INTRODUCTION: South Africa has the most sophisticated and well resourced media infrastructure on the African continent with an effective policy and regulatory mechanism. The media of South Africa has a large mass media sector and is one of Africa's major media centers. It is a media-savvy nation, saturated with print, broadcast and online offerings. While South Africa's many broadcasters and publications reflect the diversity of the population as a whole, the most commonly used language is English. However, all ten other official languages are represented to some extent or another. Afrikaans is the second most commonly used language, especially in the publishing sector. Up until 1994, the country had a thriving Alternative press comprising community broadsheets, bilingual weeklies and even student "zines" and xeroxed samizdats. After the elections, funding and support for such ventures dried up, but there has been a resurgence of interest in alternative forms of news gathering of late, particularly since the events of September 11, 2001.
The media history of South Africa can be divided into two main phases: during apartheid and after apartheid. These two categories define the fundamental changes that have reshaped South Africa since it was reaccepted into the international community of nations. South Africa is also different from other countries in Africa because of its long tradition of newspaper journalism that dates back to when the whites arrived at the Cape of Good Hope. It
is also worth noting that South Africa and Nigeria are the only two African countries with a history of competing newspapers under multiple ownerships. Almost all South African newspapers are published in English or Afrikaans. The English newspapers generally tend to be more influential and are read by more people. Radio and television, through the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) is in English, Afrikaans, and the country's nine African languages. English is the official language and the language of business and commerce. South Africa wants to be sure that its SABC electronic services reach those who are fluent in many of the country's non-white languages. The media changes that occurred in South Africa were so dizzying that even some of the editors and journalists had a hard time adapting to the changes. Under apartheid, the media operated in a minefield of laws designed to make it almost impossible to publish any information without authorization from the government, especially on political and national security issues. Newspapers were prevented from publishing the names of banned people, who included almost all the anti-apartheid leaders. Names and pictures of people such as Nelson Mandela disappeared from news pages, as did the names of banned organizations and groups. When South Africa rejoined the community of nations after the end of apartheid, it had a new constitution c onstitution that protected freedom of expression and of the press. South Africa had moved from having one of the most oppressive media systems in the world to one where the media could publish almost anything, without fear of
punishment from the government. The press in South Africa today is free to criticize the government and to publish articles about opposition groups, even when those views are harshly critical of the ANC and its government. The earliest South African newspapers can be traced to the days of the earliest white settlements in South Africa, especially around the Cape of Good Hope, around the mid-1600s. Those early papers were written and edited by whites for whites; they included stories from England, the Netherlands, France, and Germany—the home countries of the whites who settled in Africa. There was virtually vi rtually nothing in those early newspapers about the indigenous people. Therefore, it was not surprising that virtually all the early South African newspapers were in English or Afrikaans, the two languages spoken by the dominant white groups in the country. Over time, the number of newspapers rose to 12 in English and 4 in Afrikaans, reflecting the dominance of English and Englishspeaking whites in early South Africa, even though in terms of population there were more Afrikaners than their English counterparts. Even some of the Afrikaners also preferred to read the English language press. The first newspaper published in sub-Saharan Africa appeared in Cape Town in 1800. The Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser, which carried English and Dutch news, began appearing almost 150 years after the first Dutch settlers had arrived in i n South Africa. It was the arrival of British settlers, however, that seems to have resulted in the publication of the country's first newspaper. Despite initial opposition
from colonial authorities, eventually the paper began to enjoy a measure of freedom and autonomy. This was followed by the appearance, in 1869, of another newspaper in the Cape area, when diamonds were discovered in the region. Not to be outdone, in 1876 Afrikaners began publishing their own newspaper, called Di Patriot. Die Zuid Afrikaan, a Dutch language newspaper, began publishing in Cape Town in 1828. The continuing political problems between those of English and Dutch descent spilled over into the media arena. Those of Dutch descent were unhappy about being under British influence and control. When the Dutch moved north, they also decided to establish newspapers in the areas that fell under their control. To promote and protect their interests in the mining areas, the Dutch descendants two more newspapers, De Staats Courant in 1857 and De Volksten in 1873. As the number of white settlers in South Africa increased, chain newspapers arrived in South Africa with the launch of the Cape Argus in 1857 and Cape Times in 1876. As relations rel ations between the Dutch and the English speakers worsened, the press became more partisan, taking sides in the disputes between the two groups. But after the 1889-1902 Anglo-Boer ended, with the English victorious, the Union of South Africa was born, which brought together Englishspeaking Natal and Cape Town on one side with the Dutch republics of Transvaal and Orange Free State. By the time this came about, English-language and Dutch language newspapers were pretty much in place. On the English side were the Eastern Province Herald, first published in 1845; the Natal Witness, 1846; the Natal Mercury, 1852; the Daily News, 1854;
