Biz-Community (Cape Town)
Louise Marsland
11 April 2008
Controversial columnist David Bullard has been fired by the Sunday Times. The axe finally fell on the 'Out to Lunch' column after his latest offering published this past Sunday, 6 April 2008, was criticised for being racist.
While the Sunday Times editor is denying any 'other' hand in the dismissal of Bullard, speculation doing the rounds at two key industry events last night where leaders in the media, marketing and advertising industry were assembled - the annual Apex Awards and John Farquhar's 80th birthday party celebration - was that political pressure has been brought to bear on the Sunday Times with Government threats to pull advertising. This is being denied by the Sunday Times editor, Mondli Makhanya, today.
Many in the industry felt that this was an opportunity for the Sunday Times to "get rid of Bullard" as he became more and more vocal in his criticism of the Government and the ruling party, the ANC.
Makhanya reportedly said it was about "values" and that Bullard's column no longer fitted in with the values of the Sunday Times.
According to a senior writer who was with Bullard at an event he was MC-ing last night, Makhanya fired him over the phone due to his "racist column". Says the journalist, "Surely the buck stops with the editor? If he or she thinks any copy is unsuitable or racist or whatever, he or she should pull it, not fire the journalist!... Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that columnists were entitled to express their opinions?"
Others have countered that Bullard's column was indeed offensive and it shouldn't come as a surprise that he was finally fired.
Bullard has worked on a freelance contract basis for the Sunday Times for 14 years. He hit the headlines last year when he was shot and severely wounded in a robbery at his home.
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Quite agree, I only buy the Sunday times for David Bullard's "Out to Luch" He writes well and hits the nail on the head. What has our country come to when crooked poititions and not fired but a newspager columnest is for writing about it ! Your, Len
No offense to all those who have posted comments here. I do like David, and have always enjoyed his columns especially his views on the ANC. Without critics, the ANC wont see the need to do better, because there wont be people asking for accountability. However, his comments were just out of line. As a black person, it says so much to try and make me think we would be useless without the colonial powers. He does deserve a second chance. Although he is entitled to his opinions, its overstepping the freedom of speech to put such an assessment on… [Read Full Text]
I have read David Bullard's column for the past 12 years, one of the reasons for purchasing the 'Sunday Times'. At times I have felt him to be much too tame with his comments.It is high time that some or most of the comments are taken seriously by Government, as well as the ruling Party,as some of the Jokers at the helm would last about a minute in other countries. If you cannot stand the heat the kitchen is certainly no place for you.I used to think the previous government was diabolical regarding tongue in cheek criticism,but this lot… [Read Full Text]
What an awesome article last Sunday. I always buy the Sunday Times solely to read David Bullard and Hogarth. I thoroughly enjoyed your article labelled "uncolonised Africa". Not only did I feel it was not rascist at all, but I felt that it was based on truth and a lot of humour. I understood it to be controversial and therefore thought provoking which seems to be beyond some peoples understanding. It boggles my mind that David has been fired. Maybe the truth hurts !!!!!!! My partner wants to know if the gist of the article had been against Caucasions would… [Read Full Text]