Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This project was undertaken in order to investigate the phenomenon of repositioning/rejuvenation in the South African women magazine industry, rooi rose and SARIE in particular. These two women magazines, already in a mature phase and seemingly showing very little difference in identity, have been constantly competing with one another for many years. One of the goals of the study is to determine whether the manner in which repositioning is applied would be a sustainable solution and/or whether, considering the saturated market in SA, this would be the sole solution. Hypothetically speaking, the recipe for success may be embedded in new or innovative information and information to support the adopting process of the reader. The Diffusion of Innovation theory is used as the theoretical platform. A content analysis of rooi rose and SARIE for the period July 2002 to December 2003 has been conducted and applied to seven categories. The data has been scientifically analysed using the Student’s t-test. It emerged from the quantitative study that no correlation could be found between innovative content and content supporting the adopting process, and the fluctuation of the ABC figures during that time period. By no means is this an indication that innovative content does not play an important role in the editorial mix, only that SARIE’s better performance since its repositioning should be attributed to other factors. The two magazines are almost similar in terms of positioning, content and target market. For this reason, the role that publicity plays at the launch of each monthly issue should not be underestimated. The Afrikaans women magazine market shows meagre growth that points publishers into other directions such as the expats market, for future growth and survival. Finally, the general interest women magazine should seriously consider her own role in providing innovative information for her reader in order to counter the strong upcoming niche magazine market, which seems to have taken over this very important function of providing innovative information and content supporting the adoption process. In the meantime, change as the only constant means that repositioning or rejuvenation is a given factor in the game of survival. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie ondersoek is onderneem om die verskynsel van herposisionering/vernuwing en die wyse waarop dit toegepas word in die Suid-Afrikaanse vrouetydskrifmark te ondersoek, met spesifieke verwysing na rooi rose en SARIE. Die twee genoemde vrouetydskrifte is reeds in hul volwasse stadium, is in konstante mededinging met mekaar en blyk op die oog af dieselfde identiteit te hê. Die vraag of die wyse waarop herposisionering toegepas is, inderdaad ’n volhoubare oplossing is, of die enigste oplossing in die lig van ’n moontlike versadigde mark, is een van die doelwitte van die studie. ’n Hipotetiese stelling is gemaak dat die resep vir sukses moontlik in vernuwende inhoud lê, en in inhoud wat die daaropvolgende besluitnemingsproses van die leser ondersteun. Die Diffusie van Innoveringsteorie is as teoretiese vertrekpunt gebruik. ’n Inhoudsanalise van rooi rose en SARIE is oor die tydperk Julie 2002 tot Desember 2003 gedoen en toegepas in sewe kategorieë. Die data is met behulp van die Student se t-toets wetenskaplik geanaliseer. Op grond van die resultate van hierdie kwantitatiewe ondersoek is bevind dat vernuwende inhoud en inhoud wat die besluitnemingsproses ondersteun, geen korrelasie getoon het met die styging en daling van die ABC-syfers nie. Dit beteken geensins dat vernuwende inhoud nie ’n belangrike deel van die inhoudsvermenging uitmaak nie, bloot dat SARIE se sukses sedert herposisionering dus toe te skryf is aan ander faktore. Die twee tydskrifte stem grootliks ooreen in terme van posisionering, inhoud en teikenmark. Daarom is die rol wat publisiteit speel ten tye van die bekendstelling van ’n nuwe uitgawe van groot belang. Die Afrikaanse vrouetydskrifmark toon nie veel meer groei nie, wat beteken dat die twee tydskrifte ander opsies soos onder meer die “expats”-mark moet ondersoek. Ten slotte sal die algemene vrouetydskrif ernstiger moet besin oor haar rol in die aanbieding van innoverende inhoud en inhoud wat die besluitnemingsproses ondersteun as sy die opkomende nistydskrifmark, wat op die oog af hierdie funksie oorgeneem het, wil trotseer. In die tussentyd sal tydskrifte vir lief daarmee moet neem dat gereelde herposisionering/vernuwing noodsaaklik is vir oorlewing.