The refusal to participate in media “scorecards” on the performance of government ministers stems from “paranoia and short-sightedness” in government circles on the subject of the media, a senior government communicator told the Mail & Guardian this week.
The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) issued a statement this week prohibiting all government communicators from contributing to the M&G‘s annual end-of-year report cards.
An email sent to government communicators and leaked to the M&G says: “A decision was taken that government should not participate in the Mail & Guardian or any other media assessment process because these scorecards are unscientific, impact negatively on public sentiment and are cited by other organisational reports as though they are authoritative.”
The email was sent by Neo Momodu, the GCIS’s chief director of media management.
Momodu said: “These assessments generate some public interest, even though they are unscientific and based purely on speculation, personal preference and not on concrete evidence of government performance.”
The government’s monitoring and evaluation system, headed by Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane, would make its own assessment of the performance of ministers.
After the release of the media statement on the matter the M&G interviewed six government communicators, who insisted on speaking off the record.
“It is in our interest to do it [participate in the report cards],” said one, who works in a service-delivery department. “The report cards have acquired a status that intimidates government leaders and they are scared of them because they attract attention.”
‘Short-sighted and paranoid’
The source, a veteran public servant, said government departments had previously been advised not to participate, but this was the first time a formal decision had been taken.
“It is short-sighted and paranoid,” he said.
He mentioned that the juniorisation of newsrooms had spilled over into government communications departments, in which younger communicators were not able to communicate effectively with and through the media.
“They don’t know how to handle you guys and feel it is better just to ignore you.”
Another senior government official said some ministers felt the report cards were unfair and unjustified. “They feel that you rate ministers too harshly.”
The M&G sends questions to ministers as part of the drafting of the report cards, asking them to detail the achievements of and challenges in their departments.
The M&G sent questions to government communicators on November 19. It is understood that a week later, a meeting of communicators was convened and it was decided that spokespeople should refrain from answering.
Senior communicators said “political principals” were involved in the decision.”Questions were asked about why we have to do this.”
Others argued that the newspaper had “already made up its mind” about ministers and that engagement with it served no purpose. “You already have your favourites that you always say good things about, so why should we even try?” asked a seasoned departmental communicator. “We’re accountable to the people, not the media.”
The government also argued that because the financial year ends in March it is unfair to judge ministers on their performance in December.