3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions
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Item Token transformation? A critical political economy of the media analysis of ownership and content diversity in South Africa's print media(2019) Govenden, PrinolaPrint media transformation in South Africa has been an ongoing area of debate and contention in the first twenty years of democracy. Especially given the country’s history of colonialism and apartheid, where racism was institutionalised and impacted the character and functioning of the print media. The attainment of true transformation in the press is critical to reverse the injustices of the past and to ensure today’s print media is reflective of South African society and its many axes of diversity. This study critically analyses the extent of print media transformation in the first twenty years of democracy to decipher whether it amounts to true transformation or token transformation. The study understands true transformation of the media as holistic and deep transformation, where the ownership, content and staffing of the media reflects the diversity of South African society in terms of race, socio-economic status (class), gender, religion, sexual orientation, region, and language (Boloka and Krabill 2000). In the South African context, ownership diversity and content diversity are the key measures of transformation. This research contributes a holistic and empirical study to the transformation debate by analysing transformation across a long time period of the first twenty years of democracy, and focusing on both ownership and content diversity, as well as exploring the relationship between the two. Previously, the print media transformation debate and scholarship has focused narrowly on the ownership aspect. In this regard, the study conducts a systemic critique of the broad transformation agenda from the vantage points of ownership, control and power. The study also explores the extent of print media diversity by analysing the coverage of three issues that have framed post-apartheid South Africa. Namely: socio-economics issues, labour issues and protests, government vs. big business. The study adopts four theoretical frameworks – the revised role of the media in a liberal democracy; the public interest role of the media; critical political economy of the media; and theories of power. The research design of the study consisted of a triangulation of research methods with qualitative and quantitative paradigms. The research methods used are document analysis, expert opinions of a Media Transformation seminar panel and content analysis of a large sample of articles spanning in the first twenty years of democracy. The historically English print media companies are the focus of analysis: Tiso Blackstar Group (formerly Times Media), Independent Media, as well as M&G Media. The major findings of this thesis demonstrate that press transformation in the first twenty years of democracy to a great extent resembles token transformation. Tokenism in the regard that black people have replaced white people in some ownership and staffing aspects, but not in a meaningful way that disrupts elite class continuities, “inferential racism” of negative stereotypes of the black race, and white racial power at the top of the hierarchy of press institutions. Print media transformation is also significantly tainted by the overly neo-liberal nature of the press in a number of areas found by the study. The study also finds that transformation is a point of politization of the press. The content findings of the study demonstrate that ownership matters to some extent. Apart from ownership, the following components also matter to print media transformation and need to be addressed: the media system as a whole; the neo-liberal architecture; journalism training; and a print media specific transformation policy. Thus, the broad agenda of press transformation requires a normative re-think. The study recommends that the press consider adopting the principles of developmental journalism that is based on the redeeming nature of the concept, to substantially address the content diversity and transformation shortcomings uncovered by the study. This requires a paradigm shift that would take a long time period to realize, in addition a review needs to be conducted to consider the feasibility of such a change. A feasible short term solution to solve the fundamental issue of media diversity in both ownership and content, is the return of alternative media to the post-apartheid media terrain to play a developmental role.Item "Toothless regulator?" a critical analysis of ICASA's regulation of the SABC so that it functions as a public services broadcaster(2010-04-01T08:13:46Z) Govenden, PrinolaAbstract This study critically analyses whether ICASA effectively regulates the SABC so that it plays its role as a public service broadcaster in the public interest and promotes democracy. The study applies a combination of critical political economy of the media, theories of regulation and public service broadcasting as an analytical framework, and employs document analysis and qualitative interviews as methods. The study finds that in relation to monitoring the SABC’s license conditions, ICASA is to a large degree effective in the regulatory practices it employs. However ICASA tends to take a problematic stance by limiting its regulatory mandate to only monitor the license conditions. The study argues that ICASA’s mandate is and should be broader. Further, the study identifies an antagonistic relationship between ICASA and the SABC, which undermines the regulator’s ability to effectively regulate the SABC. The study also finds that ICASA’s regulation in general is characterized by a lack of proactive regulation in several areas. In this regard, the study demonstrates that ICASA has a regulatory practice that can be characterized as silent. The areas in which ICASA is silent when it should act include the SABC’s problematic commercial funding model which undermines its public service role. Editorial biases towards those in authority and controversial practices like withdrawing programmes and “blacklisting” commentators who are considered too critical of those in power, in ways that undermines its editorial and programming independence. The suspensions of the SABC’s two Executive members and calls for the SABC board to step down, which undermine the institutional independence that a public service broadcaster should possess. The study identifies a number of ICASA’s institutional weaknesses, which include its lack of independence in reality, its “politicised” appointment process, a lack of skilled personnel and “poaching”, “politicised” and inefficient accountability mechanisms, a lack of clarity of mandate and power regarding the SABC, as well as a lack of adequate and independent funding which result in ineffective regulatory practices. Finally the study makes recommendations for the strengthening of ICASA so that it becomes in an effective regulator functioning in the public interest.