Headlines on posters angers people of Cape Town

By Ilhaam Hoosain
14 December 2007

Public anger is growing about offensive newspaper headline posters across the city.

The headlines are causing a huge stir amongst community members as this has become a focus of a public backlash against what is considered 'improper and insensitive' newspaper headline posters.

The City of Cape Town cannot pre-censor the posters that are on poles as this would be unconstitutional; however government is raising their concern because of the influx of angry e-mails, letters, faxes and telephone calls they received.

Charles Cooper from the City of Cape Town says that at this stage there is very little the city can do in terms of the content on posters.

“The example we’ve quoted is “pervert rapes puppy” which caused a lot of angry reactions from residents especially down in the South Peninsula area,” says Cooper.

Complaints that were lodged with the City of Cape Town questioned why such posters should prominently be placed near schools and places of worship.

Raymond Louw Chairman of the media freedom committee of the South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) says in terms of the law the city cant pre-censor headlines on posters its unconstitutional which makes it unlawful.

“But of course what power they do have, is they allocate certain sites for the display of posters in public places and they could of course simply refuse to display the posters of newspapers if they find it to offensive. But that to could constitute as being unconstitutional as being an intrusion on the freedom of the press and a limitation of press freedom,” says Louw.

The press ombudsman’s Code of conduct states that in reporting news, newspapers must take into account that reports, photographs or sketches that are obscene or indecent must be presented with sensitivity.

“The headlines and captions to pictures shall give a reasonable reflection on the contents of the report or picture in question. Posters shall not mislead the public and shall give a reasonable reflection of the contents of the reports,” South Africa’s press ombudsman Joe Thloloe quotes from the code of conduct.

A recent example; a poster read ‘Pervert rapes puppy’, which caused an outrage from people was addressed by the press ombudsman. The Daily Voice declined to comment on the matter of the ‘pervert rapes puppy’ poster and confirmed that they had run a story about a man raping a puppy. The Daily Sun and Die Son were unavailable for comment.

The press ombudsman’s code of conduct states that a newspaper has wide discretion in matters of taste but this does not justify lapses of taste so repugnant as to bring the freedom of the press into disrepute or be extremely offensive to the public.

There are a few rules around posters in general, for example only one headline per poster per pole, regardless of what of which newspaper group it is, will be permitted. Newspaper has arrangement with the city where they pay a fee every year. The Western Cape Tabloids and three daily papers appear on street poles.

One option open to people if you are unhappy about anything that was published is that you can lodge a complaint to the Advertising Standard Authority or to the press ombudsman.

Email address for press ombudsman: pressombudsman@ombudsman.org.za

Advertising Standard Authority website for more information: www.asasa.org.za

Or email directly: complaint@asasa.org.za

Picture: www.posters-brainwavez-watman.blogspot