Seventh Blog Entry

Introduction

This blog entry shall outline the methodology, literature review and the research assumptions of the problem identified in the sixth blog entry.

1 Methodology
The focus and perspective of this research is to understand the role of the media in the post-apartheid South Africa. This research shall make use of the press or print media to analyse the situations that have been identified as having arose between the press and the ruling party. The past point of view is that; there has in most instances been a tension between the ANC and how the print media (press) reports about it. Several court battles have been identified, that give a clear indication that; the ANC has not been completely at peace with the press. It is a possible future phenomenon that may arise if the role of the media in the post-apartheid South Africa is not deeply understood.

Ellis & Levy (2008) indicate that; “although not directly related to the research problem, the methodology, results, and conclusions of a study are directly impacted by the problem driving the research. They further indicate that; according to Leedy & Ormrod (2005); a research methodology is defined as “the general approach the researcher takes in carrying out the research project”.  Research methods that could be used in this study are; descriptive (case study); textual analysis or qualitative methods. For the purpose of this study a descriptive (case study) method analysis of the problem under investigation may best be utilised to answer this problem. According to Wimmer & Dominick (2006); “Case studies are conducted when a researcher needs to understand or explain a phenomenon.” They further explain that Yin (1994) defines a case study as an empirical inquiry that uses multiple sources of evidence to investigate a contemporary phenomenon within its real-life context, in which the boundaries between the phenomenon and its context are not clearly evident.” In relation to the problem under investigation a case study would be a best method to be followed as a set of sources of evidence relating to the relationship between the press and the ANC shall be compiled in order to determine the state of such a relationship. The evidence shall base much on a case study compiled from the news articles that involves the ANC and then press.

2 Literature Review

Fourie (2007:185) establishes that; “politicians frequently accuse the media of misinterpreting them, of framing them, of lying, of wrongfully criticising them, and of not doing what they wish the media to do or achieve.” This argument goes well with the problem which this study attempts to understand. Theories that are helpful in answering the problem statement under investigation are theories on; the role and functions of the media in society. Applying these theories provide this research with a chance to deal much on the functions of the media, particularity on the political functions of the media. The case studies on the press and its roles on politics as indicated in the background discussions provide a volume of evidence of the phenomenon under investigation.

While this study uses the case study methodology; previous studies on the same problem has applied different methodological approaches. For an example in a 2010 study by Fiona White on the “Positioning Civil Society Post-Polokwane: Coming to Terms with ANC Political Leadership Changes”, the following was applied in terms of the methodological approach. White (2010) establishes that; “this project is a qualitative study that uses three methods of data collection. First, a comprehensive literature review and desk-based analysis was conducted to generate background information in the following key areas: general definitions of civil society and other key terms; the definition and characteristics of civil society in a South African context; the relationship between civil society and the ANC after 1994; an overview of the ANC, the SACP and COSATU, and their relationships during the past three decades.”

It is clear that while this study employs the case study methodological approach it has been done alternatively on the previous research on the same problem. But however the method chose for this study still best fits to answer the problem under investigation given the plethora of theories and case studies concerning the press and ANC tensions.

 3 Research assumptions

 

 This research intends, in terms of the results, to show that;

·         The media (press) has its obligation towards its reporting

·         The press does not have intentions of portraying the ANC (government) in a bad way.

·         The press have a duty to fulfil to society

·         The ANC is not a target of the press

·         All parties are reported about in the same manner

List of sources

Ellis, TJ & Levy, Y. 2008. Framework of problem-based research: a guide for novice researchers on the development of a research-worthy problem. Information Science: the journal of an emerging transdiscipline. 11: 17-33.

Fourie, PJ(ed). 2007. Media studies: media history, media and society. 2nd edition. Cape Town: Juta.

Wimmer, RD & Dominick, JR. 2006. Mass media research: an introduction. 8th edition. Wadsworth: Cengage.

White, F. 2010. Positioning Civil Society Post-Polokwane: Coming to Terms with ANC Political Leadership Changes. Johannesburg: Centre for policy studies. [O] Available: http://www.cps.org.za/cps%20pdf/RR124.pdf

Sixth Blog Entry

Introduction

This blog will outline and reflect on the following components of the research proposal, which are discussed in chronological order as; problem statement; background; purpose and significance of the research. The researcher shall introduce the intentions of this study and consequently reflect on the aspects such as a need for this study.

