publishing the story, no statement had yet arrived.

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is appalled, reports EWN:

SANEF has written to the association to express concern but has been informed judges looked at the quality of the social media campaign and not the story itself.

The INMA further states it’s not able to reverse the jury’s decision.

However, SANEF has called on the association to reconsider its stance, labelling the story ludicrous and an embarrassment to South African journalism.

As if IOL and Survé were capable of feeling shame and embarrassment.

SANEF added that the story “contributes to the spread of disinformation” and “sets back the advances made by the country in protecting women and children”.

Um, SANEF, which advancements are those?

Anyway, this sort of error in judgement by INMA is far too easy for the cretins to seize upon, which is actually what they’ve done:

THE actions of the @SAEditorsForum in response to Independent Media’s Baby Trade docuseries being nominated as a finalist at the International News Media Association (INMA) Global Media Awards, is vindictive and desperate. @sbungalwa
https://t.co/wVDEuZ4kWh

— Mr Putin (@mahasharampedi) April 6, 2022

Show us the babies, Piet.

There’s an award waiting for you if you do.

[sources:dailymav&ewn]