Advance Search

Independent or embedded: An exploration of views of the Presidential Press Corps

An exploration of views of the Presidential Press Corps

Herman Wasserman
University of Capetown
Lizma van Zyl
University of Capetown
Keywords:
Copyright and Licensing:
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Share:

How to Cite

Independent or embedded: An exploration of views of the Presidential Press Corps. (2022). Communicare: Journal for Communication Studies in Africa, 22(1), 117-130. https://doi.org/10.36615/jcsa.v22i1.1802
  • Articles
  • Submited: October 22, 2022
  • Published: October 24, 2022

Abstract

This article explores different viewpoints about the question of journalistic independence
in the current South African dispensation by taking the Presidential Press Corps (PPC)
as an example. It is argued that when seen from a libertarian point of view, the PPC
presents some problems with regard to the normative ethical framework that sees media
independence as a position that brings the media and the government in opposition.
The views of journalists and editors are canvassed to illustrate some of the concerns
about the PPC. The article concludes by suggesting different ways to view the relationship
between the government and the media that would not present the same ethical
difficulties as when this relationship is viewed from an orthodox libertarian perspective.

pdf
pdf

Article Metrics Graph

Article Views | PDF Downloads
Chart Graph | Range Graph

References

  1. ALTSCHULL, J.H. 1990. From Milton to McLuhan - The ideas behind American journalism. New York and London : Longman.
  2. CHRISTIANS, C.G., FERRE, J.P. & FACKLER, P.M. 1993. Good news. New York : Oxford University Press
  3. FOURIE, P.J. & OOSTHUIZEN, L.M. 2001. Media imperialism: The new world information and communication order. (In Fourie, P.J (ed.). Media Studies. Lansdowne : Juta.)
  4. Africaonline.com. SA intelligence service apologises for 'sex questions'. AfricaOnline.com. [Web:] [Date of access: 24 Aug 2002].
  5. BLACK, J.S.B. & RALPH, B. 1995. Doing ethics in journalism - A handbook with case studies. Boston : Allyn and Bacon.
  6. BARRELL, H. 2001. US-style press corps for South Africa. Mail & Guardian, 23:5, March.
  7. CABINET/SANEF. 2001. Cabinet/Sanef Indaba - The Way Forward. [Web:] [Date of access: 26 November 2002.
  8. BERGER, G. 1997. Towards 2000. Independent media in South Africa. Paper read at Buntstift conference, Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, Johannesburg. 19 April. [Web:]
  9. DE BEER, E. 2003. Mbeki urges journalists to set up an 'African Al-Jazeera'. Cape Times, 14 April.
  10. FERREIRA, T. 2002. SAUK sê CNN bly, al kom Al-Jazeera. Die Burger, 31 December. p.2
  11. FOURIE, P.J. 2002. Rethinking the role of the media in South Africa. Communicare, 21(1):17-40.
  12. HERNANDEZ, H.D. 1995. Moving the presidential press corps? Editor & Publisher, 128(16):52-54
  13. JACOBS, S. 2002. How good is the South African media for democracy? African and Asian Studies, 1(4):279- 302. https://doi.org/10.1163/156921002X00033
  14. JOUBERT, J. 2002a. Uitsaaiers wil ombudsman hê. Die Burger, 7 March p.5.
  15. JOUBERT, J. 2002b. Partye haaks oor mediawet. Die Burger, 13 March p.5.
  16. JOUBERT, J. 2002c. Cosatu sê Mazwai moet loop uit SAUK-raad. 20 August p.2.
  17. JOUBERT, J. 2002d. FXI 'diep besorg' oor gevolge van mediawet vir SAUK. Die Burger, 20 August. p.6.
  18. KHUMALO, B. 2002. Telephonic interview with 2nd author. December.
  19. MAIL & GUARDIAN. 2003. Social movements: 'ultra-left' or 'global citizens'? 2003-01-31:8-9
  20. KUMAR, M. 2000. The White House 2001 Project. Report no. 31. Baltimore : Towson University.
  21. MATISONN, J. 2002. 'Unsavoury' queries dropped in press grilling. The Sunday Independent, 27 April. p. 3.
  22. MULHOLLAND, S. 2002. Jet-set president should take stock. Sunday Times, 28 July. p1. News 24.com. Anger over 'sex questionnaire'. [Web:] [Date of access: 16 Sept. 2002].
  23. OLIVIER, A. 2003. CNN nie meer op SAUK te sien. Die Burger, 2 April. p.2.
