Vol 25, No 1 (2006)

This paper attempts to estimate the determinants of Internet usage in South Africa in a theoretically
plausible model. The three-step Engle Yoo estimation technique is applied. The results indicate
that the number of Internet users is dependent on access to personal computers as well as real
wages and salaries. An error correction model is estimated and shocks are applied to the long
run variables. The shocks indicate that an increase in wages and salaries is necessary, but not
sufficient, for an increase in Internet access. The South African government has implemented
numerous policies to address the disparities that exist in the country concerning access to
information and communication. Policies such as personal income tax relief and skills development
play an integral part in addressing limited access to the Internet, although these policies sometimes
contradict the perceived objective.

The primary objective of this phenomenological exploratory study was to explore the constraints
experienced by selected corporate communication practitioners in the South African banking
industry in advancing to more senior corporate communication roles.
The literature review indicated various individual, organisational and communication profession
constraints experienced by practitioners. In the empirical study, additional constraints, such as
organisational politics, the length of time spent in the organisation, the practitioner’s lack of
networking and relationship building skills, the lack of overseas experience, and the lack of the
standardisation of communication practitioner deliverables, were identified

Since the introduction of the first tabloid to the South African market in 2001, and seemingly
increasing with each subsequent entrant into this burgeoning market, debates about their role,
the reasons for their success, their potential, and their ethics (or the lack thereof) have been raging
in the popular press. This debate seems to suggest, among other things, that the questions raised
by the introduction of tabloids are of primary concern to producers and consumers of the media
itself – in other words, that tabloids need to be dealt with within the domain of the popular press
itself. In this paper I argue that while these debates are seemingly set on evaluating the tabloid
media, they also reveal – and perhaps even more so – the dominant normative assumptions and
professional ideologies in the mainstream media. In debating and rejecting the journalistic excesses
of the tabloids, these debates served as a form of paradigm repair to restore the image of an
occupation in trouble. The question to be investigated by looking at these debates is whether the
widespread criticism of tabloids should be seen as part of journalistic ritual, namely the routine
application of ethical guidelines and the performance of professional standards, or whether these
debates went deeper to provide a structural critique of the South African media.

The consumption of media – especially radio and television – by children has been a topic of
research for decades now. Although extensive research has been published on the effects of the
media, also in South Africa, very few (if any) publications address the issue of when and what
children are viewing in South Africa, and if something should be done about this behaviour. In this
article, specific examples of the viewing patterns of children between the ages of 7 and 15 are
presented in the context of unacceptable material to which they are exposed. The different roles
of parents, broadcasters and legislators are discussed, against the backdrop of recent literature,
in an attempt to suggest a way forward.

With the inception of new technologies and the Internet, media users can consult a variety of
diverse sources for their daily news. The latest innovations to have an impact on the traditional
news landscape are weblogs, commonly referred to as blogs. Blogs have become a significant
new way to publish information and engage in conversation about social and political issues. This
paper explores the role of the political blog, www.commentary.co.za, as a news medium as perceived
by selected Johannesburg bloggers. Through qualitative research, the respondents concurred that
while a news blog will probably never replace traditional media, it can be used effectively to promote
the exchange of information and offer new perspectives on issues. In addition to this, they believe
that blogs can be a form of participatory journalism and complement journalism.

Political posters are often described as the decorations of elections. However, on how effective
or successful political posters really are in harvesting votes, the last word has not been spoken.
Although no party has probably ever won or lost an election because of its posters, the power of
posters should not be underestimated. Posters are generally more effective in raising awareness
than actually persuading voters to vote for a specific party. Political posters contribute mainly to
image building, the reinforcement of party support, and the visibility of the party, which could
ultimately lead to a bandwagon effect (Trent & Friedenberg, 1995:269-271; Maarek, 1995:105).
Judging by the effort that parties put into their poster campaigns, they certainly seem to regard
them as more than mere decorative statements. The countless reports of vandalism of posters
by the different parties (see Van Staaden, 2006; Van Wyk, 2006; Louw, 2006:9; Smith, 2006; De
Beer, 2006:9) are testament to how important parties perceive posters. The Democratic Alliance
(DA) felt so strongly about their posters that they (as they did in 2004) installed electronic sensors
in certain areas on their posters to alert them of vandalism (Anon, 2006). Surely parties would
not be lodging complaints and quarrelling over posters if they were not seen as vital to the
electioneering process. Parties thus spend a large portion of their budgets on posters. They
estimate the cost of a poster at about R10,00 per poster, excluding the logistical costs of putting
posters up and taking them down.
It is against this background that I will comment on the poster campaigns of the major political
parties. My comments are mainly limited to posters that were available in Potchefstroom and the
surrounding areas, as these are the posters that I personally observed. Still, reference will be
made to some of the political hotspots, for example Cape Town, where the political campaigns
enjoyed a high media profile. The comments will be directed at the themes addressed on the
posters, the role of the party leaders on the posters, and the general appearance of these posters.