Kroniek van 'n mondigwording? 'n Mediageskiedkundige herevaluering van die WVK, Naspers en Afrikaanse joernalistiek
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
LitNet
Abstract
Hierdie artikel bied ’n mediageskiedkundige oorsig oor ’n episode in die Afrikaanse mediageskiedenis wat ná 20 jaar steeds omstrede is en kommentaar ontlok, maar wat in nabetragting as ’n “mondigwording” van die Afrikaanse joernalistiek gesien kan word. Dié episode was die breuk in 1997 tussen ’n hoofsaaklik ouer generasie Afrikaanse medialeiers en ’n jonger generasie oor die kwessie of die eertydse Afrikanernasionale mediahuis Nasionale Pers by die Waarheid-en-Versoeningskommissie (WVK) ’n voorlegging moes maak oor die jare tussen 1960 en 1994. Die benadering vir hierdie artikel is vanuit ’n mediageskiedkundige perspektief, wat eers as konteks bespreek word. Dit word gevolg deur ’n bespreking van die Afrikanernasionale drukmedia met die fokus op Naspers en sy filiaal Nasionale Koerante. ’n Kort bespreking oor die begrippe lojale verset en oop gesprek – as sleutel om die gebeure te probeer ontsluit – volg. Daarop word ’n oorsig oor die WVK as agtergrond aangebied, waarna ’n uiteensetting van die gebeure soos wat dit ontvou het, nie net as ’n interne stryd nie, maar vanweë die beriggewing daaroor, ook ’n openbare een, weergegee word. Ondanks die destydse bitter breuke, wat intussen geheel is, kan ’n mens in nabetragting sê dat dié episode as ’n noodsaaklike mondigwording vir die Afrikaanse joernalistiek in sy geheel gesien kan word – ’n geleentheid waar hy homself nuut kon posisioneer in ’n nuwe mediapolitieke ekologie, en waarmee hy vir homself noodsaaklike kulturele kapitaal vir ’n nuwe toekoms verwerf het.
This article provides a media-historiographical overview of an episode in Afrikaans media history that is still controversial after 20 years, but which can be seen as a “coming of age” of Afrikaans journalism. This episode was the serious disagreement in 1997 between a mainly older generation of Afrikaans media leaders and journalists and a younger generation on the issue of whether the former Afrikaner-nationalist media company Nasionale Pers should do a submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) about the years between 1960 and 1994. The media-historiographical perspective is first discussed as context. This is followed by a discussion on the development of the Afrikaner-nationalist print media with the focus on Naspers and its Nasionale Koerante division. A brief discussion about the concepts of loyal resistance and open dialogue as keys to try to unlock the events follows. An overview of the TRC is presented as a background, in which an exposition of the events as they unfolded, not only as an internal struggle, but also a public one, is presented. In spite of the bitter fractures at the time, one can state that, in hindsight, this episode can be seen as an essential turning point for Afrikaans journalism, as it was an opportunity for it to position itself in a new media political ecology; and indeed, through this episode Afrikaans journalism acquired vital cultural capital for itself for a new future.
This article provides a media-historiographical overview of an episode in Afrikaans media history that is still controversial after 20 years, but which can be seen as a “coming of age” of Afrikaans journalism. This episode was the serious disagreement in 1997 between a mainly older generation of Afrikaans media leaders and journalists and a younger generation on the issue of whether the former Afrikaner-nationalist media company Nasionale Pers should do a submission to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) about the years between 1960 and 1994. The media-historiographical perspective is first discussed as context. This is followed by a discussion on the development of the Afrikaner-nationalist print media with the focus on Naspers and its Nasionale Koerante division. A brief discussion about the concepts of loyal resistance and open dialogue as keys to try to unlock the events follows. An overview of the TRC is presented as a background, in which an exposition of the events as they unfolded, not only as an internal struggle, but also a public one, is presented. In spite of the bitter fractures at the time, one can state that, in hindsight, this episode can be seen as an essential turning point for Afrikaans journalism, as it was an opportunity for it to position itself in a new media political ecology; and indeed, through this episode Afrikaans journalism acquired vital cultural capital for itself for a new future.
Description
CITATION: Rabe, L. 2017. Kroniek van 'n mondigwording? 'n Mediageskiedkundige herevaluering van die WVK, Naspers en Afrikaanse joernalistiek. LitNet Akademies, 14(3):339-379.
The original publication is available at https://www.litnet.co.za
The original publication is available at https://www.litnet.co.za
Keywords
Journalism -- South Africa, Press -- South Africa -- History, Afrikaners -- Ethnic identity, Naspers, Media24 (Firm), Publishers and publishing -- South Africa -- History, South Africa. Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Citation
Rabe, L. 2017. Kroniek van 'n mondigwording? 'n Mediageskiedkundige herevaluering van die WVK, Naspers en Afrikaanse joernalistiek. LitNet Akademies, 14(3):339-379.