Browsing by Author "Louw-De Wee, Nicolene"
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- ItemAn exploration of criticism against the South African media: media experts and academics respond to complaints against the media at the South African Press Council(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2024-03) Louw-De Wee, Nicolene; Jordaan, Marenet; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Journalism.ENGLISH 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.