An evaluation of new technologies in journalism-a study of the impact of new technology on the Information Bill in South Africa
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Date
2015
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
South Africans were deprived of numerous forms of freedom of expression during the prolonged apartheid era. Very few South Africans were able to participate in international events and interact with the outside world and institutions that promoted freedom were banned. Attempts to initiate freedom were suppressed by the ruling government. Nevertheless, in the era of transformation and democracy, during the post-apartheid regime, feelings of hope of transparency, especially in the media, were ushered in. The expectation and hope of a totally free democracy was further heightened by the implementation of the Bill of Rights. Freedom of expression in South Africa was soon threatened and came under strain when the government began making plans to introduce a secrecy bill to contain its covert operations. Numerous community organisations are desperately lobbying to suppress government’s initiative to formalise the secrecy bill. Government, on the other hand, seems to be forging ahead to anoint their Currently, the media goes through a government censorship where the government is vigorously trying to pass the Protection of Information Bill in order to guard government information and its ‘corrupt activities’. If passed, incriminating information will be protected under this Bill. The new and democratically elected South African government which is characterized by ‘freedom of speech and free access of information’ threatens media freedom and juxtaposes what the former President Nelson Mandela stood for: “A critical, independent and investigative press is the lifeblood of any democracy”. The study discusses the relationship between the use of new technologies and the State Protection of the Information Bill. It also examines how these new technologies, through social interaction and citizen journalism, may eradicate ‘corrupt activities’ performed by the government that are camouflaged as ‘classified’ information to ascertain democracy, freedom of speech and access to information.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Department of Communication Science at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2015.
Keywords
new technologies --information bill--South Africa