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The publication of news websites mushroomed since the establishment of the World Wide Web, but their viability and/or profitability still tend to pose a problem. This study approaches the question from the viewpoint of the niche theory and gratification and investigates the advantages and disadvantages of publishing news on the Internet, as well as possible elements of news-website business models. The latter comprises firstly, costs such as labour, content, production, marketing and distribution, and secondly possible income sources. It also compares a number of different business models. It found, inter alia, that a greater variety on the broader news menu, as well as the development of cost-effective ways to utilise the unique features of the Internet in the presentation of news will be fundamental to the eventual success of news websites. A generally acceptable norm for the measurement and auditing of traffic to news websites will be crucial in the optimal utilisation of the potential advertisingsales income. The study concludes that it is doubtful whether news websites on their own will ever succeed as media enterprises. In most cases news websites will probably only exist as a minor component of websites deriving their income from a variety of other sources. However, technological innovation may come up with new possibilities that may revolutionise the e-news industry in such a way that it may become profitable on its own. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die publikasie van nuuswebwerwe het soos ʼn paddastoel opgeskiet sedert die daarstelling van die Wêreldwye Web, maar die lewensvatbaarheid en/of winsgewendheid van sulke webwerwe blyk steeds ʼn probleem te wees. Hierdie studie benader die vraagstuk uit die oogpunt van die nisteorie en voldoening, en ondersoek die voor- en nadele van nuuspublikasie op die Internet, sowel as die faktore waaruit bedryfsmodelle vir nuuswebwerwe saamgestel kan word. Die laasgenoemde omvat eendersyds koste, soos arbeid, inhoud, produksie, bemarking en verspreiding; en andersyds die moontlike inkomstebronne. Dit vergelyk ook ʼn aantal verskillende bedryfsmodelle. Die bevindings sluit in dat ʼn groter verskeidenheid op die breër nuusspyskaart sowel as die vind van kostedoeltreffende maniere om die unieke eienskappe van die Internet ten volle in die aanbieding van die nuus te benut, onderliggend tot die uiteindelike sukses van nuuswebwerwe sal wees. ʼn Algemeen aanvaarbare norm vir die meting en ouditering van die verkeer na nuuswebwerwe sal deurslaggewend wees in die optimale benutting van die potensiële inkomste uit advertensieverkope. Die studie kom tot die slotsom dat daar twyfel bestaan of nuuswebwerwe as sulks op die lang duur as onafhanklike media-ondernemings sal slaag. In die meeste gevalle sal nuuswebwerwe waarskynlik hoofsaaklik net voortbestaan as ʼn ondergeskikte komponent van webwerwe wat hul verdienste uit ʼn verskeidenheid van ander bronne put. Tegnologiese vernuwing kan egter nuwe moontlikhede daar stel wat ʼn ommekeer in die winsgewendheid van die e-nuusbedryf teweeg kan bring.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The role of the media as a watchdog for the social institution of science is viewed as part of the media’s role to protect society. In this regard, the role of media was studied in reporting the phenomenon of the commercialisation of academic research at universities. The current study was conducted by analysing articles in 2 scientific journals (Science and Nature) and 4 printed newspapers (The New York Times, London Times, Mail & Gaurdian, Business Day) for the year 2003. The methods of investigation for each publication included the number of articles covering the topic, the percentage coverage, headline analysis, summary of contents and analysis of the themes. The New York Times had more articles on the topic of the “commercialisation of science at universities” than the other publications. However, based on the number of issues per year, Science and Nature had a greater coverage of the topic than The New York Times. Based on the analyses of the articles, it is concluded that The New York Times had the most balanced and informed coverage of all the issues and stakeholders involved in the commercialisation of science at universities. This is attributed to the The New York Times’s position of standing outside the realm of science and its experience in covering broad issues. