Women and decision-making in the print media : a study to establish whether newspaper content has been transformed by employing more black women in decision-making positions

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:This study investigates whether black women in senior management positions withdecision-making authority have had an impact on the newsrooms of the Cape Townnewspapers Die Burger, the supplement Jip, community newspaper MetroBurger, theCape Times, the Cape Argus, the Weekend Argus and the Southern Mail, one title of theCape Community Newspapers. Labour legislation promulgated in South Africa in 1994means companies have to employ human resources equitably in keeping with the racialdemographics of each province. Given the historical background of the South Africanmedia and the fact that it is almost 10 years after the first democratic elections in thiscountry, what new paths have black South African women journalists forged for newjournalists? This study focuses on the role of black women with regard to decisionmakingat the aforementioned newspapers. During the course of this study, 5 of the 6women respondents have resigned from their positions. Other findings are that theeditors generally have limited knowledge of the responsibilities of the women in thisstudy. The editors have also indicated that no changes have been made or will be madeto the job descriptions of the women, while the women have indicated that there have,indeed, been changes to their job descriptions. These changes have related to editorialand non-editorial responsibilities. While no training plans have been set out specificallyfor the women respondents, most of them have indicated they wanted more trainingopportunities. Most of the women respondents have indicated higher remuneration andjob satisfaction as being the main reasons for resigning.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University