A political economy of press self-regulation: the case of South Africa

International Association of Media and Communications Research18 July 2012

Prof. Jane DuncanHighway Africa Chair in Media and Information SocietySchool of Journalism and Media StudiesRhodes University

North-South transfer and press self-regulationCrisis of press-self-regulation?

Leveson enquiry considering future models for press regulation

Implications for Southern Africa?

Is another press self-regulation possible?Is press self-regulation inherently corrupt? No

‘International best practice’ on press self-regulation implicitly designed to cause minimal offence to industry – creates semblance of accountability

Press self-regulation: problematising international best practice

Should press self-regulating systems rely on moral suasion to discourage press misconduct?

Press Council of South Africa – the journalistic voice?

Press representatives – Press Council

Press representatives – Press Appeals Panel

•Three senior editorial executive, SANEF members

•One editor

•Two editors of small independent publications

•Two former editors

•One publisher •Two academics

•One former journalist

Media counter-power and international best practicePress self-regulation can also involve tougher powers of investigation, sanction, and a broader approach to question of who is a complainant

Number of South African press complaints in comparative perspective

Ireland (2008)

9.3 complaints per 100 000 population

Britain (2008)

7.8 complaints per 100 000 population

South Africa 0.5 complaints per 100 000 population

South African Press Ombudsman – watchdog or industry lapdog?

Between 2008 – 2010 – 52% of complaints against press upheld or partially upheld

17%

35%

48%UpheldPartially upheldDism issed

Source: Brand, R (2010) The Press Council, Ombudsman and Appeals Panel: a study of adjudication of reader complaints

The future of media self-regulation in the digital environment

Proliferation of media making direct regulation impractical

BUT, dominant model of self-regulation prone to system failure

Implications for digital media, eg internet

Thankyou