Shame and scandal of media resorting to ‘caught-with-pants-down’ stories

What you need to know:

  • The publication of the story indicates such journalism has become a trend.
  • It seemed to be at best a scoop hunter’s ruthless pursuit of a tabloid headline, or at worst, a criminally motivated extortionist set-up.

My notes this week are about the judgment of the Complaints Commission on the publication of the story “A pastor caught in the act — pants down”.

No, the story was not published by NMG. My interest in the story is because it has important lessons for us all on the practice of journalism in Kenya and around Africa.

The publication of the story indicates such journalism has become a trend. Remember the drama in Karatina when another pastor was caught pants down last year in a hotel room with a mechanic’s wife?

There have been other similar stories in Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and God only knows where else.

Such stories, according to the judgment of the Commission, are only acceptable if they have a compelling and legitimate public interest and are not a “ruthless pursuit of a tabloid headline” or “a criminally motivated extortionist set-up targeting an individual’s private indiscretions”.

In its judgment on July 30, the Commission, which was established under the Media Act, ordered KTN and The Nairobian, who carried the second “caught pants down” story, to publish an appropriate apology and correction “with the same prominence” given to the offending story.

The two media outlets, which are owned by the Standard Group, published the story in which Elijah Githinji, an Anglican pastor in Pumwani, Nairobi, was caught on camera allegedly sleeping with a member of his congregation who is another man’s wife.

The KTN video clip, published on October 4, 2014, is still available on YouTube. I’m surprised the Commission did not also order its removal from the Internet.

ULTERIOR MOTIVES

The Commission said the story was a fabrication for the purposes of extortion and blackmail. Pastor Githinji told the Commission that the Standard Group was motivated by ulterior and improper motives in publishing the video clip and the story.

He related how he found himself in a hotel room with a woman acquaintance who had persistently sought for his private pastoral intercession.

And after he was lured into the hotel room, a group of men and photojournalists burst into the room.

They manhandled him, roughed him up, and removed his trousers and shirt. The alleged husband also disciplined the woman for allegedly having an affair with him. The put-up drama was video recorded.

He narrated how the journalists proceeded to blackmail and extort money from him. They demanded a sum of money so that they could destroy the video clips.

“There seems to have been considerable negotiations between the parties with suggestions that (Pastor Githinji) should borrow money from a rich church member or a friend,” the Commission states in its judgment.

“(Pastor Githinji) initially acquiesced to the demands which he explains was out of shock and (being) distraught and even proceeded to withdraw some Sh20,000 from an Equity Bank ATM and gave the same to the group of journalists. Thereafter, upon consultation with a colleague, the complainant said that he decided not to negotiate further with the alleged journalists after his Bishop advised that negotiating with them would be promoting evil.”

SUSPICIOUS

The Commission observes that there was a lapse of about two clear days after the filming of the drama and the publication of the clips by KTN and the newspaper story by The Nairobian.

“It is very likely that had “(Pastor Githinji) parted with colossal sums, then the video clips or the story would never have been published.”

The Commission says the video clip itself seems suspicious as the woman in the picture is apparently smiling while the alleged mad husband was raining what appeared like fake blows and kicks.

“It suggested foul play and set-up. The Commission is therefore persuaded by the gist of (Pastor Githinji’s) submissions that neither was he given an opportunity to give his side of the story nor was the publication based on a compelling and legitimate public interest consideration.

It seemed to be at best a scoop hunter’s ruthless pursuit of a tabloid headline, or at worst, a criminally motivated extortionist set-up targeting an individual’s private indiscretions.”

KTN and The Nairobian did not defend the publication of the story, which seems to have been a staged news scoop intended to extort money or embarrass an individual. The story shows a trend in news reporting that must be arrested.

Send your complaints to [email protected]. Call 3288000, mobile 0721989264