Vol 20, No 2 (2001)

The first phase of this qualitative study employed the extended case method. Its aim
was to explore the role behaviour of the most senior corporate communication
practitioner in the government Department of Housing, South Africa. It was found
that the Director: Communication Services played a combination of roles: firstly, Dozier's
(1984) media relations specialist (seen as part of the historic technician role) and secondly,
she also performed certain generic managerial activities. The two (new) strategic
management roles of the corporate communication function, the strategist and the
redefined manager, were not observed (Steyn, 2000a; 200Gb).
The second phase entailed the development of a corporate communication strategy for
the Department by the Deputy Director, using action research. The unit of analysis was
her communicative output, in the form of the strategy. Empowered by postgraduate
studies, she was found to possess the necessary strategic communication management
knowledge and skills to perform this important activity of a practitioner in the redefined
role of manager successfully.

Protests and Perceptions: The Framing of the Modern Protester considers the role of
the modern mass media in creating and perpetuating simplified images of newsworthy
events and people. Specifically, an in-depth analysis of New York Times_and Washington
Post coverage of the Summit of the Americas held from April 20, 2001 to April 22, 2001
in Quebec, Canada, provides examples of media framing of both Summit participants
and protesters. The analysis shows that newspaper reports on the debate are presented
through a pro-capitalist framework, which influences readers' perception of those who
oppose globalization and free trade.

In order to identify the rhetorical characteristics of the participants, this study aimed
to describe, interpret and evaluate the verbal strategies and tactics used by the five
debaters who participated. The Eclectic Approach within the experiential perspective
was used.
Pahad revealed an idiosyncratic rhetorical style. Leon lived up to his party's overall
strategy: "To Fight Back". He mostly used the strategy of attack and pinpointed the
causes of identified problems in no uncertain terms. Van Schalkwyk appeared to be the
man with the facts. Of all the debaters, he made the most use of substantial evidence
and proof. Ngobane interacted very Little with his fellow debaters. This is in Line with
his view that opposition parties should rather "move towards consensus politics, ... but
not come and attack the government". Viljoen did not once identify himself with his
party. He created the image of the political advisor who stands above party politics.
Despite identified negative aspects of the debaters' style and the imperfect format,
debate should always be on the political agenda. Rigorous inquiry towards political
and moral truth should be at the core of the rhetoric of a democracy to improve the
quality of debating and argumentation, in order to enrich democracy and to allow
citizens to make well-informed decisions.

The Higher Education Sector has been going through major processes of change over
the last couple of years. These challenges do not occur in isolation from the sociopolitical changes that permeate larger society. Pressures on the University and thus
the School of Communication Studies to transform, not only in terms of programme
contents, but also in terms of institutional identity are mounting. Yet, the School of
Communication Studies is inextricably part of the larger institution. The traditional
core dimensions of what a University has been identified with are at stake. One way of
analysing and conceptualising the situation is to look at the Chaos Theory and the
inherent implications for the institution and as a result the teaching programmes.
This article attempts to place and analyse the core qualities of the Chaos Theory within
the context of the University as an institution that finds itself in turn in the context
of a very unpredictable and transforming societal sphere. The aim is to become more
relevant for the challenges of the situation and in turn enhance the quality and credibility
of the programmes being offered.