GARETH VAN ONSELEN: The devolution of the ANC’s trust in the media
THE ANC’s relationship with the media post-1994 has always been fraught. It has, to one degree or another, conceived of "the media" as a single, united force and generally hostile towards the party. It argued it was predominately white-owned and thus set against the ANC and its political agenda, typified by that ultimate vagary, transformation.Essentially the relationship has gone through three phases:1. The honeymoon phase — post-apartheid, the ideals of a free and independent press were championed and celebrated.2. The hostile phase — the realities of governance, and with them much scandal and corruption, led to relations deteriorating and, ultimately, a media appeals tribunal was proposed.3. The appropriation phase — through the state and private capital (loyal to the ANC government) a series of existing and new media were remodelled and established, generally to be more "positive" about and "supportive" of the government of the day.Of course, the SABC has always been central to ...
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