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die rol van die media as ‘n waghond vir die sosiale instelling van die wetenskap, word gesien as deel van die media se rol as die beskermer van die samelewing. In hierdie opsig is die media se rol in die verslaglewering van die kommersialisering van die wetenskap by universiteite ondersoek. Hierdie studie is uitgevoer deur artikels in 2 wetenskaplike vaktydskrifte (Science en Nature) en 4 koerante (The New York Times, London Times, Mail & Guardian, Business Day) vir die jaar 2003, te analiseer. Die metodes wat gebruik is om elke artikel te ontleed, het die aantal artikels, die persentasie van artikels in elke publikasie, hoofopskrif analise, opsomming van inhoud en ‘n analise van die artikel se tema, ingesluit. The New York Times het meer artikels omtrent die onderwerp, die “kommersialisering van die wetenskap by universiteite”, as die ander publikasies gehad. Gebaseer op die aantal uitgawes per jaar, het Science en Nature meer aandag geskenk aan die onderwerp as The New York Times. Volgens die analises van die artikels, word afgeleui dat The New York Times die mees gebalanseerde en ingeligte dekking gehad het oor die betrokke sake en partye in die “kommersialisering van die wetenskap by universiteite”. Dit word toegeskryf aan die The New York Times se posisie as buitestaander in die wetenskap en die koerant se ondervinding om ‘n wye veld te dek.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This is a qualitative study on the question whether regional television can be feasible in South Africa with particular reference to the official process to introduce regional television (RTV), the various reports and opinions on the subject, new technological developments and the exploration of alternatives. It is an effort to make a contribution towards the debate about how the public broadcaster can deliver better dedicated services to the diverse language groups of the country wherever they live, while also keeping pace with the challenges of an ever changing global digital world. The study indicated that various public broadcasters internationally struggled to find a financially viable model for regional television to serve diverse communities. The general option was the use of “windows” – specific limited time allocated on national networks for regional break-aways. Yet, increasingly technology provided answers but still at a relative expensive fee for the average citizen. In South Africa the windows model was implemented for a limited period between 1996 and 2003. It was discontinued because of lack of financial support from the state. The researcher indicates how the process to implement regional television already started with transformation envisaged in the Independent Broadcasting Authority Act of 1993 through to the Broadcast Amendment Act of 2003 instructing the SABC to apply within nine months to the Independent Broadcasting Authority of South Africa (ICASA) for regional licenses that “should reflect the diversity of all sections of the population and represent the plurality of views and opinions of the audience” (ICASA, 2003a:11). ICASA published its Discussion Paper on Regional Television in September 2003 inviting comments while emphasizing the importance of serving the various language groups and providing local content. It recognised the problems concerning funding. Its Position Paper was released in November 2003. ICASA clearly took the view that the introduction of regional services in the various (especially marginalised) languages were imperative and that it had to be offered to the exclusion of English. The state had to fund the services while advertising would not be permitted. The study was approached within the framework of normative mass media theories, and in particular the developmental theory. Through content analysis the ICASA documents and the SABC’s application for RTV in December 2003 was assessed and the stark points of difference indicated, such