Quality media opens windows

Posted: 9 April 2008 | News - Newsletter | Categories:

Quality is a difficult concept to operationalise across the broad spectrum of media. This newsletter presents different pieces which grapple with the concept as can be practiced.

Media’s role in building an open society

The radio conference, broadcast on the 2 March 2008 on SAfm, asks difficult questions about the role that media can play in supporting democracy and opening our minds to new ideas. Guests included:
# Nadia Bulbullia, a former ICASA Councillor, and a broadcast and media researcher;

# Zohra Dawood, Executive Director – Open Society Foundation;

# Steven Friedman, Research Associate at IDASA,

# Ann Donald, Former Fair Lady Editor; and

# Phylicia Oppelt, Editor - Daily Dispatch.

Same event, two very different stories

Poor quality journalism, with a lack of sources makes the events surrounding the death of a 7-year-old in Zandspruit unfathomable, if you read the account of the Daily Sun. In contrast, The Star story is clear and quotes a variety of sources.

How celebrity gossip can inform readers

As part of the Media Monitoring Project’s daily work, we undertake monitoring based on issues of discrimination.  Falling under the Anti Discrimination Unit, it includes daily monitoring activities, which are most often presented as comprehensive analyses of media coverage of particular issues. These regular analyses highlight the presence of discriminatory reports, as well as reports that are exceptional in their challenging of stereotypes and discrimination.

The primary focus of the unit is to monitor human rights-related issues, including race, gender, children, poverty, HIV/AIDS, crime, disability and stories relating to Africa.

The aims and objectives of the Anti Discrimination Unit are:

  * To highlight discriminatory reporting in a clear and understandable manner
  * To promote debates and constructive discussions by working with the media to provide practical suggestions for improvement
  * To defend the freedom of expression and human rights
  * To extend and entrench a human rights culture within the media to better inform both the public and representative public bodies of human rights issues in the media
  * To promote ethical journalism, by pointing out and helping to eradicate instances of unethical journalistic practice

Please browse through our past updates.