Nervous government explores ways to 'manage' media

The efforts betray the nervousness of a government unable to sell its 'positive' governance narrative at home and abroad

The leaking of the alleged Report of Group of Ministers (GoM) on Government Communications is an exceptional event for a government that prides itself in being successfully opaque. Reminiscent of McCarthyism, the report suggests "neutralising" journalists who write against the government and spread "false narratives". An incredible proposal from an establishment journalist suggests that journalists should be colour-coded into Black (against the government), Green (fence sitters) and White (pro-government).

The report exceeds the media outreach efforts that most governments make by recommending tracking and countering of journalists who write critically, and promoting pro-government hacks. No previous government has suggested isolating,