as the use of English, local content (especially drama) and advertising income. By using the methodology of in-depth interviews and a social survey based on a structured questionnaire more information and perspective was gained. In its application for regional television the SABC suggested two channels for 10 indigenous languages in the nine provinces delivered through the outdated but cheaper analogue technology. Throughout 2004 ICASA and the SABC communicated in letters and at hearings to resolve differences without much success. The SABC’s main concerns remained funding and the lack of capacity and skills to offer the services required. ICASA decided in June 2005 to grant the SABC two regional licenses without issuing it until the funding issue could be resolved with the state. It relented to allow some advertising but remained opposed to the use of English. Towards the end of the study the researcher gives an overview of the fast developing international trends in digital broadcasting. Various options to serve regional communities are offered. News reports on international trends and the opinions of experts are then related to the situation in South Africa. One conclusion is that the state and the country would have to weigh up the cost of subsidising regional television to other pressing social needs of citizens. It appeared that the cost would be too high in the short term. Preparations for the staging of the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa might lay the foundation for more sophisticated and affordable services later. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie is ʼn kwalitatiewe studie van die proses om streekstelevisie in Suid-Afrika in te stel, ʼn bespreking van die verskillende verslae en menings oor die onderwerp, nuwe tegnologiese ontwikkelings en die oorweging van alternatiewe. Dit is ʼn poging om ʼn bydrae te maak tot die debat oor hoe die openbare uitsaaier beter en meer toegewyde dienste kan lewer aan die verskillende taalgroepe in die land, waar hulle woon. Terselfdertyd moet ook tred gehou word met die uitdagings van ʼn steeds veranderende internasionale digitale wêreld. Die studie dui aan dat openbare uitsaaiers wêreldwyd sukkel om ʼn lewensvatbare finansiële model vir die lewering van streekstelevisie aan verskillende gemeenskappe te vind. Die algemene keuse was die gebruik van “vensters” – dit is die toekenning van beperkte spesifieke tydsgleuwe op nasionale netwerke vir streekuitsendings. Tog begin tegnologie al hoe meer antwoorde verskaf, maar nog steeds teen redelike duur tariewe vir die deursnee-burger. Die venster-model van streekstelevisie is vir ʼn beperkte tyd van 1996 tot 2003 in Suid-Afrika toegepas. Dit is gestaak weens gebrek aan geldelike ondersteuning van die staat. Die navorser dui aan hoe die proses om streekstelevisie in te stel reeds begin het met die transformasie wat in die vooruitsig gestel is in die Wet op die Onafhanklike Uitsaai-Owerheid van 1993. Dit het later gelei tot die Uitsaai-Wysigingswetsonwerp van 2003. Daarin is die SAUK beveel om binne nege maande by die Onafhanklike Kommunikasie-Owerheid van Suid- Afrika (algemeen bekend as ICASA) om lisensies aansoek te doen vir streekstelevisie wat “die diversitieit van alle seksies van die samelewing sal reflekteer en die verskillende sienings en menings van die gehoor verteenwoordig” (ICASA, 2003a:11). ICASA het sy Besprekingsdokument oor Streekstelevisie in September 2003 gepubliseer. Daarin is klem gelê op die belangrikheid van dienslewering aan die verskillende taalgroepe en die lewering van plaaslike inhoud. Die kommentaar van belanghebbendes is gevra. In die dokument het ICASA erkenning gegee aan die struikelblokke rakende befondsing. ICASA se Standpuntdokument is in November 2003 vrygestel. ICASA het onomwonde verklaar dat die lewering van dienste aan die verskillende (maar veral aan die gemarginaliseerde) taalgemeenskappe voorkeur moes geniet en dat Engels uitgesluit moes word. Die staat sou die dienste moes finansier terwyl advertensies nie toegelaat sou word nie. Die ondersoek is benader binne die raamwerk van die normatiewe teorieë van massamedia kommunikasie en veral die ontwikkelingsteorie. Deur inhouds-analise het die navorser ʼn omvattende ontleding gedoen van die ICASA dokumente en van die SAUK se aansoek vir streekstelevisie. Die aansoek