Mapping the Radio KC community : a case study assessing the impact of participatory research methods in assisting community radio producers to identify programming content
- Authors: Davidson, Brett Russell
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Radio broadcasting -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio stations -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio journalism -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio broadcasters -- Research -- South Africa -- Paarl , Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Mass media -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Radio in community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3497 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003716 , Radio broadcasting -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio stations -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio journalism -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio broadcasters -- Research -- South Africa -- Paarl , Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Mass media -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Radio in community development
- Description: This thesis deals with the introduction of participatory research methods to programming staff working at Radio KC, a South African community radio station based in Paarl, in the Western Cape province. The focus is on a series of workshops conducted at the station, dealing with research tools developed to enable station workers to undertake research of their community. The aim was to determine, by means ofa case study, whether the introduction of participatory research methods could improve the ability of community broadcasters to facilitate democratic participation among the communities in which they operate. More particularly, the thesis assesses whether the application of such methods has improved the ability of the programming staff that were involved in this case study to identify a wider range of stories and voices within their target community, for inclusion in programming content. The participatory research techniques that are applied at the radio station are based on ideas in 'civic mapping' developed by Harwood and McCrehan (1996) under the auspices of The Pew Center for Civic Journalism, and supplemented by insights from Friedland (2001) and Downs and Stea (1977) about the cognitive, normative and imagined dimensions of community. All of the ideas and techniques were adapted for the South African situation. The findings of the research project illustrate that for community stations, the key concepts of 'community' and 'participation' are highly complex ones and that stations need assistance to apply these concepts in their everyday practice. The account of the intervention at Radio KC shows that the process did indeed assist the individual research participants to better deal with the application of these concepts. It did not, however, make much impact on the station as a whole. Reasons for this are believed to lie in the organisational dynamics of the station, and the fact that the model as applied in this case did not provide a means for tackling the agendas, investments and power relations that define the activities of individuals at a given community radio station - what Hochheimer (1993) talks about as the entrenchment of power and personalities. In order to address these shortcomings, an attempt is made to develop a model for future application, which places the mapping process within the context of a broader strategic planning process, focussed on a station's programming schedule.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
- Authors: Davidson, Brett Russell
- Date: 2004
- Subjects: Radio broadcasting -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio stations -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio journalism -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio broadcasters -- Research -- South Africa -- Paarl , Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Mass media -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Radio in community development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3497 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1003716 , Radio broadcasting -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio stations -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio journalism -- South Africa -- Paarl , Radio broadcasters -- Research -- South Africa -- Paarl , Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Mass media -- Social aspects -- South Africa , Radio in community development
- Description: This thesis deals with the introduction of participatory research methods to programming staff working at Radio KC, a South African community radio station based in Paarl, in the Western Cape province. The focus is on a series of workshops conducted at the station, dealing with research tools developed to enable station workers to undertake research of their community. The aim was to determine, by means ofa case study, whether the introduction of participatory research methods could improve the ability of community broadcasters to facilitate democratic participation among the communities in which they operate. More particularly, the thesis assesses whether the application of such methods has improved the ability of the programming staff that were involved in this case study to identify a wider range of stories and voices within their target community, for inclusion in programming content. The participatory research techniques that are applied at the radio station are based on ideas in 'civic mapping' developed by Harwood and McCrehan (1996) under the auspices of The Pew Center for Civic Journalism, and supplemented by insights from Friedland (2001) and Downs and Stea (1977) about the cognitive, normative and imagined dimensions of community. All of the ideas and techniques were adapted for the South African situation. The findings of the research project illustrate that for community stations, the key concepts of 'community' and 'participation' are highly complex ones and that stations need assistance to apply these concepts in their everyday practice. The account of the intervention at Radio KC shows that the process did indeed assist the individual research participants to better deal with the application of these concepts. It did not, however, make much impact on the station as a whole. Reasons for this are believed to lie in the organisational dynamics of the station, and the fact that the model as applied in this case did not provide a means for tackling the agendas, investments and power relations that define the activities of individuals at a given community radio station - what Hochheimer (1993) talks about as the entrenchment of power and personalities. In order to address these shortcomings, an attempt is made to develop a model for future application, which places the mapping process within the context of a broader strategic planning process, focussed on a station's programming schedule.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2004
Exploring new terrain - tackling a tri-media approach to the 1999 election: an analysis of online coverage of elections by media organisations in their respective countries and recommendations for multi-platform publishing within the South African Broadcasting Corporation to cover the national election
- Authors: Naidoo, Kameshnee
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: South African Broadcasting Corporation , Elections , Journalism -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Internet , Electronic news gathering , Television broadcasting of news -- Political aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3473 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002928 , South African Broadcasting Corporation , Elections , Journalism -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Internet , Electronic news gathering , Television broadcasting of news -- Political aspects
- Description: This study attempts to analyse the way foreign media organisations have used the Internet to inform, educate and mobilise citizens for participation in their national election. These foreign experiences provide a framework with which to analyse the implications for the SABC as a public broadcaster of the next elections in South Africa. The research was informed by theories of media and democracy. One of the most powerful features of the new technology is its technical ability to facilitate an interactive flow of information. This research examines the concept of cyberdemocracy and the implications for the SABC, especially as it is planning on launching an online election strategy. The democratic roles of journalism and the implications for the SABC are also discussed. As a public service broadcaster, the SABC is bound to educate, inform, and mobilise voters for participation, build community and national identity and scrutinise the poll in the interests of transparency, accountability and fair play. International journalists are advocating a new type of journalism, called public or civic journalism, which combines these roles. This research draws primarily on qualitative research methods, using a case study methodology. It draws upon direct observation and interview methodology in the fieldwork. However, it also uses some quantitative methods in the analysis of the websites and the SABC research.Finally, the research analyses the situation at the SABC and provides recommendations for the election website within this context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
- Authors: Naidoo, Kameshnee
- Date: 1999
- Subjects: South African Broadcasting Corporation , Elections , Journalism -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Internet , Electronic news gathering , Television broadcasting of news -- Political aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MA
- Identifier: vital:3473 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1002928 , South African Broadcasting Corporation , Elections , Journalism -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Mass media -- Political aspects -- South Africa , Internet , Electronic news gathering , Television broadcasting of news -- Political aspects
- Description: This study attempts to analyse the way foreign media organisations have used the Internet to inform, educate and mobilise citizens for participation in their national election. These foreign experiences provide a framework with which to analyse the implications for the SABC as a public broadcaster of the next elections in South Africa. The research was informed by theories of media and democracy. One of the most powerful features of the new technology is its technical ability to facilitate an interactive flow of information. This research examines the concept of cyberdemocracy and the implications for the SABC, especially as it is planning on launching an online election strategy. The democratic roles of journalism and the implications for the SABC are also discussed. As a public service broadcaster, the SABC is bound to educate, inform, and mobilise voters for participation, build community and national identity and scrutinise the poll in the interests of transparency, accountability and fair play. International journalists are advocating a new type of journalism, called public or civic journalism, which combines these roles. This research draws primarily on qualitative research methods, using a case study methodology. It draws upon direct observation and interview methodology in the fieldwork. However, it also uses some quantitative methods in the analysis of the websites and the SABC research.Finally, the research analyses the situation at the SABC and provides recommendations for the election website within this context.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 1999
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