These notes look at media in the context of South Africa, including the various tiers, key trends, it's history and summaries of prescribed readings
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Media in SA
3 tiers: Public, Commercial, Community
More broadcasters more content diversity
Public Media
SABC: Not a state owned broadcaster, but is accountable to a board appointed by
parliament.
However, heavily reliant on commercial revenue (about 85% of revenue). Advertisers can
begin to control the content.
Conflict over management issues and political interference. Should be autonomous from
centres of power.
Focus on providing media to all people
Supposedly accountable to the public
2: Commercial Media
Sees the audience as consumers
Print: Media 24, Times Media, Independent newspapers, Caxton, TNA magazine
TV: Multichoice (umbrella for DSTC, M-net + Supersport), E-Tv (free to air)
Purpose: to communicate within different communities (of interest + geography)
MDDA: Media Dev. & Diversity Agency. Government funding and training for non-commercial
community media (but lacks funds)
Normative Environment (the ideal)
Constitutional democracy
Self-regulatory environment (where professionals regulate their own conduct, not the
government): Broadcasting Complaints Commission established by National Association of
Broadcasters press council.
Ethical codes: institutional and professional. Commit to upholding certain ethical
standards.
, Issues + Trends:
Conglomeration: media-ownership becomes concentrated to certain conglomerates
Commercialisation + tabloidization (offshoot): media is increasingly influenced by need for
money as opposed to the greater good.
Online growth: threats but also opportunities
Access + voice
Threats to media freedom (eg: the Secrecy bill)
20 years of SA media ownership
For a long time (during apartheid), SA media was a static organisation.
Historically, SA press was partisan (openly supported a political party).
During apartheid: lack of media dynamism, racially discrete news consumption, total white
ownership, and lack of diversity.
SABC had a monopoly on SA media, but excluded the homelands where independent media started
to grow (but was limited).
1994: media controlled by white people and the government. Remained a duopoly: Anglo-American
(English language press) and Afrikaans language press (Sanlam and Old Mutual).
1994 and today: four big media groups (but now: shift in ownership and influence).
4 big media groups in 1994: Times Media ; The Argus ; Naspers ; Pescor <- later replaced by Caxton
Foreign investors saw opportunity in post-apartheid SA. Aided in the changing of media ownership to
prevent monopolisation.
Broadcasting could earn more money through advertising, so print media declined.
Post 1994: characterised by buying, selling + unbundling of media groups.
Anglo-American Corporation (mining) ----- Times Media + Argus
Sanlam, Anglo-American and Old Mutual: held ¾ of the economy through the JSE (in 1990). Were
able to dictate policy in their favour due to economic control. In 2009 they only held ¼ of the JSE
(diversification).
Anglo-American had control through Joburg Consolidated Investment ltd.
Later split into 3, including Johnnic (contained Times Media and Argus)
Most of Anglo’s holdings in Johnnic sold to a consortium on black investors.
But became unfocused and indecisive. Unbundled and sold off.
Johnnic faded away over time.
Caxton: ad-heavy, free community newspapers.
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