Cultural reporting and the production of cultural reviews in selected South African newspapers : A case study of jazz music and musicians
Date
2008-12-10T12:15:58Z
Authors
Rule, Darryl
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Abstract
Arts reporting in the contemporary South African press seems to be in somewhat of a
crisis. Although on the surface the “entertainment” and “lifestyle” supplements of the
major newspapers seem to be thriving, on closer inspection, it will be found that the
journalism is severely lacking in critical analysis, creativity and useful information.
This research report will use the reporting of jazz found in the arts supplements of two
major newspapers - THISDAY and Mail&Guardian - to investigate the production of
cultural reporting, and to question the kind of messages and representations the print
media is sending out to the public concerning arts and culture. The research will show
that economic pressures from both media owners and advertisers for profit
maximisation are having a detrimental effect, and that the print media is taking a
passive role in the production of arts reporting, leading to a media that is formulaic,
gossip- and celebrity-news driven, and essentially uncritical.
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Keywords
cultural reporting, arts reporting, South Africa, jazz, music, media, newspapers, THISDAY, Mail &Guardian