MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

So Which Headline Sells the Most Newspapers?

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On Friday 31 August the citizens of Port Elizabeth were treated with a banner headline by a local newspaper reading; “Radisson in the red – Shock as Port Elizabeth’s premier five-star beachfront hotel is placed under liquidation”

The opening paragraph of the front page story read; “In a shock move, Nelson Mandela Bay’s premier five-star hotel, Radisson Blu in Summerstrand, has been placed under liquidation. Three years after the glitzy launch, Radisson has accrued ‘substantial debt’, according to people linked with the company, which has led to the liquidation order.”

Before we break this down a quick pop quiz – So Which Headline Sells the Most Newspapers?

  1. Radisson in the Red
  2. Radisson Landlord in the Red

Let us put the reporter, his sub editor, acting editor and the world properly in the picture with regards to this liquidation order.

The situation is as follows:

  • A business (Radisson Blu) leases premises from a landlord (Auspex), the landlord fails to pay for his building and his creditors (IDC and ABSA) call for the liquidation of Auspex.

OR

  • Let’s say that Avusa rents premises from Ken Denton. Suppose that Ken Denton, as the landlord, has a liquidation order brought against him by the Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Authority who wish to attach the building that Avusa is in. Does that mean that Avusa is now under liquidation? No. Is is ethical to then report that Avusa is under threat of liquidation? No.

Did I get it right? (You have my number, Heather)

Radisson Blu
Radisson Blu Hotel, Summerstrand, Port Elizabeth
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.

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  3. The rag in question is on a downward spiral and has no idea how to recover – a good start would be to employ journalists and do reporting, but instead, they swipe “news” from the internet and make a poor attempt at gutter journalism. In every direction, they fail dismally. They will be gone within the next year….