Transcript Slide 1
The past shapes the present Knowing the past will help us better understand the current media environment We need to know how relationships between the media and the state have developed over time 8 main time periods: 1919-1936: Establishment of Radio Beginnings: Individual amateur broadcasts Experimental broadcasts – fundraising - Railway Institute audience 1924 – Jhb – regular broadcasts. Dbn, Cape Town stations - early closure 1927 – African Broadcast Corporation 1935 – ABC financial problems - public corporation moves 1936 – formation of SABC English programming dominant. Poor quality Afrikaans broadcasting 1938 – Great Trek re-enactment –coverage demands. Service split proposed Strong government control over broadcasting Factors shaping development: Geography Limited technology Current government ideology 1948 -SABC financial difficulties – commercial service added 1950 – Radio news Nationalist government: centralized, monopolistic policy focused on English + Afrikaner interests 1949 – African language programming (Soweto) WWII programming – temporary, propagandist Transformation : FM introduction Regional stations: music, advertising, news bulletins 1962 – radio stations for black listeners – limited programming – jazz, choral music, apolitical - condescending, patronizing news content - white content control 1969 – automation of most regional stations - strong ideological control, bland programming 1976 : TV service - after report showing potential to “advance self-development and foster pride in own identity and culture” - perceived as supportive of policy of separate development Mostly American, German programming (British boycott) 1978 – advertising introduced 1982 – more channels introduced Independent homeland radio stations: challenge to government Recommendations for relaxation of government control + more space for commercial broadcasters alongside SABC as public broadcaster Recommendations for external regulation of both public + commercial broadcasting 1986: Introduction of M-Net – response to reduced income from advertising in print media Development of community radio Establishment of independent regulatory bodies – e.g. Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) – later part of ICASA (Independent Communications Authority of SA) 3 tier system : Public broadcasting (SABC) Commercial broadcasting Community broadcasting Major restructuring of SABC - regional radio stations sold to private sector 1998: E-TV – BEE Midi-group 2000- present: SABC officially still public broadcaster Controversy: government interference – is it more of a state broadcaster? Ongoing shifts – more regional broadcasting + support of indigenous languages Relationship between government + press has always been uneasy Have to look at three strands of press history: English press, Afrikaans press Black + alternative press Beginnings: 1795 (before Dutch East India Company banned press) 1824: first non-government newspaper Mostly English, some space for Dutch news + advertising Many efforts to publish independent newspapers blocked by government 1827: some autonomy - free press established Formation of Newspaper Press Union 1846: The Natal Witness – replaces De Natalier Generally more passive than English press: different ideas of the nature of freedom – Afrikaans (state authority), English (individual) Established as reaction to liberality of English press 1830: 1st Dutch/Afrikaans paper Most Afrikaans papers edited by ministers; primarily political + cultural advocacy role Ongoing development of Afrikaans press deeply connected with Afrikaner nationalist politics 1937: Hendrik Verwoed – 1st editor of Die Transvaler 1830: Newspapers aimed at black readers started 1830-1880: Missionary era - growth of black press linked to establishment of mission stations in Eastern Cape 1880-1930: Independent elitist era –growth of literate black elite; move away from mission controlled publishing to black owned + controlled press Imvo Zabantnsundu: 1st black owned, controlled paper Worked with white liberals for reform. Hit financial problems New papers - more radical political views Many black journalists part of beginnings of ANC 1930-1980: white owned period due to lack of black capital + strong distribution network 1932: Bantu Press Ltd formed, moving black press from the local to the national – Bantu World 1951: African Drum (later Drum) – deep impact – investigative journalism, resistance, urban black culture 1980-1996: multiracial period – black urban newssheets – increased circulation + readership Usually activates when political, economic, social + cultural views of some groups are marginalised from popular media market Alternative press in South Africa linked to struggle against apartheid Examples: Inkundla – moderate, independent, ANC sympathetic 1942-1963 Fighting Talk (soldiers, rights, Nazi dangers) 1970 SASO News letter – BC ideology 1980s Progressive Alternative press: Grassroots, Saamstaan, Al Qalaam SA press divisions – language + race, initially. Post Nationalist Party (1948) – pro-, anti-government Heightened tensions: press/government - pressure on editorial freedom Strong government control over information flow into country + international news Press threatened with legal action if seen as attacking Nationalist government Commissions of inquiry to investigate press, especially oppositional press 1970s: Infogate scandal – Dept of Information tried to change global image of apartheid + to control flow of information on SA. Backfired + damaged credibility of Afrikaans press Pressure on the press: From government – 1986 State of Emergency From TV - less ad spend in print press Economic shifts - 1980s recession Alternative press – showing up credibility problems From public – reader apathy, suspicion of idea of free press Rise of tabloid journalism – E.g. The Sun. Sensationalist Saturation of market – many titles, unsustainable Shortage of skilled media people + journalists Increase in regional, indigenous language newspapers – E.g. KZN – Ilanga, Isolezwe – viable but limited ad revenue –advertisers lack understanding of market + readership patterns