I get a sense that the much anticipated arrival of a new daily (New Age) has become a source of discomfort for certain sections of our society. The words they use to describe its prospects and the views they adopt around its origin leave much to be desired. And by the way, "they" cannot be mentioned by name, lest one is condemned for attacking media freedom.

But it must be said that the idea of a new publication has not always been borne "out of sympathy for the ANC". That much is evident in an article titled ‘Will you buy my newspaper?' wherein Ndumiso Ngcobo, in his trademark satirical style, chastises the current media crop for pretending to be "clairvoyants", "sangomas" and "mind readers". ‘I will tell you one thing though,' he writes. ‘The articles in my newspaper will not have any "Why?" or "How?" subheadings. This is because I will impress upon my journalists that it is impossible for them to know the rationale employed by other human beings, leading to their actions. I will stress that journalists...are not paid to read people's minds but to inform the public about what happened."

He further notes, and in resonance with what I have already mentioned above, that ‘using the words "media" and "fault" in the same sentence is sacrilegious and instantly turns one into a fascist who does not support freedom of speech, freedom of expression and all free, "vibrant" media.'

And then there was a former co-writer by the pseudonym of ‘Trool' (Reporter.co.za) who took it a step further, and went as far as toying with the idea of starting his own media house. He argued that ‘[t]he biggest weakness of the SA media is to behave as if this country is fully developed and therefore the solutions that are working in the West should, by default, work in the SA environment. This approach to eliminate from the press issues that affect a wider audience who have no money to pay for a quality newspaper is destructive to the forward momentum of the country.'

Having established that the necessity for a new publication or a new approach to media reporting has long been a subject of public discourse with or without expressions of "sympathy to the ANC," what then should one expect from New Age?

A reader on News24 online summarised my expectations succinctly when they asked: "Would it not be great if there were more writers who could through the correct use of words and terminology and also by emotional projection of the true feelings of a nation could spark some real responses, be it anger, or hate, or love, or any real emotion which could possibly lead to readers really understanding and not simply being led by the nose. Many authors, columnists, journos etc. believe sincerely that if they simply write something it is true and all readers must accept their clever words...where are our Shakespeares?"(JJ2)

Indeed, where are the Jon Qwelanes and -- for lack of a better example -- the David Bullards? Why is our media suddenly populated with self-proclaimed liberal centrists who are right wing in thought or seem to be depoliticised at best? Why is there no clear intention to groom progressive thoughts? Why has selective morality become the overriding factor and more so at the expense of social justice?

I anticipate New Age to provide answers and solutions to these questions and challenges. I expect New Age to become the embodiment of an African Age.

Setumo Stone is an ‘organic' writer, social commentator and youth activist.

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