Speculation isn’t news

When news broke last week that the United States government had warned of a planned terrorist attack scheduled to take place last weekend in Sandton, we were putting the final touches to our newspaper.

But, as journalists do, we immediately got back on the story trail, and went about furiously making calls and contacting people.

There was a fair bit of panic around and a lot of speculation. Oh boy, we heard all sorts of things! Can I say that it’s best not to share these crazy stories we heard because they might create more panic – and we don’t need that. Suffice to say, we couldn’t back up any one of them, so we let them fall by the wayside.

As journalists, we dare not put out speculation, particularly about threatened violence, that’s not substantiated. Our hot-shot team even triple checked – in a very short space of time – that the warning was, indeed, from the American government.

You see, in the days of fake news, it’s all too easy to mistake fiction for fact, and then find yourself in deep trouble.

There are websites that appear to be 100% legitimate news sites and they look almost identical to genuine news sites, but they’re fake, and they put out destructive, false news that appears to all intents and purposes like the real deal.

These fake sites often put out “news” relating to Israel, spreading horrific rumours that appear to be true – especially to those who already hate Israel and believe the worst from the Jewish state. To them, it isn’t a stretch of the imagination to read so-called news about Israeli soldiers boiling Palestinian children in huge pots. Seriously, I kid you not. Of course, such fake news spreads like wildfire, and only does damage.

Suffice to say, as journalists, we have to tread carefully and verify our stories to the best of our ability.

We couldn’t verify exactly what or whom was under threat of attack in Sandton. We knew that Joburg Pride was scheduled to go through Sandton, but there were other events too, although none that anyone could firmly say was a real target.

So, when on Thursday morning we all woke up to online news that the Joburg Pride march and Jewish comedian Nik Rabinowitz’s show were supposedly being targeted, we were a little taken aback. The piece went on to say that sources said that though the exact target hadn’t been identified, the pride march and the comedy show were to be held near one another.

In one foul swoop, what all our sources had claimed was definitely not a threat focused on the Jewish community, by virtue of Rabinowitz’s birthright, was made into a Jewish issue. That is, if, in fact, the sources were correct.

However, just a little surface digging uncovered the fact that Rabinowitz was going to be performing at the lovely Theatre on the Square, but he wasn’t going to be anywhere near Sandton last weekend. His shows start only this week. So, somehow, some sources got sauce on their face. Unfortunately, the damage is done. As many as 50 people cancelled tickets for the show that was actually showing at the Theatre on the Square last weekend.

And as many of us know, Daphne Kuhn has been admirable in being able to keep her theatre going through the pandemic when its doors were firmly shut and no shows could be performed there.

All performers and theatre folk battled beyond understanding over lockdown because there was no work. Now they’re back and starting to make a living again. In fact, this particular show that Rabinowitz is putting on is apparently about coming back to life after lockdown. In other words, this is his show to put the two years of pandemic behind him – and then this scare!

I appreciate that if it’s true, then of course, the story must go out and everything must be done to prevent any attack, but how certain was this source or sources? I guess we’ll never know.

In the meantime, Kuhn has had to fork out lots of money to ensure that just in case there’s something to these threats, she has extra security around her theatre and stars.

I’m fully behind sharing genuine information with the public. It’s our job, and I have no idea how much checking was done in regard to this information. It may have been absolutely verified, but if it wasn’t, it was unnecessarily cruel to put it out there.

But then, they say there’s no such thing as bad publicity, so hopefully, it will draw more people to watch Rabinowitz and go to the Theatre on the Square.

Meanwhile, as we get on with life here, Israel once again – for the fifth time in four years – went to the polls. (See story on page 3 and Biko Arran’s opinion piece on this page.)

Though an announcement had not yet been made at the time of going to print this week, it looked pretty certain that Bibi (Benjamin Netanyahu) was back in the prime minister’s seat.

What is it about this man that he keeps getting back into power? He’s already the longest serving prime minister. Does he have some secret way of manoeuvring the situation into his court, or does the Israeli population really believe that he’s the only one to take their country forward? He’s facing charges of corruption, but still seems to be accepted back into this role.

My opinions aside, I find it fascinating that we could have a situation like this.

I look forward to watching the scenario playing itself out and the changes that will be implemented in Israel.

But for now, I wish you all Shabbat Shalom!

Peta Krost

Editor