Alide Dasnois - the importance of speaking out

Did the dismissal of Alide Dasnois as editor of the Cape Times have a chilling effect across the newsrooms of the country? Journalists have said that it did.

That is one reason ODAC supported the Alide Dasnois case against Independent Newspapers. But perhaps more importantly for ODAC, the dismissal showcased what can happen when an employee and employer disagree about what the rights are of an employee to speak out, or even cause reputational damage to a business, or state institution.

Raising concerns in a workplace is not easy, and in many instances the instinct of the employer is to silence the one who is talking about the concerns they have, or making a public disclosure. In this instance the dispute was between and editor and media owner, pulling issues around editorial independence and media freedom into the debate. We feel that Dasnois, and media workers walk away from this case heartened by the concession by Independent on her editorial discretion, and withdrawal of accusations of racism.

However, after informing a court that Independent Newspapers agreed to end the dispute with Dasnois, they immediately recanted with a view to painting a picture of themselves as being vigorously opposed to any settlement and then being “vindicated” in court - when no such thing had happened.

The Code for members of the Press Council provides that allowing commercial, political, personal or other non-professional considerations to influence or slant reporting constitutes serious misconduct on the part of a news group and Alide Dasnois will be lodging a complaint with the Press Ombudsman. Read the full legal statement here.

ODAC will continue to raise concerns and awareness about the need to protect workers in the workplace from harassment and victimization when they speak out.