African Journals Online
Ecquid Novi

Volume 23, Issue 2, 2002
Abstracts

Freedom of expression: a comparative analysis: research section

Seleoane, Mandla

Abstract: This article focuses on a comparative analysis on freedom of expression between South Africa, Malawi, Zambia, Algeria, China, Japan, Switzerland, Germany, Russia, Canada and the USA. It discusses the meaning of the right to free expression and the intersection between freedom of expression and other fundamental rights. It also explores the possibility to limit the parameters of freedom of expression and argues that such possibility is already foregrounded in the constitution. The emerging jurisprudence on freedom of expression in South Africa does not support the thesis that there is a need for a South African approach to freedom of expression.

Hierdie artikel vergelyk vryheid van spraak in Suid-Afrika, Malawi, Zambië, Algerië, China, Japan, Switserland, Duitsland, Rusland, Kanada en die VSA. Die betekenis van vryheid van spraak en die interaksie tussen vryheid van spraak en ander fundamentele regte kom aan die orde. Dit ondersoek ook die moontlikheid om vryheid van spraak in te perk, en gaan van die standpunt uit dat hierdie moontlikheid reeds in die Grondwet gestel word. Die ontluikende tendens in Suid-Afrika ondersteun egter nie die aanname dat daar 'n behoefte is aan 'n Suid-Afrikaanse benadering tot vryheid van spraak nie.

Key words: Balancing rights, Constitution, Freedom of expression, Jurisprudence, Limitation, Self-regulation

Seeing past race: politics of the HRC's inquiry into racial representatiion: research section

Berger, Guy

Abstract: In South Africa's transition from apartheid, the country's Human Rights Commission's (HRC's) inquiry into racism in the media serves as an index of racial identities and representations. Racial considerations played an important part in determining responses to the inquiry, which entailed significant 're-racialisations' of identities. The process ensured that racial identity in journalism was put on the agenda, and that the representation of race in the media became a subject of debate and scrutiny. By revealing the constructed and political nature of such identities, this analysis interrogates how the inquiry could be used to assist further transitions from apartheid to democracy.

In die oorgang van apartheid na demokrasie dien die Menseregtekommissie se ondersoek na rassisme in die media as 'n indeks van rasse-identiteite en -voorstellings. Dit speel 'n belangrike rol in die 'herstrukturering' van identiteite. Die proses het enersyds die kwessie van rasse-identiteit op die agenda geplaas, sowel as debat daaroor aangewakker. Die artikel dui aan hoe die ondersoek benut kan word om toekomstige hervorming te bevorder.

Key words: Human Rights Commission, Identity, Inquiry, Journalism, Media, Race, Racism, South Africa

Nuuskartering van Nederland deur Beeld en van Suid-Afrika deur Trouw: research section

Coetzee, M.; De Beer, A.S.

Abstract: The fall of communism and the end of apartheid brought about major changes on international political and socio-economical levels. It led to the change of geographical maps of the world in order to reflect the new political realities. As a result, probably the largest news flow research project, the Global News Flow Project (GNFP), was undertaken in 1995 by researchers in 42 countries. This study elaborates on that of the GNFP in that it concentrates on the news flow pattern between South Africa and the Netherlands as described by Trouw and Beeld. The main focus is on the press landscape, the criteria applied in the selection of news and the flow patterns of the news. Results of the study confirmed that news flow patterns between two countries are altered by changes in the press landscape in one of the two countries.

Die einde van kommunisme en apartheid het grootskaalse verandering op politieke sowel as sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede wêreldwyd tot gevolg gehad. Dit het aanleiding gegee tot veranderinge in geografiese kaarte ten einde die nuwe politieke realiteit te weerspieël. Gevolglik is waarskynlik die grootste nuusvloei navorsingsprojek, Global News Flow Project (GNFP), in 1995 deur navorsers in 42 lande onderneem. Hierdie studie verbreed die GNFP in die sin dat dit fokus op nuusvloeipatrone tussen Suid-Afrika en Nederland soos gedoen deur Trouw en Beeld. Die primêre klem hier is op die medialandskap, die kriteria wat aangewend is in die keuse van nuus en nuusvloeipatrone. Resultate bevestig dat nuusvloeipatrone tussen twee lande beïnvloed word deur veranderinge in die medialandskap van een van die twee lande.

Key words: Beeld, Nederland, Nuuskartering, Nuuskriteria, Nuusseleksie, Nuusvloei, Nuuswaardes, Perslandskap, Suid-Afrika, Trouw

The printed house journal in a new communication paradigm: research in progress            318

Scriven, Charmaine

Abstract: There is no doubt that the world has changed from an industrial society to an information society, often referred to as the Post-industrial equation. Innovations in communication and computer technology now accelerate the time it takes for a message to reach the receiver, making communication almost immediate, even over long distances. New technologies have impacted on various industries, such as public relations, differentiating it in terms of boundless opportunities for reaching the organisation's internal and external publics much faster, as well as the way in which public relations is practised today. This also impacts on the role of the printed house journal in this new communication paradigm.

Daar is geen twyfel nie dat die wêreld verander het van 'n geïndustrialiseerde samelewing tot 'n inligtingsamelewing. Uitvindings in kommunikasie en rekenaartegnologie verminder die tyd wat dit 'n boodskap neem om die ontvanger te bereik. Dit maak kommunikasie bykans onmiddellik - selfs oor lang afstande. Nuwe tegnologie het 'n impak op verskeie bedrywe, soos openbare skakelwerk. Dit onderskei die bedryf in terme van onbeperkte geleenthede om die organisasie se interne en eksterne publieke baie vinniger te bereik. Dit het onvermydelik ook 'n invloed op die manier waarop openbare skakelwerk vandag beoefen word. Hierdie veranderinge impakteer ook op die rol van die gedrukte in-huis publikasie binne die nuwe kommunikasieparadigma.

Key words: Electronic communication, Electronic newsletter, Electronic mail, Internal communication, Intranet, New technologies, New communication paradigm, Organisational communication, Printed house journal, Worldwide Web, WWW