The Argus, 1857; Daily Dispatch, 1872; Cape Times, 1876; Diamond Fields Advertiser, 1878; and The Star, 1887. The first non-English and non-Dutch newspapers also emerged at this time, with Indian Opinion in 1904; and two African newspapers, Imvo Zabantsundu in 1884 and Ilanga Losa in 1904. Although aimed at English-speaking merchants, professionals, and civil servants, the English press also found some ardent readers among the Dutch. This was also the time that the English press established its dominance in many of South Africa's largest cities. Among such newspapers was the Rand Daily Mail, which was founded in 1902. For a while it became one of the most influential i nfluential newspapers in South Africa. The South African Associated Press, now Times Media, became the biggest chain of Sunday and daily morning newspapers in the country. During the days of apartheid and since that time, alternative newspapers have made their appearance in South Africa to challenge the country's emergency, censorship, and national security regulations. They often frequently challenged the government of the day by carrying stories that challenged or contradicted the official view, especially on controversial issues. Although the banned ANC and some of its allies and rivals often published underground publications to spread their version of events among their followers, many of the alternative newspapers did not have a partisan political agenda. Instead, they tended to produce and publish stories that were at variance with the official version and would often include details not available in the
mainstream media, which were usually reluctant to go too far in challenging the apartheid regime. Among the more prominent such publications were the English language Weekly Mail and Sunday Nation and the Afrikaans language Vrye Weekblad and South. The Weekly Mail had a circulation between 25,000 and 50,000. These alternative publications played a crucial role in the waning days of apartheid because they provided an alternative point of view and were a source of information on the thinking and activities of those groups that sought to dismantle apartheid and everything it stood for. They also played another equally important role, by showing blacks and other anti-apartheid groups that not all whites were monolithic and unquestioning supporters of the idea of forced racial segregation and separate racial development. However, the end of apartheid was not good news for such publications. Foreign funding largely dried up. Such publications could no longer sell themselves or attract attention because of their anti-apartheid views. Among the survivors, however, is the Weekly Mail, which now calls itself the Weekly Mail and Guardian. It is still an alternative to the mainstream media with criticisms of the ANC government.
News Papers: The history of newspapers in South Africa dates back to 1800, when the Governor of the Cape Colony initiated the publishing of the government-controlled Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser . The first
privately owned newspaper, the SA Commercial Advertiser was Advertiser was published in 1824, with Thomas Pringle and John Fairbairn as editors. The first Dutch language newspaper, De Zuid Afrikaan was published in 1830, the first African language newspaper, Umshumayeli Wendaba in 1837 and the first Afrikaans language newspaper, Die Afrikaanse Patriot , in 1876. The current newspaper industry is in a fairly healthy state. According to a South African Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) survey, South Africa has 20 daily and 13 weekly newspapers, most in English. Some 14.5-million South Africans buy the urban dailies, while community newspapers have a circulation of 5.5-million. There is also a range of general and specialized news websites which, in terms of the speed and breadth of their coverage, are on a par with the best in the world. South Africa has always had a courageous and opinionated press. For over 40 years the apartheid state tried to gag the country's newspapers, using legislation, harassment and imprisonment, culminating in the late-1980s States of Emergency. Through all of this, SA's press continued c ontinued to report on all the news they could.
Influential Newspapers: It is estimated that more than 5,000 newspapers, journals, and periodicals are produced regularly, almost all of them using the most modern technology and equipment. The Johannesburg Star, an English language daily paper, has a circulation in the 200,000 to 250,000 range. It is one of the best circulating newspapers in sub-Saharan Africa and is South Africa's largest and most influential newspaper. The Star is part of the Argus Group, the biggest publishing company in South Africa and, indeed, in all
of Africa. It has publishing interests in other African countries. Another influential newspaper in South Africa is the Sowetan, an English language black newspaper that circulates primarily in Soweto, a sprawling Johannesburg township, and in Johannesburg proper. The Sowetan, established in 1981, has a daily circulation in the 200,000 to 250,000 range. Most of its readers are blacks. Other influential South African newspapers include Beeld, a daily Afrikaans language newspaper published in Johannesburg, and Die Burger, an Afrikaans daily published in Cape Town. Both have daily circulations in the 100,000 to 125,000 range. The Sunday Times, an English language newspaper published in Johannesburg, has a circulation in the 450,000 to 500,000 range. It is the largest and most influential weekly paper in South Africa. The City Press, an English language weekly established in 1983 in Johannesburg, has a circulation c irculation in the 250,000 to 300,000 range, while the Rapport, a weekly Afrikaans language paper established in 1970 in Johannesburg, circulates 250,000 to 300,000 newspapers.
