Three weeks ago a story appeared in the Sunday World about Kabelo, the kwaito/ Comrades star. Y’all will recall how he came out of the narcotics closet and declared himself messenger of JC and was duly anointed pastor at his church. Well the story, if you happen not to read the Sunday World, was about how his friend, fellow musician Gurash, had admitted to the paper that Kabz was a continuous supplier and consumer of these illegal substances from which we all believed he had abdicated. Gurash, the only source, was quoted extensively in this article. The kwaito trio Blackjack was formed when Gurash, a rapper with one CD under his belt, got together with now-Generations-actor Howza and Kabelo. The following Monday both Gurash and Kabelo appeared on The Avenue show on METRO FM as a means of clearing the air. Said reporter was also invited to partake but apparently didn’t pick up his phone when the calling eventually came.
Basically Gurash denied ever making such claims against Kabz, saying he spoke to the esteemed tabloid yes, but it was all about his upcoming solo CD. Nothing else. The Kabelo story was never even discussed. My problem landed right there and then. In 1908 all a reporter relied upon was his/her notebook and memory in telling the story as it really was. In 2008 reporters have dictaphones, cell phones that can record stuff, video cameras, all sorts of other recording devices. In 2008 you really cannot be misquoted, unless a problem arose during the sub-editing process. Even then the misquote would be minimal, a misspelt word or a wrong figure or something. Not the entire story!
Which genius artist manager lets his artist run off into the wilderness without advising him of such technologies? Two years ago I was privileged to sit down for two odd hours with Hugh Masekela for a one-on-one session. I brought along my dictaphone, as usual. He wanted to know why. I simply said “because you and I cannot trust each other to remember exactly what will be said here today”. The artist can make the excuse that it was a phone interview and therefore may have not been recorded on his side. If you are worth the story, you are certainly worth the journalist travelling to meet up with you somewhere, with his recording device. Mzansi tabloids are growing this reputation of creating stories and quoting sources who claim never to have been interviewed. The easiest, cheapest way out of this is to record the entire conversation, from both sides if possible. That way memories cannot be accused of faltering and lawsuits can be avoided.
Basically Gurash denied ever making such claims against Kabz, saying he spoke to the esteemed tabloid yes, but it was all about his upcoming solo CD. Nothing else. The Kabelo story was never even discussed. My problem landed right there and then. In 1908 all a reporter relied upon was his/her notebook and memory in telling the story as it really was. In 2008 reporters have dictaphones, cell phones that can record stuff, video cameras, all sorts of other recording devices. In 2008 you really cannot be misquoted, unless a problem arose during the sub-editing process. Even then the misquote would be minimal, a misspelt word or a wrong figure or something. Not the entire story!
Which genius artist manager lets his artist run off into the wilderness without advising him of such technologies? Two years ago I was privileged to sit down for two odd hours with Hugh Masekela for a one-on-one session. I brought along my dictaphone, as usual. He wanted to know why. I simply said “because you and I cannot trust each other to remember exactly what will be said here today”. The artist can make the excuse that it was a phone interview and therefore may have not been recorded on his side. If you are worth the story, you are certainly worth the journalist travelling to meet up with you somewhere, with his recording device. Mzansi tabloids are growing this reputation of creating stories and quoting sources who claim never to have been interviewed. The easiest, cheapest way out of this is to record the entire conversation, from both sides if possible. That way memories cannot be accused of faltering and lawsuits can be avoided.
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