is in Desember 2003 by ICASA ingedien. Die skerp verskille met ICASA is uitgewys, naamlik die gebruik van Engels in die dienste, die lewering van plaaslike inhoud (veral drama) en oor advertensie-inkomste. Die navorser het die metode van diepteonderhoude en ʼn openbare menings-ondersoek, gegrond op ʼn gestruktureerde vraelys, gebruik om meer inligting en perspektiewe te bekom. Die SAUK het twee kanale vir streekstelevisie voorgestel vir die tien inheemse tale in die nege provinsies. Dit sou gelewer word met die goedkoper, maar uitgediende analoog-tegnologie. In 2004 het ICASA en die SAUK deurlopend gekommunikeer in briewe en by openbare verhore in ʼn poging om verskille te oorbrug, maar sonder veel sukses. Deurgaans was die SAUK bekommerd oor die kwessie van befondsing en die beskikbaarheid van bronne en vaardighede om sulke dienste aan te bied. ICASA het in Junie 2005 besluit om twee lisensies vir streekstelevisie aan die SAUK toe te ken, maar dit is nie uitgereik nie, hangende duidelikheid oor finansiering van die staat. Die owerheid het skiet gegee oor die geskil rondom advertensies, maar voet by stuk gehou dat Engelse uitsendings nie toegelaat sou word nie. Aan die einde van die studie gee die navorser ʼn oorsig van die vinnig ontwikkelende internasionale digitale tegnologiese tendense in die uitsaaiwese en die moontlikhede wat dit vir streeksgemeenskappe bied. Nuusberigte oor internasionale ontwikkelings en die menings van deskundiges word in verband gebring met streekstelevisie in Suid-Afrika. Een gevolgtrekking is dat die land die koste van subsidies vir streekstelevisiedienste sal moet opweeg teen die dringende maatskaplike behoeftes van burgers. Die het geblyk dat sulke subsidies te duur sou wees in die korter termyn. Voorbereidings vir die aanbied van die Wêreldbeker Sokkertoernooi in 2010 kan die basis skep om later wel meer gesofistikeerde en bekostigbare streeksdienste te lewer.

Assignment (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Globally weblogs have burgeoned since their development in the late nineties. The phenomenon has demystified the technical side of online publishing, allowing individuals without specialised knowledge to create and update their own websites. Weblogs are already used in a number of professional sectors such as journalism, marketing, politics and now also education. This study is approached from a uses and gratifications framework and provides a broad overview of the emergence, structure, applications, pitfalls and future of blogs in education. Weblogs are also investigated in relation to other social software tools and learning theories. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die gebruik van webjoernale wêreldwyd het gebloei sedert die verskynsel in die laat negentigs ontwikkel het. Dit is nou moontlik om webwerwe te skep en in stand te hou sonder ´n gespesialiseerde kennis van programmering. Webjoernale het reeds ´n impak gemaak op ´n verskeidenheid professionele sektore soos joernalistiek, bemarking, politiek en nou ook die opvoedkunde. Hierdie studie word aangepak vanuit ´n gebruike -en gratifikasie-raamwerk en ondersoek webjoernale in die opvoedkunde. Die opdrag gee ´n wye oorsig oor die ontwikkeling, struktuur, gebruike, hindernisse en toekoms van webjoernale in opvoedkundige omgewings. Aandag word ook gegee daaraan om webjoernale te ondersoek in verhouding tot ander sosiale sagteware en leerteorieë.

Thesis (MA (Journalism))--University of Stellenbosch, 1985. / Toe Sarie uiteindelik in 1949 letterlik die lig op straat gesien het was sy die vierde volwaardige Afrikaanse vrouetydskrif en die eerste wat die vrou se lewe in alle fasette gedek het, soos in hierdie verhandeling aangetoon sal word.

Thesis (MPhil (Journalism))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / This study presents an observation, analysis and effect indication of the media portrayal of the antiretroviral drug nevirapine in Western Cape daily newspapers. The research is aimed at ascertaining the quality and consequences of science reporting on an essential, yet too often politically controversial, AIDS treatment within the South African context. This work ultimately offers suggestions as to how the media could play a more beneficial role for the South African public when reporting on nevirapine and HIV/AIDS treatment in general.