1 Problem Statement

The relationship between the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African press has at sometimes proved to be unhealthy due to the chain of court cases by the ANC against the journalists. Post 1994 the African National Congress (ANC) has been at the helm of the government for five consecutive terms, one may point out. It has been a daunting task for the media on representing the ANC on its daily coverage. Various court cases have taken place between the ruling party and the press.

2 Background

It has been a tough and rough time for various press editors and journalists when coming to their reporting, one may indicate. One main example is the arrest of the then Sunday Times journalist (Mzilikazi-wa-Afrika) for covering the story that could expose the clandestine deals of one of the ANC top leadership and also a National Police Chief.  Mzilikzi-wa-Afrika reported in 2010 that; the police general, Bekhi Cele was involved in an illegal lease of new police headquarters.

In 2012 then came the controversial “spear “painting of President Jacob Zuma. The Goodman Gallery had run its art exhibitions and there appeared on show what was called the spear painting which portrayed Zuma with his genital parts exposed. In reaction to that the secretary-general of the South African Communist Party (SACP), Blade Nzimande urged all the City-press paper readers to boycott its readership and also to pull back their subscriptions. According to SABC News; “He has further appealed for those who subscribe to the newspaper to cancel their subscriptions in boycott against the paper publishing the controversial Brett Murray painting that portrays President Jacob Zuma with exposed private parts.”

“Since 2008 the ANC, the Young Communist League and Zuma have brought litigious actions against Zapiro for cartoons, calling them defamatory and overstepping the bounds of the right to free speech”, Hlongwane (2011).Since there has been a chain of lawsuits and court cases between the press and the ruling party, it becomes a need for scholars to investigate what may be the root cause of such developments.

3 Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the role of the media in the post-apartheid South Africa. By referring to the above examples of the anti-press reactions by the ANC it becomes clear that somehow if investigated, there might be a gap in understanding of the role of the media, particularly press in the democratic South Africa. This prompts the researcher to seek to understand the stipulations of the constitution on the legislation towards the press. This research goal is to; examine the press stories about the ANC and its alliance and view them in line with the role of the media in South Africa.

4 Significance

This study will serve as the investigative process which shall seek to understand the current press “code of conduct”. By comparing such press code with the reports that were deemed unruly by the ANC, it would be evident from such comparison whether the ANC had a case to opt for litigation or was the press fair on their reporting. It would be not completely clear for public whether the ANC calls were fair or the press was incorrect, vies versa, thus a need for this study.

This study shall clarify factors that influence the behaviour of the ANC towards the press. The findings of this study can be used by both the ANC and the press industries to resolve the bad or unwanted situations the press and the ANC had found themselves in. Furthermore this study may be used by the legislation making bodies to devise new tools on protecting the press rather than attempting to regulate it.  In relation to society, the society will understand the role of the press and will from the findings of this study be able to decide for their selves which party is write or wrong should an argument arise. The findings will enlighten the broader society in understanding the functions of the press such as reporting and rules that govern them. Alternatively, the society will be able to notice when the press has gone out of boundaries and conversely when the ANC wrongly accusing the press.

List of Sources

Achmat, Z. 2010. Journalist gets arrested. Sowetanonline, 4 August [O] Available: http://www.writingrights.org/2010/08/04/breaking-news-journalist-mzilikazi-wa-afrika-arrested-resist-this-onslaught-against-our-freedom/

Hlongwane, S. 2011. Another Zuma-vs-Zapiro cartoon battle, another outrage in the wall. Daily Maverick, 14 June [O] Available: http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2011-06-14-another-zuma-vs-zapiro-cartoon-battle-another-outrage-in-the-wall#.VDkP56MaKUk

SABC News. 2012. Boycott the City Press.  [O] Available : http://www.sabc.co.za/news/a/ae6765004b5c3a0bbb8dbb8be44260da/Boycott-the-City-Press%3A-Blade-Nzimande-20120524