THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY (VIA AFRIKA PG 118-127)

1. MEDIA: ELECTRONIC AND PRINT MEDIA. 2. ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITY OF MEDIA 3. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, LIMITATIONS 4. EXTENT TO WHICH MEDIA REPORTING REFLECTS A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY: 4.1 TOPICS COVERED 4.2 POSITIONS TAKEN BY EDITOR 4.3 SPACE ALLOCATED TO TOPICS 4.4 GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION (ACCESSIBILITY OF INFORMATION TO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF SOCIETY) 5. CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF MEDIA AND CAMPAIGNS

PERSONALITIES AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES 6. COVERAGE OF SPORT, SPORTS PERSONALITIES AND RECREATION ACTIVITIES 7. IDEOLOGIES, BELIEFS AND WORLDVIEWS ON RECREATION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ACROSS CULTURES AND GENDERS 8. KEVIN CARTER AS A CASE STUDY

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY MEDIA? Mass media - television, radio, newspaper, film, video, CD, DVD, Internet, social networking. Print media Electronic media Entertainment media Common media in your home?

MEDIA influences The way we THINK and FEEL about current events…. Culture, politics, gender, lifestyle, possessions, sport Shapes people’s understanding and Interpretation of information and events

Forms of MEDIA -- ELECTRONIC MEDIA = Any media that needs electricity or batteries Television Radio Film & DVD’s Internet E-mails, Websites, Blogs Facebook & Twitter Newspapers Magazines

INTERNET & SOCIAL NETWORKING ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Able to interact instantly with other users Open communication Opportunity to debate Amateur journalists Prevent human rights abuses Inequality Hate sites – lack of personal boundaries Paedophiles Plagiarism Quality of research Difficult to control by State

FEATURES OF A DEMOCRACY Transparency One man one vote Equality in all areas Freedoms in all areas of life Freedom of the press

What is the role of media? To inform society about daily events that can be deemed as newsworthy; To empower citizens with information regarding their rights ; To give citizens access to information so that they can know their rights; To provide citizens with enough information to know how and why they should participate in decision Making and hold the powers to be accountable; To provide opportunities for the exchange of knowledge and ideas

ROLE OF THE PRESS IN A DEMOCRACY Serve as a watch dog for ‘democracy transgressors’ (expose corruption and mismanagement) Ask the ‘tricky’ questions & uncover the truths Hold leaders accountable Report the unbiased truth The voice of the people – shape public opinion promote debate & discussion promote nation-building

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION UDHR SA past history Bill of rights

FREEDOM of EXPRESSION According to the bill of rights we as SA citizens have freedom of expression which includes : Freedom of the press and other media Freedom to receive or impart information or ideas Freedom of artistic creativity Academic freedom and freedom of scientific research

LIMITATIONS TO FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION But it does not extend to : Propaganda for war Incitement of imminent violence Advocacy of hatred based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion Incitement to cause harm Reporters Without Boarders’ World Press Freedom Index ranked South Africa as 26th in the world for ‘Genuine Press Freedom’ in 2002, but 33rd in 2009

FREEDOM of EXPRESSION and LIMITATIONS Media can make or break a reputation and must therefore: Sometimes media does not fulfil a responsible role, eg. Give enough information to explain what is happening Issues must be explained in a non-biased way Headlines should not be untrue, scandalous or sensationalised State the facts Give political parties equal coverage Sources must be checked before reported on Satisfying the interests of the advertiser vs the interest of the publc Gossip, scandals, reported on in an entertaining way Paparazzi invading privacy of celebrities Information is sometimes biased and incorrect

An unfair preference for or dislike of something BIAS? An unfair preference for or dislike of something Is this healthy in the media?

PRESS FREEDOM…. Also everyone has the right of access to : Any information held by the state Any information by another person that has to do with protection of any rights

THE PROTECTION OF STATE INFORMATION BILL More commonly known as the Secrecy Bill The Bill proposes long sentences for journalists/whistle-blowers/anyone who makes state secrets public However no clarity exists around what is considered “state secrets”

CRITICISMS OF THE MEDIA Influence what people think (emotive language – captions) Advertising - Profit drive Monopoly (ownership of Media – state, private, partial private) TV violence Lethargy Values and Cultural standards (political motives) Ethics – doing what is laid down by codes of practice like the press code vs Morals – doing what you believe is good and right and just

The following criteria can be used to determine whether the media’s reporting reflects a democratic society: Topics covered Editorial position Space allocated to topics Geographical distribution

Topics covered: which topics are commonly covered by the media Topics covered: which topics are commonly covered by the media? What does this say about the media? National, local or international information; pre-election etc. Editorial position: What is the viewpoint of the editor? Is the editor biased for or against a topic or group of people? Provide a platform for debate across a range of views; greater public participation; political/economical/ sensational agenda; leaning to one political direction or another; draw parallels between current events and history.

Space allocated to topics: Which topics are featured heavily and which are featured a little? Sensational topics Geographical distribution: Is the information available to many groups or people or only to a certain few? Distribution dependent on infrastructure, literacy, physical location; accessibility not equal throughout the country; local newspapers only accessible to local communities eg Roodepoort Rekord, Soshanguve Sun.

MEDIA COVERAGE OF SPORT, SPORTS PERSONALITIES AND RECREATION ARTICLES Browse through the sport and lifestyle sections of the newspaper. List all the sports/sport personalities/sport teams covered by the newspaper. How many articles were written that covered each of the sport/ sport personalities/sport teams listed above? Does the newspaper seem to favour a particular sport/sport personality/sport team? If so which one?

How was this topic covered in other forms of media?  Are there any articles about recreational activities? Which activities were featured? Why were these particular recreational activities featured? Is the coverage representative of all sports and recreational activities in South Africa?  What suggestion would you make to the newspaper about its sport and recreation coverage?  

KEVIN CARTER A South african journalist Part of the BANG BANG CLUB Won a pulitzer prize in 1993 – Sudan image Famous image – SUDAN CHILD

WHO IS THE VULTURE?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT HOW DO THE PRESS BALANCE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND RIGHT TO PRIVACY? HOW DO NEWSPAPERS DIFFER IN COUNTRIES WITH NO DEMOCRACY???? WHAT IS YOUR ROLE?