Newspaper Chains: South Africa has four major newspaper chains: Argus Newspapers, which accounts for 45 percent of all daily South African newspaper sales, especially in the major cities. The Johannesburg Star, The ArgusThe Cape Times, the Daily News and Natal Mercury, and the Pretoria News and the Sunday Tribune. Next, in
terms of size and influence, is Times Media, formerly South African Associated Newspapers, the country's second largest English language newspaper chain. Its other properties include Business Day, the Eastern Province Herald, and the Evening Post in Port Elizabeth. The Sunday Times is also part of the Times Media stable.The two Afrikaans language chains are Nasionale Pers (Naspers, whose properties include Beeld, Die Bur ger, and Die Volksblad. Naspers also has a 50 percent share in Rapport and also owns City Press, a large Sunday paper that targets black readers.
Magazines: South Africa has a very robust magazine industry with an estimated 280 locally-published titles available; imported magazines add to this number considerably. The industry's annual turnover in 1998 was estimated to be about R 1.7 billion. While the mass consumer market sector is dominated by only a few publishers (Naspers, Perskor, CTP Holdings, TML), the specialist consumer and trade & technical sectors are very fragmented and contain a large number of small- and medium-sized publishers in addition to the aforementioned major players. As could be expected from South Africa's recent history, its magazine market is (still) characterized by definite differences in the readership of magazines amongst the country's different race groups. A decline in traditional mass consumer magazine titles versus the growth of specialist titles also characterizes the industry, as does the growth of
magazines specifically aimed at black bl ack South Africans, such as Drum. Naspers is the dominant player in the mass consumer magazine sector and sells about two thirds of all the magazines read in South Africa, including imported magazines. The company publishes large national titles such as Fair Lady, Sarie, Insig, SA Sports Illustrated, Kickoff, Huisgenoot, You and Drum. The Afrikaans language family magazine Huisgenoot has the largest circulation of any South African magazine and is followed by You, its English language version; these two magazines have a combined circulation ci rculation of almost one million copies a week. Fair Lady and Sarie are South Africa's largest selling English- and Afrikaans-language women's magazines, respectively.
Other large mass market publishers are Perskor (Republican Press), CTP Holdings and Times Media. Specialist consumer magazines are also published by the aforementioned publishers, as well as by Primedia Publishing, Kagiso Media and Ramsay Son & Parker. In the trade and technical sector Primedia is the largest publisher.
Books: The book publishing industry in South Africa is is relatively small, but it is nevertheless a key factor in its economy - there are more than 120 publishers in the country, according to the Publishers' Association of South Africa (PASA). Among these are commercial publishers, university presses, non-governmental organizations and one-person privately owned
publishers. Of the 120 publishers who are members of the PASA, about 12 are classified cl assified as large publishers, 7 as medium-sized publishers and the remaining 101 as small publishers. Books are published in all eleven official languages of South Africa as well as in some non-official and foreign languages. Works published include fiction, non-fiction, children's books, reference works as well as school and university textbooks. Electronic publishing is also a growing segment of the publishing industry. While some publishers specialize in the type of books they produce (for example textbooks), the majority of the large and medium publishers publish in several categories. There are also a number of book importers and distributors active in South Africa as the great majority of books sold in South Africa (especially fiction) are still imported, mostly from Britain and the United States. This has resulted in relatively high prices being charged for books in comparison with the income of the average South African. The South African publishing industry employs about 3,000 people full-time, as well as many freelance workers. In addition, it is estimated that the South African publishing industry employs about 9,000 authors (full- and part-time), who together earn an estimated R 150 million in royalties annually. The book-printing and bookselling are also largely dependent on this industry.
