(Credit: BizCommunity.com)

At a conference debating if South Africa can produce tabloid journalism, the editor-in-chief of South African tabloid Sunday World challenged claims that tabloid newspapers are unethical, BizCommunity.com reported.

The editor, Wally Mbele, stated that at least at his tabloid, ethics are highlighted.

“We must have an in-depth understanding of ethics because we are stepping on people’s toes….Whether you are a mainstream or tabloid, the difference lies in the way you tell the story and produce an outcome, which in our philosophy is very important to the person you are addressing.  You can also cause a lot of harm to the readers if you are not sensitive.”

Mbele went on to comment that tabloid journalists must be aggressive and imaginative as well as a good interviewer and researcher.

Read more about tabloid journalism in South Africa here.