SECTOR 4

Newsrooms in general now reflect the demographics of the country, with some
exceptions. SABC editorial staff and reporters are predominantly African, while
most subeditors at print media are white. This also goes for online publications,
where staff are mainly white and young - the perception is that if someone is over
35 he or she will not be computer-wise enough to make it in the business of online
publishing.
A good number of black journalists are not working in the media – they have
moved into better paid positions in government and the private sector.

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country meets only a few aspects of indicator

3

Country meets some aspects of indicator

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator.

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator

Average score: 			

2.8 (2008 = n/a; 2006 = n/a)

4.5
Journalists and editors do not practise self–
censorship.
Generally journalists have an understanding of the type of stories that will be
acceptable to the publication they are working for and they produce stories
accordingly. If that is self-censorship then many journalists are practising it.
Interpreted more benignly, it could also be considered professionalism because it
is part of learning how a particular media house or publication works.
A journalist on the panel said: “We used to censor ourselves – looking back at the
1970s and 1980s. Information would be left out of stories. Papers were going out
with blank spaces. We are very, very free at the moment. I now feel freer to write
what I want.”
Anecdotal evidence coming out of the SABC indicates that there is fear and
intimidation among journalists and a high rate of self-censorship as a result.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2010

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