Thesis (MPhil (Journalism))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Do young people have any news interest? Which subjects interest them most and what is their medium of preference? In order to answer these questions, research was done on news reading trends of young people – both nationally and internationally. A questionnaire was completed by 180 grade 11 scholars from the Western Cape, the Free State and Gauteng. The results of the different provinces are compared in this study to monitor newstrends nationally. The child’s cognitive development phase has an influence on nurturing healthy (news)reading habits. In this study the correlation is explored by using Jean Piaget’s (1896-1980) theory of cognitive development stages. From interviews with the JIP supplement editors (Beeld, Burger and Volksblad), as well as the cell phone companies (MTN, Vodacom en Cell C) the biggest obstacles and possible strategies to draw young readers were identified. In this work the public’s need for media, as well as the influence of the media on the society (especially the youth) is discussed by looking at Fourie’s (2001) model of short term and long term influences of media on the society. The study showed that the majority of young people see one news bulletin (newspaper, television and/or radio) per week as sufficient. Research results indicated that the medium of preference for news headlines among young people is SMS. Just less than half of the respondents are willing to pay for such a service. The second medium of preference to receive news is noted as youth newspapers. The main news subjects amongst the youth is entertainment, followed by sport and sosial issues. Political and international news seems to be less popular amongs this group.

Thesis (MPhil (Journalism))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / The arrival of the Internet and digital technology the past decade has revolutionised the media industry worldwide. Newspapers cannot exist separately from other media forms any longer. Newspaper companies have increasingly started to experiment with the incorporation of the electronic media, such as the Internet, in their newsrooms. The term media convergence originated in an attempt to give meaning to the phenomenon whereby different media forms come together or exist in synergy with each other. The purpose of this study is to investigate the phenomenon of media convergence from a newspaper perspective. The focus is firstly on developments on the international media front, whereafter the emphasis is on South Africa. A Research/field study is aimed at determining the knowledge and perceptions of media convergence of the editorial teams of Media24’s three Afrikaans sister newspapers – Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad. Different definitions of media convergence were considered in an effort to formulate an appropriate definition for the purpose of this study. In terms of this definition media convergence entails the coming together or synergy between different media entities within the same company. A technologically advanced environment with digital multimedia content management systems is conducive to successful convergence. The characteristics of the digital and multimedia newsroom are discussed in a separate chapter. A literature study was undertaken to give an overview of international media convergence practices and existing research on the topic. The focus is not only on how media convergence manifests itself in different parts of the world, but also on the attitudes toward and perceptions of the phenomenon by journalists. The South African media landscape and examples of convergence is discussed, with specific reference to Media24, owner of Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad. Non-empirical research by means of a survey amongst 60 respondents was conducted to test the knowledge and perceptions of the editorial teams of these three newspapers on media convergence. Multimedia newsrooms operated with the assistance of digital technology is a common phenomenon in many countries. Cooperation across media also exist in the majority of newsrooms in South Africa, but the phenomenon is not as conceptualised locally as in the rest of the world. Differences in the structures of media companies, as well as divergent legislation, have a significant effect on how media convergence manifests itself in a specific country or newsroom.

Thesis (MPhil (Journalism)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / The media have a great responsibility to communicate more science to improve public understanding of science to help them make sense of their world. The aim should be to popularize scientific ideas and to create a better understanding of how science is daily altering lifestyles and culture. Scientific literacy is an important element of an all-round educated person, and the media need to fill whatever blanks have been left by his or her formal education. The function of the scientific journalist is to transform scientific ideas and results into a form that other groups can understand. This transformation is as much an intra-scientific as well as an extra-scientific matter, and the forms that such communication take and the consequences for intellectual development vary according to the sort of field involved, the audience addressed and the relationship between them. This transformation process must not affect the truth status of scientific knowledge, but it obviously changes the form in which this knowledge is expressed. Scientists need to unveil the secrets of nature, and need to explain to the public that science is always incomplete and incremental, that knowledge is imperfect. Communicating with the media is becoming an obligation, and popularizing of science is becoming an integral part of the professional responsibility of practicing scientists. This overview indicates that there is a need for scientists to increase their communication skills and activities across a broad field and for journalists to increase their understanding and training in science.