Television in South Africa:
South Africa TV broadcasting started in 1976 in some of the major cities of the country. Despite being the most economically advanced country on the continent, South Africa was among the last countries in Africa to introduce television broadcasting to its population. TV in South Africa is broadcast in eleven official languages and also in German, Hindi and Portuguese. South Africans now have access to a wide spectrum of local and international drama, comedy, sports and news through their televisions.
History of South Africa TV: The South African television took a long time to establish itself as one of the advanced media of communication. The country was the last westernized country to introduce television. For a comparatively long time the conservative apartheid regime regarded TV as negative influence on the society. While in 1971, the authority in South Africa declared that the establishment of television would progress the selfdevelopment of the people of South Africa. When South Africa TV was launched, it was the second terrestrial television service in Africa to launch with a color service. Thus South Africa TV broadcasting began in 1976, which reached an audience of 50 million people in and outside South Africa. The government at the time had resisted the introduction of television, fearing that it would dilute the state's control over the press and radio. Since its launch, South African television has been broadcast in colour, on the PAL system. The relatively late introduction of television to the country had its advantages, as the state-controlled South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) was able to skip the
expensive transition between black-and-white and colour. The SABC's broadcasting monopoly ended in 1986 when the subscription-based MNet was launched. Since the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africans have seen a number of new television channels introduced by both the SABC and other private operators. Both the SABC and MNet broadcast across Africa.
South Africa TV Channels: South Africa TV had different channels for diverse div erse groups of languages. At the end of 1980's the SABC, the newly formed channel was broadcasting in eleven languages. Today SABC has a public character, which is government owned and does not have competitors. Then in 1998 came the private channel E-TV, which became quite popular with huge number of viewers in South Africa. M-Net is another alternative to the SABC channels but is not allowed to carry news. The M-Net channel provides mainly documentaries, films, series and sports. M-Net was born out of political poli tical needs like the idea that there had to be an independent television channel. Thus M-Net started operating in 1986 and became popular with the passage of time. M-Net channel is nowadays mainly shared by the four media companies. Television is considered to have an hypnotic effect on person but presently South Africa TV has become one
of the well-established and popular mediums of communication.
Digital technology: The first digital television implementation in South Africa was a satellite satellite-based -based system launched by payTV operator Multichoice’s in 1995. On 22 February 2007 the South African government announced that the country's public TV operators would be broadcasting in digital by 1 November 2008, followed by a three year dual-illumination period which would end on 1 November 2011.
Satellite television: South African-based Multichoice's Multichoice's DStv is the main digital satellite television provider in sub-Saharan Africa, broadcasting principally in English, English, but also in Portuguese, Portuguese, German and Afrikaans. Afrikaans. Another entrant into the satellite television circuit in Africa is MyTvAfrica, a subsidiary of Dubai based Strong Technologies. Satellite television has been far more successful in Africa than cable, primarily because the infrastructure for cable television does not exist and would be expensive to install since majority of Africans cannot afford paid cable television. Furthermore, maintaining a cable network is expensive due to the need to cover larger and more sparsely populated areas though there are some terrestrial pay-TV and MMDS services. The launch of Free2view has made satellite TV available to the masses in Africa. Free2view currently broadcasts MSNBC as its exclusive news channel and is about to roll out additional channels.
CENSORSHIP: The National Party used censorship freely to control what the media published. The Publications Act of 1974 gave the South African government the power to censor movies, plays, books, and other entertainment programs, as well as the right to decide what South Africans could or could not view. Books critical of apartheid or racial discrimination were routinely barred. Movies showing interracial relationships were banned from television and from the movies. The National Party government had appointed itself as the guardian of public morals and behavior. The new constitution did away with these old behaviors. Censorship laws, policies, and regulations from the apartheid era were scrapped. South Africa, which had become notorious because of its i ts prudish standards, was now open to all types of media, movies, and entertainment. Writers and producers no longer have to worry about censorship or how to beat it. The government has basically left it to the public to decide what it wants to see or read. Because the new South African constitution protects freedom of expression and of the media, South African Broadcasting Corporation employees are finally free from the strictures and controls imposed on them during the apartheid days. Although the South African government appoints the SABC board of directors, it has not tried to choose only those who support its policies and programs. This has produced an ironic situation where the ANC has allowed and
tolerated the use of SABC for the airing and exchange of various views, including those whose views are anathema to the ANC government. So far, South Africa has escaped a problem afflicting many African countries—where presidents and their governments have taken over radio and television and used them as propaganda agencies, often denying opposition groups, parties, and critics access to the airwaves, even when the broadcast media are subsidized by license fees and public funds. So far, the ANC government has resisted the temptation to interfere with the running and programming of SABC television and radio.
