Political Commentators Don't Take The Bus

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News directors in traditional radio and TV stations don’t walk. They drive. Therefore they miss the full picture of the state of the nation. Reporters used to be called news hounds because they moved around, sniffing for potential stories. That is a myopic view because most people in north America have cars. True dat, but the ordinary Jack and Jill does not sit in front of a camera and predict what will befall the nation, when a nameless presidential candidate does not win, once again.

Hold on. Reporters and current affairs producers do walk. They take the elevator to the ground floor, walk to a famous New York deli, buy a pastrami sandwich and return to the news room. Because they don’t walk, they don’t know that a dollar store that opened three years ago, to poach customers from the long-running Dollarama is boarded up now. Out of business. There’s a financial and social story right there.

Because political analysts drive and don’t walk, they don’t see empty stores in strip malls. Because they drive, they don’t know that a neighbourhood bank is no more, in an area with more than three high rise retirement homes. Because they drive, they don’t know that CASH YOUR CHEQUE is prevalent in depressed areas.

Because they drive and don’t walk around neighbourhoods, they don’t know the grip of terror one man has over his ‘community’. I guess they don’t have time. They are busy covering protest marches. Your problem will never be in the news, if you don’t hold a sign, a bullhorn and stomp the streets.

Nonqaba waka Msimang

Executive Blogger

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