An exploration of criticism against the South African media: media experts and academics respond to complaints against the media at the South African Press Council

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dc.contributor.advisorJordaan, Mareneten_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLouw-De Wee, Nicoleneen_ZA
dc.contributor.otherStellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-20T06:54:42Z
dc.date.accessioned2024-04-26T13:30:06Z
dc.date.available2024-02-20T06:54:42Z
dc.date.available2024-04-26T13:30:06Z
dc.date.issued2024-03
dc.descriptionThesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study investigates the nature of criticism against the South African print and online media during the period 2021 to 2023. Research for this study focuses on complaints against the media submitted to the Press Council and which has been adjudicated by the Press Ombud. The study explores who the complainants are and the nature of the complaints. As a second phase of the study, five media experts share their views on these findings, the state of journalism in South Africa and their views on how public trust in the media can be improved in future. In this exploration the social responsibility theory was used to investigate the role of journalists and their responsibility to ensure true, accurate and fair news is shared with the public they serve. A qualitative research design was chosen for this study and data was gathered in two phases. Firstly, this researcher gathered data from the website of the Press Council, which is in the public domain, on complaints against the press and online media. Through a thematic analysis three themes were identified which assist in answering the research questions. Secondly, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five media experts to gather their views on the state of the media and how public trust in the media can be improved. As part of the discussion of semi-structured interview findings, four themes were identified relating to the nature of complaints against the media, ethical breaches, quality and standards of journalism and public trust in the media. Some of the major findings of the first phase of the study, which relates to complaints at the Press Council, include regular instances of unethical and inaccurate reporting by the print and online media. Fact-checking and a lack of proper editing and mentoring due to limited resources in newsrooms, lead to complaints about misleading headlines and unbalanced reports. In the second phase of the exploration, media experts expressed concern about the digital age and the faster pace at which news is produced which leaves room for error because of the need to be first. The issue of unethical journalism is another cause for concern, leaving some of the participants convinced that print and online journalists are not all familiar with the content of the Press Code and code of ethics for journalism.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractAFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie ondersoek die aard van kritiek teen die Suid-Afrikaanse gedrukte en aanlyn media tydens die periode 2021 - 2023. Navorsing vir die studie fokus op klagtes teen die media wat by die Persraad ingedien is en waaroor die Persombud uitspraak gelewer het. Die studie ondersoek wie die klaers is en wat die aard van die klagtes was. As 'n tweede fase van die studie deel vyf mediakenners hul menings oor die bevindinge, die stand van joernalistiek in Suid-Afrika en hulle sienings oor hoe die publiek se vertroue in die media in die toekoms verbeter kan word. In die verkenning is die sosiale verantwoordelikheidsteorie gebruik om die rol van joernaliste en hul verantwoordelikheid te ondersoek om te verseker dat ware, akkurate en regverdige nuus met die publiek wat hulle bedien, gedeel word. 'n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is vir die studie gekies en data is in twee fases ingesamel. Eerstens het hierdie navorser data ingesamel vanaf die webwerf van die Persraad, wat in die openbare domein is, oor klagtes teen die gedrukte- en aanlynmedia. Deur 'n tematiese ontleding is drie temas geïdentifiseer om die navorsingsvrae te beantwoord. Tweedens is semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met vyf mediakenners gevoer vir hulle menings oor die stand van die media en hoe die publiek se vertroue in die media verbeter kan word. As deel van die bespreking van die semi-gestruktureerde onderhoudsbevindinge, is vier temas geïdentifiseer wat verband hou met die aard van klagtes teen die media, etiese oortredings, kwaliteit en die standaard van joernalistiek en die publiek se vertroue in die media. Van die belangrikste bevindings van die eerste fase van die studie, wat verband hou met klagtes by die Persraad, sluit gereelde gevalle van onetiese en onakkurate beriggewing deur die gedrukte- en aanlynmedia in. Feite-kontrolering en 'n gebrek aan behoorlike redigering en mentorskap as gevolg van beperkte hulpbronne in nuuskantore, lei tot klagtes oor misleidende opskrifte en ongebalanseerde beriggewing. In die tweede fase van die studie het die deelnemers hulle kommer uitgespreek oor die digitale era en die vinniger tempo waarteen nuus vervaardig word, wat ruimte laat vir foute omdat daar ‘n dringendheid is om eerste te wees met nuus. Die kwessie van onetiese joernalistiek is nog 'n kwelpunt vir van die deelnemers wat nie oortuig is dat joernaliste in gedrukte en aanlyn media nie almal vertroud is met die inhoud van die Perskode en etiese kode vir joernalistiek nie.af_ZA
dc.description.versionMastersen_ZA
dc.format.extent86 pages
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/130325
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.rights.holderStellenbosch Universityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshJournalistic ethics -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshJournalism -- Objectivityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshNewspapers -- Objectivityen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshMass media -- Moral and ethical aspectsen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshDigital media -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshMass media criticism -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subject.lcshSouth African Press Councilen_ZA
dc.subject.nameUCTD
dc.titleAn exploration of criticism against the South African media: media experts and academics respond to complaints against the media at the South African Press Councilen_ZA
dc.typeThesisen_ZA
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