The South
African Music Awards (Samas) apologised to media for the trash treatment
behind-the-scenes of Saturday’s awards show broadcast on SABC1 that saw media
not given demarcated red carpet positions, media bundled into a backroom to
watch video with no sound and a litany of media access problems.
Media
complained after organisers of the 23rd SAMAs only gave the SABC a proper red
carpet position with dozens of accredited journalists deliberately kept away
from the carpet and herded into an adjacent “media booth” away from celebrity
arrivals.
Even
Bonang Matheba and Kat Sinivasan covering the SAMAs for an E! Entertainment
(DStv 124) red carpet special – the second time the channel from NBCUniversal
International Networks did SAMA red carpet coverage – got shoddy treatment and
battled to get proper access.
Media
across the board were bundled into a cramped backroom with a TV screen showing
the ceremony, but unlike viewers at home they got no audio, with several frustrated
journalists remarking they could have gotten better access watching it from
home.
Adding
to the litany of logistical mismanagement and access problems not addressed by
SAMA organisers and HM Entertainment, was a lack of food and a complimentary craft
table. While covering the hours long award show, hungry journalists who had
money had to forage to try and find something they could buy to eat.
Upset
entertainment journalists from several media outlets openly grumbled and spoke
about how they will limit coverage for the 24th SAMAs in 2018 and adjust their
approach because of the shoddy treatment and lack of proper access and some
even saying they will boycott next year’s ceremony.
“There
were challenges we faced and we profusely and unreservedly apologise for the
unpleasant experience some of you endured on Saturday night,” says Nhlanhla
Sibisi, CEO of the Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) in an email to
media.
Hloni
Modise, HM Entertainment managing director told media that “it is only fair
that you received the correct treatment. Yes, everything was planned well and
unfortunately when it came to execution things fell down the cracks, for that,
I take full responsibility and I humbly apologise for that”.
RiSA
and HM Entertainment said it will be doing a “media debriefing session” soon
and is “going back to the drawing board” to prevent a recurrence and to relook
press access and media management.
