The Press: Now and Then by Meredith Ramsey

            On January 24, 2011, we went to visit The Star newspaper in Johannesburg.  We met in a conference room with two of the editors and talked about the newspaper itself and history about journalism in South Africa.  The Star was started in 1887, and it has been run out of Johannesburg around Market Square since its beginning.  The newspaper used to just be an afternoon paper, but in 1995 it became a 24 hour paper.  They have four editions that go out each weekday at 9:00 AM, noon, 9:00 PM, and midnight.  This helps them to be able to beat the television broadcasters to a story.  Additionally, on Wednesday the paper publishes a Work Place section that gives information about jobs in an attempt to help combat the high unemployment rate in the area.  This day, therefore, has the highest circulation.  The Star focuses on national issues as well as community specific stories, and it aims at reaching out to different ethnic groups.

            During our time talking to the editors, we learned some about the history of journalism in South Africa.  During apartheid, the Afrikaans and most of the English papers were embedded within the apartheid system, and the stories printed in the papers were watched by the government.  Most of these papers reflected a one sided view of society.  There were, however, grassroots papers that sprung up during this time.  These papers told of stories that were forbidden by the government about the truth of the brutality during the apartheid era.  Despite all of this, journalism as a whole was much more liberal and progressive than other parts of society.  Some newspapers in South Africa started integrating during the mid 1980’s, which was during the most heated part of the apartheid struggle.  As a result of this, newspapers were targeted by the police.  Around the time that the apartheid system fell, there were some journalists from all ethnic groups that fled from South Africa out of fear about what was happening in the country.  Today, some of these reporters are returning to South Africa, and there has been an explosion in the media.  South African journalism as well as the rest of the world is experiencing a multimedia revolution and trying to cope with the technology of today.

            Our experience at The Star was enhanced by getting to hear the personal story of the deputy editor.  He was born in Soweto and was raised during the apartheid struggle. He started journalism during his college years when he was a member of a student organization that expressed their disapproval of apartheid and worked to promote Black empowerment. He wrote several articles for his organization, and he joined The Star staff in 1988.  He has worked in many different positions associated with the press from reporter to editor and has covered a range of stories.  He has covered stories associated with the first democratic election in 1994 to stories about local people in his community.  He expressed to us that for him journalism is not work; it is a calling.

            During our discussions, we also spoke about some of the similarities and differences between American and South African journalism.  The editors informed us that there has been a decline in the sales of newspapers in South Africa as a result of the technology revolution like there has been in the United States.  From a South African’s prospective, we learned that in America the press is much more monopolized than in South Africa.  The editor views this as one of the biggest dangers to American press and media.  There is apparently much more grassroots communication occurring in South Africa. This is one area in which Americans can learn from South Africans.

            Additionally, the deputy editor told us that the biggest challenge after apartheid is telling the story of the new South Africa.  He said that politics about the new democracy are still present in the news today and that there are stories about South Africa’s role in the continent and about its relationship with its neighboring countries. He told us that challenges of the new democracy are still present such as high unemployment rates.  Despite this negative news, there are also some positive things coming out of the new South Africa. In the book New News Out of Africa, Charlayne Hunter-Gault discusses ways in which South Africa and Africa as a whole are moving forward in today’s world.  One example is when she discusses how there has been a spark in education with students attending schools that they would not have been allowed to even walk into during apartheid. These students are passionate and eager to learn.  She also talks about how even though there are certainly still rough times ahead, the younger generation in South Africa now has the opportunity to dream about life in ways that were unimaginable 17 years ago.  There have also been new governmental policies set in place to help the South African society.  One such example is the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD).  The aim of this policy is to help eliminate poverty, while concentrating on growth and development. Another source, “Reflections on Gender Violence in the South African Public Health Agenda” by Jewkes, discusses how there is new legislation that focuses on domestic violence and crime reduction such as the Domestic Violence Act of 1998.  Evidently, even though South Africa has a ways to go, it is certainly making steps toward becoming a better nation.

            Overall, we had a great experience learning about South African journalism today.  Jasmine even got the opportunity to write a story about our Adopt-A-Student program at the Ekukhanyisweni Primary School that will hopefully get published in The Star.  One final question I leave you with as you think about journalism in South Africa and elsewhere is what are the ways in which the American press can learn from international media both in South Africa and beyond?

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