intensive clean-out by an interim board in 2017, the SABC now has a new board in place and appears, at least tentatively, to be back on track. The independence of the board also seems assured after the High Court ruled in 2017 that the SABC’s Memorandum of Incorporation was ultra vires [meaning beyond one’s legal power or authority] the provisions of the Broadcasting Act and curtailed the Communications Minister’s powers regarding executive board appointments. Another key positive development in the media sector since the last AMB in 2013, is the flourishing of critical and investigative reporting. Investigative media platforms such as the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism and Scorpio (the investigative unit of the Daily Maverick), played a critical role in exposing “state capture” during former President Jacob Zuma’s tenure. On the whole, journalism in the country is strong and South African journalists are generally considered to be ethical, credible and trustworthy, particularly those working in the print media. Newspapers, however, are facing a crisis as print news circulation continues its steady downward trend. The shrinking and juniorisation [meaning the process of older and more experienced staff being pushed out of a workforce in favour of younger and less expensive people] of newsrooms are also points of concern. In addition, there is more of a focus on online rather than print media, and there is less specialisation of journalists. The State of Newsroom 2017: Fakers and Makers states that under the impact of new technologies which are changing audiences in profound ways, traditional business models guiding the newspaper industry are in decline and may not survive. This is an issue of great concern. Furthermore, women continue to be marginalised in the newsrooms. Although the number of women reporters has increased, there are very few women at editorial and management levels. Research has shown that creating gender equality in the newsroom is more than fulfilling a quota or being politically correct – it’s good business as gender balance not only helps build readership and a publication’s impact but eventually, its overall revenue. South Africa is heading to elections in 2019, which promises to be one of the most significant since 1994. The credibility of these elections will not only depend on the integrity of the Independent Electoral Commission but also on the media. The SABC, as the public broadcaster, will have a key role to play in these elections. The sustainability of SABC is an important policy agenda item for both government and civil society alike. The scourge of fake news and Twitter bots is also something that needs to be taken into consideration in the upcoming election. Over the past two years, the country has seen the harassment of several journalists, both online (including through the use of automated Twitter bots) and offline. Governments in Africa are using political bots, built to look and act like real citizens, in an effort to silence opponents and push official state messages. This new trend is something that needs to be given serious attention by the media, civil society and policy makers in South Africa. 7 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2018