Burgerlike joernalistiek in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks : 'n ondersoek na die insluiting van gemarginaliseerde gemeenskappe deur herberaming met verwysing na projekte van die Cape Argus en Kaapse-Rapport

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since South Africa's transition from a nationalistic state to a democracy in 1994, debatesabout the media's role have intensified as the challenges and complexities of the SouthAfrican society unfolded. In this debate, which mainly played out between thegovernment and the media, the liberal theory and the developmental theory were usedas the two main normative positions from which to contest the media's role. Asnormative theories they describe the ideal role of the press within societal systems andthus fall within the functionalist paradigm.Historically, the liberal approach was seen as the accepted normative framework for themedia within a democracy to protect that very democracy. The liberal consensusadopted by the post-apartheid media therefore came as no surprise. However, theoptimism initially experienced regarding the independence of the new, liberal media, itsprofessionalisation and economic restructuring, is gradually being challenged by thecritical perspective. This perspective questions the extent of transformation in a publicsphere where entrance is still restricted by class structures.The argument of this paper is that although the above changes to the media landscapeare recognised as important, they do not account for issues of class and how the poor,the spaces they live in and the factors impacting on their lives, are framed by the media.This paper is presented as a normative undertaking and presents civic journalism asalternative normative framework. It moves from the premise that the representationsafforded to the poor in die media are being hampered by the individualistic aims of theWestern, liberal, journalistic tradition.The argument is further that the use of a community-driven approach should lead tobroader representation of the poor in the media and the inclusion of this currentlymarginalised group in the public sphere. Reframing, one of the most important methodsof civic journalism, is singled out to explore the possibility of applying civic journalism tothe South African context. The motivation for this paper is the belief that the need existsfor a greater plurality of voices and discourses.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University