Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is primarily an examination of the effect of multilingualism on Afrikaans newspapers, with specific reference to Die Burger (Western Cape). The study also looks at the origin and development of South Africa's multilingual dispensation, the effect of this on South Africa's press history, the newspaper market in South Africa, how newspapers position themselves in this multilingual market, an outline of Die Burger's potential and real market in the Western Cape, how Die Burger positions itself in this market, the challenges and effect of multilingualism on Die Burger's market, ways in which Die Burger handles this impact, and possible shortcomings in the handling thereof. The study further examines the effect of multilingualism on the financial and operating management of newspapers, strategies for survival in a multilingual market, the possible shortcomings of these strategies, and suggests possible solutions for these shortcomings. Through electronic media such as television, radio and the internet more and more Afrikaans speaking people are exposed to English and it is likely and possible that growing numbers of Afrikaans speaking people are able to communicate fluently in English. The possible effect of this may be that Afrikaans speaking people, Die Burger's primary market, can, with growing ease, support Die Burger's direct competition, namely English dailies. Die Burger can therefore no longer depend on language loyalty, but have to compete on level footing with English newspapers for Afrikaans readers. Because of the uniqueness of the Die Burger's market there is no generic model for survival strategies in this market. Thus this study also examines influences on the Afrikaans market such as globalisation, anglicization and the impact of the electronic media on language preference and ability. The study also examines the specific challenges for Die Burger, especially in terms of not losing it's current readers, and secondly to survive in a market increasingly under pressure from multilingualism. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is primêr 'n ondersoek na die invloed wat veeltaligheid het op Afrikaanse koerante, met spesifieke verwysing na Die Burger (Wes-Kaap). Daar word ook 'n ondersoek gedoen na die oorsprong en ontwikkeling van Suid- Afrika se veeltalige bestel, die invloed van veeltaligheid op Suid-Afrika se persgeskiedenis, die koerantmark in Suid-Afrika, hoe koerante hulle in dié veeltalige mark posisioneer, 'n beskrywing van Die Burger se potensiële en werklike mark in die Wes-Kaap, hoe Die Burger hom in dié mark posisioneer, die uitdagings en invloed van veeltaligheid op Die Burger se mark, die maniere waarop Die Burger dié impak hanteer, en moontlike leemtes in die hantering daarvan. Die studie ondersoek verder die finansiële en bedryfsimpak van 'n veeltalige samelewing op koerante, strategieë vir oorlewing in 'n veeltalige mark, moontlike leemtes in dié strategieë, en doen moontlike oplossings aan die hand. Weens die elektroniese media soos televisie, radio en die internet word al meer Afrikaanssprekendes aan veral Engels blootgestel en is dit waarskynlik en moontlik dat al meer Afrikaanssprekendes ook gemaklik in veral Engels kan kommunikeer. Dit kan tot gevolg hê dat Afrikaanssprekendes, en dus Die Burger se primêre teikenmark, met toenemende gemak ook Die Burger se direkte kompetisie, naamlik Engelse dagblaaie, kan begin ondersteun. Die Burger sal dus nie meer kan staatmaak op taallojaliteit nie, maar moet op gelyke voet met Engelse koerante meeding vir Afrikaanssprekende lesers. Weens die uniekheid van die mark waarin Die Burger hom bevind, bestaan geen generiese model wat strategieë vir oorlewing binne dié mark uitstippel nie. Dus word in die studie 'n ondersoek gedoen na die invloede op die Afrikaanse mark soos byvoorbeeld globalisering, gepaardgaande verengelsing, en die invloed van die elektroniese media op die mark se taalvoorkeur en -vaardigheid. Die studie behels ook 'n ondersoek na die spesifieke uitdagings vir Die Burger, veral in terme daarvan om eerstens sy huidige lesers te behou, en tweedens om te oorleef in 'n mark wat toenemend die invloed voel van veeltaligheid.