News Agencies: SAPA, which is a national news agency, is a cooperative, non-profit news gathering and distribution organization operating in the interest of the public and its members. SAPA's foreign news news is received from Associated Press and its representatives in London. The main foreign news agency in South Africa are AFP, Associated Press, Deutsche Presse Agentur, Reuters and United Press International.
Advertising: The advertising industry in South Africa is dynamic, growing and and highly competitive. The industry started more than 60 years ago with the founding of the first advertising agency, Lindsay Smothers-FCB. Adspend in 1997 totaled R536 million.
STATE-PRESS RELATIONS: Under apartheid, the government controlled the media. The government decided what was news. For example, if a journalist witnessed a shootout between security forces and guerrilla fighters, that story could not be reported until it was verified or confirmed by official sources. If the journalist saw bodies of slain soldiers or police officers, he or she could not report that information until it came from official sources. If the police or army denied that any security force personnel had been killed or wounded or that the skirmish had occurred, then such news, regardless of how much information the journalist had, could never be published or broadcast. During apartheid, foreign and domestic journalists operating in South Africa had to walk through a minefield of legislation designed to prevent the independent publication of information that might embarrass the government. It was the job of journalists and editors to check the laws before deciding what information could be published. Many journalists were reduced to self-policing and selfcensorship to avoid breaking the law. Fines, imprisonment, even banning awaited those publications that dared break or challenge these laws. Under the new constitution, South African media and journalists are enjoying unparalleled freedoms. Except for libel laws, they are free to publish any type of news, without having to worry about what laws they may be violating. In most other African countries, the government has instituted a domestic news agency to serve as the
procurer or disseminator of news from other parts of Africa and/or the world. The South African Press Association (SAPA), the country's domestic news agency, transmits about 100,000 words of domestic and foreign news daily to its members. Additionally, the Associated Press (American), Reuters (British), Agence-France Presse (French), and Deutsche PresseAgentur (German) operate from South Africa. SAPA also cooperates with the Pan African News Agency (PANA), an organization that receives news from all over the continent to distribute within the country. SAPA also sends South African stories to PANA for distribution to other African countries.
Press freedom: Press freedom has a chequered history in South Africa as well as a dubious current state. While some sectors of the South African media openly criticized the apartheid system and the National Party government, they were hampered by various amounts of government censorship during the years. For example, journalist Donald Woods became renowned after he fled to live in the United Kingdom in exile and expose the truth behind the death of Steve Biko, the leader of the Black Consciousness Movement. After the end of apartheid in 1994 however, censorship ended and a new constitution was enacted which has a Bill of Rights that guarantees that every citizen has
the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the press and media, the freedom to receive or impart information or ideas, freedom of artistic creativity, academic freedom, and freedom of scientific research. These freedoms are generally respected in practice and the press is considered relatively free. Laws concerning the media and political control over its content are generally considered to be moderate and there is little evidence of repressive measures against journalists. In consequence, South Africa is ranked joint 31st (with Australia) in Reporters without Borders' worldwide index of press freedom 2005.
However, there has also been criticism of certain aspects of the freedom of the press in South Africa. It has been pointed out that almost all the large daily newspapers are owned by just four large media firms, which could lead to pro-Corporate bias. In addition, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), which is the public broadcaster, is argued by many to carry a fairly strong pro-ruling party (African National Congress (ANC)) bias, especially considering the fact that the majority of its management and executive staff are either ANC members or ANC aligned. Some media aspects of the Oilgate scandal have also been a cause for concern c oncern as was the banning of the publication of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in South Africa by Judge Mohammed Jajbhay on 3 February 2006. The Freedom of Expression Institute is concerned about declining levels of media freedom in South
Africa, and calls on all South Africans to use the opportunity of National Press Freedom Day (October 19) to reflect on the implications of this trend for the country. Over the past year, South Africa has witnessed growing threats to the independence of the communications sector, as well as rise of prepublication censorship and pressure on the confidentiality of journalistic sources of information, as well as sources themselves. The FXI is also concerned about the deteriorating state of media freedom at the public broadcaster, the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), as well as the increasing trend towards media consolidation. The Institute hopes that these trends will not continue next year. Civil society and journalists must unite to reverse these trends before they become extremely difficult to reverse. According to media reports, the SABC blacklisted certain commentators and analysts which may be critical of the government.
