A tale of two paradoxes: Media censorship in South Africa, pre-liberation and post-apartheid

Merrett, Christopher

doi:10.1080/02560240185310071

Cited by 13 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…This continues today in China, where fines, arrests, demotions and libel lawsuits induce journalists to self-censor (Xu, 2014). The fear of consequences similarly stimulated self-censorship in South Africa during apartheid, and in Indonesia during the New Order regime, and are practices continuing despite transition from authoritarian rule (Merrett, 2001;Tapsell, 2012). In Russia, after a wave of terrorist attacks from 1999 onwards, journalists agreed to draw up 'responsible' guidelines for the coverage of terrorism, something Simons and Strovsky (2006, p. 205) consider a trade-off for harsher media laws, and a way to preclude media outlets from fines and closedowns.…”

Section: A Place Under Siegementioning

confidence: 99%

A Place Under Siege: Self-Censorship Strategies among Cuban State Media Journalists

Natvig

2019

BJR

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This article analyses how enemy images of the US in Cuba affect journalists in the Cuban state media. For the political elite, the image of US imperialistic interests has legitimated their continuing control over the media. Within these limits, journalists negotiate between professional ideals and a responsibility to protect the country. Journalists accept self-censorship of stories that, in theory, damage Cuban interests. At the same time, journalists see the US threat as inflated, and worry about the lack of relevant information available to the public. While journalists oppose censorship and self-censorship on everyday issues, attempts to change these practices are confined to theoretical discussions. UM LUGAR SITIADO: estratégias de autocensura entre jornalistas do Estado cubanoRESUMO -Este artigo analisa o modo como imagens hostis aos Estados Unidos em Cuba afetam os jornalistas dos meios de comunicação estatais cubanos. Para a elite política, a imagem dos interesses imperialistas dos Estados Unidos vem legitimar o seu controle permanente sobre os meios de comunicação. Com estas limitações, os jornalistas se veem obrigados a equilibrar os ideais profissionais com a sua responsabilidade de proteger a nação. Os jornalistas aceitam se autocensurar em matérias que, teoricamente, prejudicam os interesses cubanos. Ao mesmo tempo, os jornalistas consideram a ameaça norte-americana como sendo deliberadamente exagerada e preocupam-se com a falta de informação relevante que se encontra disponível ao público. Enquanto os jornalistas se confrontam com censura e autocensura em assuntos do quotidiano, as tentativas de mudar essas práticas estão confinadas às discussões teóricas. Palavras-chave: Regime autoritário. Jornalismo cubano. Imagens hostis. Autocensura. Meios de comunicação estatais.

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Section: A Place Under Siegementioning

confidence: 99%

A Place Under Siege: Self-Censorship Strategies among Cuban State Media Journalists

Natvig

2019

BJR

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“…This government imposed strong censorship on the media. 7 Images or sound recordings of anti-Apartheid protests were banned so as to deny the protestors a stage from which to gain international sympathy. 8 During this period, South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe, and colonial Mozambique were involved in a border war against insurgents and in the Angolan conflict.…”

Section: Historical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Information-Based Conflict in Africa

Niekerk

Maharaj

2013

Sci.Mil.

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For a long time, the African continent was regarded as the 'Dark Continent'. The rapid assimilation of information technologies into the African economies has placed Africa firmly on a trajectory that will see it compete and integrate with the developed world. As nations and organisations become more information-centric, it is natural that conflicts and competition amongst the various nations or organisations will become increasingly information-based. In this article, the authors reflect upon information-based conflict in Africa. Areas of information conflict that are discussed include censorship, communications intercepts, the use of information and communications to instigate violence and uprisings, and the possibility of cyberwarfare. The article shows that the use of technology to conduct information conflict in Africa is prevalent, and that it is likely to increase. Scientia Militaria http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za

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“…Christopher Merrett (2001) gives a comprehensive description of the legislation enforcing official secrecy and the control of information flow. He points out that state security officials sent in 95 per cent of the 23,435 titles submitted to the Publications Board under the censorship laws.…”

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confidence: 99%

The value of information in South Africa’s new democracy

Hart

Nassimbeni

2018

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to trace and analyse the relationship between information and democracy in the old and in the new South Africa. The authors interrogate the applicability to the situation of the famous quotation attributed to Thomas Jefferson, “Information is the currency of Democracy”. Design/methodology/approach The authors frame the argument by analysing the differences in philosophy underpinning the state’s attitude to the free flow of information between the pre-democratic regime (often referred to as the Apartheid regime which came into power in 1948) and the current democratic state established in 1994. Findings While the philosophical approach between the two regimes is demonstrably different – the findings show the discontinuities – the authors also find evidence of continuities. The authors examine traces of recurrent patterns and propose reasons for their persistence. Originality/value Because South Africa is a very young democracy it presents unique opportunities for social scientists to analyse the unfolding of challenges and opportunities not readily apparent in mature democracies. The theme of the issue allowed us to study and observe the evolution and growth of policy related to the free flow of information, and also to examine the current drift between policy and practice.

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A tale of two paradoxes: Media censorship in South Africa, pre-liberation and post-apartheid

Cited by 13 publications

References 9 publications

A Place Under Siege: Self-Censorship Strategies among Cuban State Media Journalists

A Place Under Siege: Self-Censorship Strategies among Cuban State Media Journalists

Information-Based Conflict in Africa

The value of information in South Africa’s new democracy

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