M.A. (Communication Studies) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Text in Afrikaans / Die navorsingsonderwerp van hierdie proefskrif is ondersoekende joernalistiek en die moontlike of waarskynlike invloed wat die spesifieke joernalistieke praktyk op die proses van sosiale verandering kan uitoefen. Daar word van die aanname uitgegaan dat koerantberigte weens ondersoekende joernalistiek in sommige gevalle kan lei tot die bewusmaking van ongeregtighede en/of onregmatige dade in die samelewing en dat die joernalistieke praktyk 'n bydraende faktor of soms 'n katalisator tot optredes van owerhede en uiteindelik sosiale verandering kan wees. Om die aanname toe te lig, word eerstens gekyk na die betekenis van sosiale verandering. Antwoorde word onder meer gesoek op vrae soos: (i) Wat is sosiale verandering? en (ii) Wat is die invloed van die media op sosiale verandering? Tweedens word daar gekyk na wat ondersoekende joernalistiek behels en hoe dit verskil van veral die konvensionele joernalistieke praktyk. Derdens word 'n profiel van Vrye Weekblad gegee ten einde die koerant as gevallestudie te regverdig. Vierdens word 'n model vir die kwalitatiewe inhoudsontleding van voorbeelde van ondersoekende joernalistiek geformuleer. Vyfdens word die model empiries getoets op ondersoeke wat deur Vrye Weekblad gedoen is. Laastens word gepoog om die teoretiese perspektiewe oor sosiale verandering en die invloed van die media te versoen met die empiriese ontledings van die voorbeelde van ondersoekende joernalistiek in Vrye Weekblad. / The research topic of this thesis is investigative journalism and the possible or probable influence that this specific journalistic practice may have on the process of social change. The study proceeds from the assumption that investigative newspaper reports can in some instances lead to an awareness of injustices and/or illegal actions in society. This form of journalistic practice could therefore be a contributing factor, and in some cases, a catalyst for government action and ultimately social change. To elaborate on this assumption, attention is firstly given to the meaning of social change. In this respect answers to the following questions are sought: (i) What is social change? and (ii) What is the influence of the media on social change? Secondly, attention is given to the characteristics of investigative journalism and how this practice differs from conventional journalism. Thirdly a profile of Vrye Weekblad is offered in order to justify the case study. Fourthly a model for the qualitative content analysis of instances of investigative journalism is formulated. Fifthly this model is tested empirically on investigations undertaken by Vrye Weekblad. Finally an attempt is made to reconcile the theoretical perspectives on social change and the influence of the media with the empirical analyses of investigative journalism in Vrye Weekblad. / Communication Science / D. Litt et Phil. (Kommunikasiekunde)

Text in Afrikaans / Die navorsingsonderwerp van hierdie proefskrif is ondersoekende joernalistiek en die moontlike of waarskynlike invloed wat die spesifieke joernalistieke praktyk op die proses van sosiale verandering kan uitoefen. Daar word van die aanname uitgegaan dat koerantberigte weens ondersoekende joernalistiek in sommige gevalle kan lei tot die bewusmaking van ongeregtighede en/of onregmatige dade in die samelewing en dat die joernalistieke praktyk 'n bydraende faktor of soms 'n katalisator tot optredes van owerhede en uiteindelik sosiale verandering kan wees. Om die aanname toe te lig, word eerstens gekyk na die betekenis van sosiale verandering. Antwoorde word onder meer gesoek op vrae soos: (i) Wat is sosiale verandering? en (ii) Wat is die invloed van die media op sosiale verandering? Tweedens word daar gekyk na wat ondersoekende joernalistiek behels en hoe dit verskil van veral die konvensionele joernalistieke praktyk. Derdens word 'n profiel van Vrye Weekblad gegee ten einde die koerant as gevallestudie te regverdig. Vierdens word 'n model vir die kwalitatiewe inhoudsontleding van voorbeelde van ondersoekende joernalistiek geformuleer. Vyfdens word die model empiries getoets op ondersoeke wat deur Vrye Weekblad gedoen is. Laastens word gepoog om die teoretiese perspektiewe oor sosiale verandering en die invloed van die media te versoen met die empiriese ontledings van die voorbeelde van ondersoekende joernalistiek in Vrye Weekblad. / The research topic of this thesis is investigative journalism and the possible or probable influence that this specific journalistic practice may have on the process of social change. The study proceeds from the assumption that investigative newspaper reports can in some instances lead to an awareness of injustices and/or illegal actions in society. This form of journalistic practice could therefore be a contributing factor, and in some cases, a catalyst for government action and ultimately social change. To elaborate on this assumption, attention is firstly given to the meaning of social change. In this