Media Bias

Volume 5 1991

For some time observant readers and viewers have noticed a distinct lack of balance in most of the news media. It is becoming impossible to ignore the pattern of prejudice that seems to be dominating daily news reports.

While we are deluged with press statements, interviews and scenes from African National Congress (ANC) and South African Council of Churches (SACC) events, the mass media remains strangely silent about conferences and seminars organised by Bible-believing organisations.

The media overkill on the National Conference of Churches (NCC) at Rustenburg (with 180 delegates) was in sharp contrast to the virtual news blackout on the historic Ministers Conference at KwaSizabantu (with 750 delegates). The Rustenburg Declaration (which was full of socialism but devoid of Scripture) was promoted as “the voice of the Church in South Africa”. This, despite the fact that the declaration was never even put to a vote. However, the openly-debated and unanimously accepted “KwaSizabantu Affirmation 1991” — though adopted by missions, congregations and fellowships representing over seven million South Africans — has been virtually ignored by newspaper and television reporters.

While the media lavished attention on recent ANC and SACC conferences, it censored out reports on the landmark Christians For Truth (CFT) Conference. Over 3 000 members, including delegates from France, Australia, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland, attended the CFT Conference (13-15 September) at the KwaSizabantu Mission. In just over a year CFT has signed up over 15 000 members. Yet, despite having more members than the S.A. Communist Party (SACP), the CFT press releases and conference resolutions went largely unreported.

Similarly, while the NCC’s ‘Road to Rustenburg” book was launched with extravagant media coverage, the widespread popular support for the Christian Action Africa “Manifesto for Christians in Southern Africa” was ignored by most of the media. Like the regular Conference for Christian Action Seminars, the Manifesto’s Biblical message seems banned in the mass media.

Daily the media seems to focus their zoom lens of selective reporting on the rhetoric of politicians whilst neglecting the wide-angle lens of reality. The promises of socialists receive much attention whilst their atrocities merit only passing mention. Peace accords enjoy prominent headlines while violations are tucked away in small print. The opinions of criminals are repeated while those of their victims are forgotten. Revolutionaries flaunt their agenda while the concerns of the law-abiding citizens are pushed aside. Radicals are often quoted while moderates are too often misquoted.

Fortunately, more and more individuals are refusing to be force-fed with arbitrary bias and distortion. An increasing number are turning to the alternative media of independant newsletters, seminars and conferences. If you want to read the untold story of unknown victims, unsung heroes and unreported news — you can write and subscribe to some of the following publications:
Signposts, P.O. Box 26148, Arcadia 0007.
R.S.A Tel: (021) 982680.
Christians For Truth, Private Bag 250,
Kranskop 3550, R.S.A. Tel: (03344)41512.
Gospel Defence League, P.O. Box 17007,
Regent Road 8061, R.S.A. Tel: (021)
4194847.
Aida Parker Newsletter, P.O. Box 91059,
Auckland Park 2006, R.S.A.
(Copies of the “KwaSizabantu Affirmation” and the “Manifesto” are available from any of the above).
If you want to get involved in practical action to rebuild Biblical values in every area of life, then write to and join;
Salt Shakers, P.O. Box 36219, Glosderry 7702, R.S.A.
You can also participate in the Conference for Christian Action seminars or the Biblical Worldview Seminar held in Cape Town, or organise meetings for our speakers in your area. It’s time for all Bible believers to stand up and speak out for righteousness and truth.

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