The Media Institution of Southern Africa (Misa-SA) on Wednesday challenged institutions and individuals who have been criticising the media recently to substantiate their allegations.
"Misa-SA challenges these critics to take their complaints - and they will have to be specific - to the ombuds institutions set up to regulate media editorial conduct, the Press Ombudsman and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission, or sue for damages," Misa-SA's deputy chairperson Raymond Louw said in a statement.
He said Misa-SA viewed the "media bashing" in a serious light and since all the allegations have been unsubstantiated, rejected it.
"'Media bashing' without substantiating causes for complaint has become a major form of expression in South Africa and is deplored by the South African Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa."
Louw said the worst outburst against the media came from former deputy president Jacob Zuma after being acquitted of rape.
Zuma accused the media of tarnishing his image and of trying to turn the nation against him.
Deputy justice minister Johnny de Lange also launched a scathing attack on the media.
"His comments carried the suggestion that the media fabricated the fears and complaints expressed by judges against the proposed constitutional amendment to assign the administrative functions of the judiciary to the justice ministry.
"He told the committee that no judges had raised their concerns in public and what had reportedly been said by judges had come from 'anonymous' persons, this despite the clear public statements by the former chief justice and other eminent lawyers."
Judge Willem van der Merwe, who presided in the Zuma rape trial also accused the media of reporting selectively.
"By its nature reporting is selective - the news interest is assessed or 'selected' from the wealth of material available and given prominence in reports - and especially so in lengthy proceedings in courts, parliament, etc."
Louw said Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, the public and even journalists have taken part in the media bashing.
"Misa-SA views these allegations seriously because they come from senior members of the community who should know better."
Louw said Misa-SA was of the opinion that the public had been "well-served" by the media whose job it was to provide comprehensive, detailed and accurate reporting.
