IOL says it will not apologise, and is applying for leave to appeal the ruling.
Renaldo Gouws is not to everyone’s liking. Like Marmite. So when IOL published a video clip in which he is seen and heard spewing racist hate speech, supporters and detractors of the controversial politician both lined up to have their say.
In a reply, filed after IOL’s editor had sought to justify the publication, Gouws added more allegations.Gouws alleged violations of eight separate clauses, and the Ombud found in his favour on four: clause 2.1, which states that the media shall “not allow commercial, political, personal or other non-professional considerations to influence reporting and avoid conflicts of interest as well as practices that could lead readers to doubt the media’s independence and professionalism”; and
The violation of clause 2.1 arose because instead of uploading the full version of the video when it became available, IOL “added a link to an article which takes issue with the contents and context of the longer video”. In respect of clause 1.3, which states that the media shall “present only what may reasonably be true as fact”, with “opinions, allegations, rumours or suppositions … be presented clearly as such”, the Ombud found that the phrase “appearing to spew hate speech” was “clearly presented as opinion”.
IOL was also ordered to publish a note that the article has been updated, and – in its update – include both the full video and comment from Gouws on that video. The note “should state when and how the article has been updated, and should include the full apology to Gouws as directed”.
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