An exploration of the self-regulation of the media since the start of democracy in South Africa

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This study examines the self-regulation of the South African media in respect of theinteractions between the media and the post-apartheid government, with a specificfocus on the current mode of the regulation of the press and its successes and failuresin the context of South African society, focusing on the period January 2012 toDecember 2013, with a specific emphasis on opinion pieces, columns and newsreports published during this time in the Afrikaans newspaper, Rapport.Attention directed to the self-regulation of the South African media has been driven,in recent years, by a debate generated by the ruling African National Congress (ANC)party concerning the existing mode of regulation of the media, specifically relating tothe Press Council of South Africa. The party has noted that the establishment of aMedia Appeals Tribunal (MAT) would be in the 'public interest, as this wouldstrengthen and support the current system that was provided by the office of the PressOmbudsman. In contrast, media practitioners have argued that this could restrict manyof the freedoms that have been achieved in the new democratic South Africa.The liberal-pluralist theory was selected as an appropriate theoretical framework forthis study because it is a normative theory dealing with the political role of the media.A qualitative research methodology, and specifically the research technique contentanalysis was applied in this study. The study found that in the post-apartheid SouthAfrica, a robust debate has developed between the government and the media, wherean 'us versus them approach still seems to exist; notwithstanding that the dynamic ofthe government-media relationship has changed since pre-democracy times. The studyhas drawn attention to various ANC motives for attempting to change the method ofpress regulation, also highlighting existing flaws in the media system, flaws injournalistic practices, and capitalistic tendencies due to the conglomeration andcontrolling of what it deems newsworthy. Thus, this study has found that although thegovernment or state misdemeanours were the essential reasons for maintaining pressfreedom, the current press self-regulatory system is inadequate. True mediatransformation would be needed to instil ethics and achieve basic journalisticstandards that are not based on the relic of the apartheid propaganda machine, andwhich do not operate with impunity, character assassination, racial stereotyping, orthe peddling of corporate interests over the public good.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University