ATTITUDE TOWARDS FOREIGN MEDIA: South Africa always has welcomed the foreign media, except when articles critical of apartheid (during the days of apartheid rule) were published. At the height of the apartheid era, many African, American, and
European journalists and editors were placed on a prohibited list. Those who had written or published articles critical of apartheid and what it stood for often found themselves unable to obtain visas to visit South Africa. In the 1980s and 1990s, apartheid was a major story. Many American newspapers, including The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post, had correspondents permanently stationed in South Africa. Many European journalists were also in South Africa. The major American television networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC) also had correspondents stationed in South Africa or in nearby countries. Time and Newsweek also sold their magazines in South Africa. South Africans could listen to news broadcasts from the Voice of America, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and other Western short wave radio outlets. The ANC and its allies also had access to radio waves in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Tanzania, and other countries from which they broadcast messages to their colleagues in South Africa. Although it was illegal to listen to such broadcasts, many people tuned in to them. The Mbeki government has allowed the Voice of America, the British Broadcasting Corporation, and other international broadcast media, as well as journalists from the world's print media, to come to South Africa and to operate freely, even when they sometimes highlight embarrassing stories—such as the one about the government's failure or reluctance to confront the HIV/AIDS pandemic that has ravaged that country. Laws from the apartheid era, which
controlled, censored, and intimidated journalists, have disappeared. Foreign journalists and media are freely welcomed in South Africa today and given access to government officials. They are also able, without licensing or accreditation, to roam freely around the country, interviewing whomever they want.
EDUCATION & TRAINING; South African colleges and universities, newspapers, and American and British foundations have been the main sources for the training of future journalists. Many of the leading universities do offer journalism programs and degrees. Workshops and seminars have also been held in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and other African countries to offer training in environmental, economic, and investigative reporting.
SUMMARY: The future looks very bright for the South African media. A new constitution protects a Bill of Rights and also guarantees freedom of expression and of the media. Although the Mbeki government has been unhappy about how it has sometimes been treated by the media and how the president has been caricatured, there has been no attempt to censor or punish the media or to pass laws l aws to regulate the media or to prevent them from doing their job of making the government accountable for its actions. The South African media are emerging from their days of battling and suffering under apartheid laws to become true defenders of media freedom in a democratic society.
The South African Media are governed by a set of principles and beliefs that are rooted in a strong libertarian framework. This represents the official position in the South African Media Context. However, there are clearly different views as to what constitutes appropriate media behavior in the postaparthied, legitimately governed, democratic South Africa. The government expects media support. Some media do subscribe to the principle of imposing “moral censorship” on itself in the name of advancing democracy and supporting the legitimate government. The coverage of news and other issues display clear biases in relation to political and governmental support. Others have placed themselves in the direct line of government’s wrath by assuming the watch dog role. Their stance is clear: their job is to keep government accountable and honest. The challenge for the media in South Africa is to critically engage with the question: how do the media influence and encourage equitable and appropriate change and to question inequity and inefficiency in this fledgling democracy? Today's South African journalists now operate in a country where they are free to criticize the government, scrutinize its actions, and even make fun of the country's political leaders—without le aders—without the prospect of prison and hefty fines hanging over their heads. South Africa has emerged from being a journalistic pariah to one of the freest and most democratic countries in the world. The experience has
been dizzying for the media, the public, and the new government. The public seems to have become more accommodating to the idea that journalists have a duty to be responsible, without betraying their values, training, and commitment to being the purveyors of information and news, to a public that needs to be informed, educated, and entertained.
My View: It Is my view that the Media of South Africa is one of the best and is one one of the most free in the world. The Media of South Africa's enjoys considerable considerable freedom and independence. We have seen that from the past few years the media of South Africa has technologically advanced, which has removed the distance between the news and the Public. The Media is changing globally to reduce the gap between entertainment, advertising, and investigative reporting. If that is the case, the news media will further become a menu of options for cultural and selective consumption, thus further reducing the importance of the news media, even as it expands. There are some bigger problems which South Africa is currently facing; in this case the media should play an important role to solve these problems.
South Africa should put the freedom of its press and media at the top of its priorities as a democracy. None or our irritations with the perceived inadequacies of the media should ever allow us to suggest even faintly that the independence of the press could be compromised or coerced. A bad free press is preferable to a technically good, subservient press.