  24. OOSTHUIZEN, L.M. 2002. Media Ethics in the South African Context. Lansdowne : Juta. Presidential Press Corps. 2002. Final Working Document.
  25. RABE, L. 2003. Maak-of-breek-oorlog - ook vir die media? Die Burger, 27 March. p.19.
  26. RADEBE, H. 2002. Telephonic interview with 2nd author, December 2002.
  27. RADEBE, H. 2003. Telephonic interview with 2nd author, July 2003.
  28. RATAU, S. 2003. E-mail interview with 2nd author. January.
  29. RETIEF, J. 2002. Media ethics - An introduction to responsible journalism. Cape Town : Oxford University Press.
  30. RONNING, H. 2002. The role of media in a democracy. (In Steenveld, L. (ed.) 2002. Training for Media Transformation & Democracy. Rosebank & Grahamstown : Sanef and Rhodes University.112-125).
  31. ROSSOUW, A. 2002. Telephonic interview with 2nd author, December.
  32. SABCNews.com. Sisulu apologises over sex quiz for journalists. Sabcnews.com. [Web:] [Date of access: 23 Aug 2002].
  33. RUTENBERG, J. 2002. White House keeps a grip on its news. New York Times. 14 October. p.C1.
  34. SHEPPERSON, A. & TOMASELLI, K. 2002. Ethics: a radical justice approach. Ecquid Novi, 23(2):278-28
  35. https://doi.org/10.1080/02560054.2002.9653251
  36. JACOBS, S. 2002. How good is the South African media for democracy? African and Asian Studies, 1(4):279- 302. https://doi.org/10.1163/156921002X00033 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156921002X00033
  37. JOUBERT, J. 2002a. Uitsaaiers wil ombudsman hê. Die Burger, 7 March p.5.
  38. JOUBERT, J. 2002b. Partye haaks oor mediawet. Die Burger, 13 March p.5.
  39. JOUBERT, J. 2002c. Cosatu sê Mazwai moet loop uit SAUK-raad. 20 August p.2.
  40. JOUBERT, J. 2002d. FXI 'diep besorg' oor gevolge van mediawet vir SAUK. Die Burger, 20 August. p.6.
  41. KHUMALO, B. 2002. Telephonic interview with 2nd author. December.
  42. MAIL & GUARDIAN. 2003. Social movements: 'ultra-left' or 'global citizens'? 2003-01-31:8-9
  43. KUMAR, M. 2000. The White House 2001 Project. Report no. 31. Baltimore : Towson University.
  44. MATISONN, J. 2002. 'Unsavoury' queries dropped in press grilling. The Sunday Independent, 27 April. p. 3.
  45. MULHOLLAND, S. 2002. Jet-set president should take stock. Sunday Times, 28 July. p1. News 24.com. Anger over 'sex questionnaire'. [Web:] [Date of access: 16 Sept. 2002].
  46. OLIVIER, A. 2003. CNN nie meer op SAUK te sien. Die Burger, 2 April. p.2.
  47. OOSTHUIZEN, L.M. 2002. Media Ethics in the South African Context. Lansdowne : Juta. Presidential Press Corps. 2002. Final Working Document.
  48. RABE, L. 2003. Maak-of-breek-oorlog - ook vir die media? Die Burger, 27 March. p.19.
  49. RADEBE, H. 2002. Telephonic interview with 2nd author, December 2002.
  50. RADEBE, H. 2003. Telephonic interview with 2nd author, July 2003.
  51. RATAU, S. 2003. E-mail interview with 2nd author. January.
  52. RETIEF, J. 2002. Media ethics - An introduction to responsible journalism. Cape Town : Oxford University Press.
  53. RONNING, H. 2002. The role of media in a democracy. (In Steenveld, L. (ed.) 2002. Training for Media Transformation & Democracy. Rosebank & Grahamstown : Sanef and Rhodes University.112-125).
  54. ROSSOUW, A. 2002. Telephonic interview with 2nd author, December.
  55. SABCNews.com. Sisulu apologises over sex quiz for journalists. Sabcnews.com. [Web:] [Date of access: 23 Aug 2002].
  56. RUTENBERG, J. 2002. White House keeps a grip on its news. New York Times. 14 October. p.C1.
  57. SHEPPERSON, A. & TOMASELLI, K. 2002. Ethics: a radical justice approach. Ecquid Novi, 23(2):278-28 https://doi.org/10.1080/02560054.2002.9653251 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02560054.2002.9653251
How to Cite
Independent or embedded: An exploration of views of the Presidential Press Corps. (2022). Communicare: Journal for Communication Studies in Africa, 22(1), 117-130. https://doi.org/10.36615/jcsa.v22i1.1802

Send mail to Author

Send Cancel

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Custom technologies based on your needs

  • ORCID
  • Crossref
  • PubMed
    • Clarivate