respect answers to the following questions are sought: (i) What is social change? and (ii) What is the influence of the media on social change? Secondly, attention is given to the characteristics of investigative journalism and how this practice differs from conventional journalism. Thirdly a profile of Vrye Weekblad is offered in order to justify the case study. Fourthly a model for the qualitative content analysis of instances of investigative journalism is formulated. Fifthly this model is tested empirically on investigations undertaken by Vrye Weekblad. Finally an attempt is made to reconcile the theoretical perspectives on social change and the influence of the media with the empirical analyses of investigative journalism in Vrye Weekblad. / Communication Science / D. Litt et Phil. (Kommunikasiekunde)

Text in Afrikaans / It has become clear that the continued existence of the Afrikaner in the 21st century will demand a recontextualisation of the identity and values attached to being an Afrikaans-speaking South African in a post-apartheid South Africa. Various institutions and intellectuals are already busy with this process. The study used the social phenomenology of Alfred Schutz to describe and analyse the first steps taken in the recontextualisation of Afrikaner identity from the perspective of letter writers to the Afrikaans daily newspaper, Beeld. Phenomenology accepts that the world of everyday life is man's fundamental and pervasive reality. Schutz uses concepts like the social stock of knowledge, typifications and intersubjectivity to explain how people interpret their everyday reality so that it becomes meaningful to themselves and others in communication. The task of the phenomenologist would be to question the taken-for-grantedness of this life world and identify its underlying principles (or essences). The study found that, while the letter writers did adjust their typification of the Self, no fundamental review of their typification of the Other (black South Africans) took place. Letter writers managed to free themselves of the baggage of apartheid after De Klerk gave up power in 1990 and declared white South Africa ready for negotiations for a new democratic South Africa. Together with giving up power, letter writers also freed themselves from the aspect of Christian-nationalism which was one of the fundamental building blocks of Afrikanerskap. The Afrikaner of 2004 seems to be a white minority, proud of their language and culture, and fighting for their right to speak and hear Afrikaans. However, no major revision of the Other has taken place. The study will show that letter writers have adjusted their perception of blacks in so far as it became practically relevant to do so for survival in the new South Africa. Very few, if any, fundamental changes took place in terms of the perception of racial or cultural superiority. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)

Text in Afrikaans / It has become clear that the continued existence of the Afrikaner in the 21st century will demand a recontextualisation of the identity and values attached to being an Afrikaans-speaking South African in a post-apartheid South Africa. Various institutions and intellectuals are already busy with this process. The study used the social phenomenology of Alfred Schutz to describe and analyse the first steps taken in the recontextualisation of Afrikaner identity from the perspective of letter writers to the Afrikaans daily newspaper, Beeld. Phenomenology accepts that the world of everyday life is man's fundamental and pervasive reality. Schutz uses concepts like the social stock of knowledge, typifications and intersubjectivity to explain how people interpret their everyday reality so that it becomes meaningful to themselves and others in communication. The task of the phenomenologist would be to question the taken-for-grantedness of this life world and identify its underlying principles (or essences). The study found that, while the letter writers did adjust their typification of the Self, no fundamental review of their typification of the Other (black South Africans) took place. Letter writers managed to free themselves of the baggage of apartheid after De Klerk gave up power in 1990 and declared white South Africa ready for negotiations for a new democratic South Africa. Together with giving up power, letter writers also freed themselves from the aspect of Christian-nationalism which was one of the fundamental building blocks of Afrikanerskap. The Afrikaner of 2004 seems to be a white minority, proud of their language and culture, and fighting for their right to speak and hear Afrikaans. However, no major revision of the Other has taken place. The study will show that letter writers have adjusted their perception of blacks in so far as it became practically relevant to do so for survival in the new South Africa. Very few, if any, fundamental changes took place in terms of the perception of racial or cultural superiority. / Communication Science / M.A. (Communication)