Johannesburg - The awkward choice of a nasty confrontation with the Human Rights Commission (HRC) over "racism in the media" or the risk of imprisonment for up to six months still hangs over more than a score of editors. But, in a development which may be even more detrimental to the media than the summonses ordering editors to appear before special HRC hearings on racism, signs of racial split in the ranks of editors have begun to surface, writes Patrick Lawrence.
The first public indication of racial division came when five black editors issued a statement, declaring: "We would like to place on record that we are committed to participating in the proposed inquiry, believing that the issuing of subpoenas by the HRC should not be used as a reason for the media not to publicly discuss the question of race and the media".
The statement appeared to indirectly attack those editors, mainly but not exclusively white, who feel that they cannot co-operate with the HRC while it uses legal coercion to compel them to appear before it.
Yesterday witnessed an attempt by four major newspaper companies, including Mr Tony O'Reilly's Independent Newspapers, to resolve the dispute at a meeting with the HRC.