The role of the media in transition to democracy: An analysis of the coverage of the alleged arms deal corruption by the Sowetan and the Mail&Guardian

[摘要] This research report critically analyses – through qualitative content analysis – how theSowetan and the Mail&Guardian newspapers reported the alleged corruption in the armsdeal in November 2001. The analysis includes a contextual discussion of factors shapingor influencing media coverage of important political topics in a transition to democracy.Theories of the role of the media in democratic transition inform the analysis of mediacoverage of the arms deal. 'Transition’ in the context of this research report is used torefer to the process of South Africa’s 'conversion’ from an undemocratic apartheidsystem based on unfair prejudices and practices grounded on class, race and gender to a'fair discrimination’ and application of remedial measures (political, social andeconomic) to correct the imbalances caused by apartheid policies. The research appliesliberal pluralism, gatekeeping, public sphere, as well as Marxist-related media theories,including the critical political economy of the media approach and notes that it is notpossible for a single approach to offer an absolute analysis of the role of the media in atransition to democracy. In addition, the research employs theories of news, language andsociety to show how social relations affect language used in news and ultimately affectnotions of 'bias’ and 'objectivity’. The study observes that complete 'objectivity’ as anideal is unattainable, especially when one considers that news making processes arecomplex and influenced by diverse factors, some of which allow for anticipated processesof selection and inevitably, bias. This applies to the two publications under study. Thereport observes that through their reportage of alleged corruption in the arms deal duringthe month of November 2001, these newspapers attempted to open up, create anddemocratize the space for free inquiry. At the same time, however, it is noted that thisspace was dominated by certain voices and not representative of all civil societyorganizations and interests that had a stake in the arms deal. The report concludes thatmedia should be encouraged to promote genuine diversity of voices. Diversity, withinsuch a scheme, should be measured by equal and participatory dialogue from all thevoices of all civil society institutions.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand