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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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?

5. 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

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

7. 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

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

9. 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

10. 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

11. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
UDHR
SA past history
Bill of rights

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. 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

17. 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”

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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?

24. 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?

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

26. WHO IS THE VULTURE?

36. 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?