This dissertation draws on empirical research in the print media to consider the impact of commercialisation on the content ferried in community newspapers. The central argument of market driven theories (Badalsty, 1992; Howley, 2005; Bagdikian, 2004) is that the negative effects of commercial interests and dependency on advertisers can be felt on the news pages. In light of what Gillmor (2004:4) refers to as “corporatisation of journalism” this research explores the various issues and themes discussed in four Johannesburg-based community newspapers, namely, Alex News, Diepkloof Urban News, Rosebank-Killarney Gazette and Fourways Review. The research employs both Qualitative and Quantitative Content Analysis research methods to determine the nature of the publications’ content. The findings of this research indicate that at least two thirds of the content ferried in conglomerate-owned community newspapers has a market-driven slant – meaning that they do not carry high proportions of substantive content. Howley (2005:140) argues that news has become a commercial product that is “shaped, packaged and marketed with a constant eye for profits. Newspapers are businesses dedicated to presenting information within the parameters of profitability”. The desire to please advertisers means that newspapers shun controversial issues, politics and debates for fear of alienating readers. He adds that this aversion is a kind of self-censorship that guarantees that political ideas of public interest do not reach the community and the net result of commercialisation make newspapers content banal. A newspaper operating in a market-driven environment does not, in the words of McManus’ (1994:218), serve the primary purpose of news, which is to explain how the environment is working so that the citizens can make good decisions, particularly civic decisions. The findings of this research have shown that in their current state, conglomerate-owned community newspapers fall short of this journalistic ideal.

archives@tulane.edu / Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is one of the most common childhood behavior disorders and a frequent reason for children’s and parent’s use of mental health services. Parenting plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of ODD. However, most research on parenting has been conducted with White, middle class families and may not apply universally to urban, racial-ethnic minority populations. Given that specific parenting practices related to the development of behavior problems may vary by population, the current study aims to assess how parenting practices as defined by community members in an ethnic minority, urban, and economically disadvantaged community relate to children’s behavior problems. Participants include 109 youth ages 9-15 and their 109 caregivers from an urban, racial-ethnic minority population. Caregivers completed ratings of their children’s behavior problems. Youth reported on a measure, “Showing Kids Love,” which included three subscales indicating if youth felt love from caregivers, if love was demonstrated to them, and if their father or a father figure was involved in their life. Regression analyses were conducted to determine how these three community-derived indicators of healthy parenting relate to children’s behavior problems. Decreases in youth feeling love were associated with significant increases in ODD symptoms. Increases in love being demonstrated to youth were associated with significant decreases in ODD symptoms. Increases in father or other father figure involvement were associated with decreases in ODD symptoms, though this relationship only approached statistical significance. Findings support the importance of youth receiving warmth and affection from caregivers and highlight the importance of community-based research. Future research should continue to use community-based research to evaluate how parenting practices influence children’s behavior problems. / 1 / Casi Rupp

Heritage tourism has taken deep roots over the last decade with several destination management areas effectively carving a niche for themselves as places that offer products that help people to relive history. For Ghana, with its various forts and castles spread along its coastline; inhabitants of such communities have taken it for granted that tourists visit.Emerging research has shown that when an area is able to package its heritage artifacts and monuments in an integrated manner with its culture, no matter what it is; then it can be more successful in marketing its tourism products for sustainable development.The culture of a place however, cannot be looked at in isolation. The immediate and remote influences all around it must be explored. Butre as a tourist community, has had its culture over the last couple of years been open to influences not only from tourists but also from the larger globalization platform; brought on by travel, access to satellite TV, mobile phone and Internet access etc. Over the course of the few weeks I spent in Butre, talking to and following the lives of 8 community members; I realized that the rich history of the fort which goes to reinforce our colonial history which is of course, significant to the outside world is left largely untold. My motivation for embarking on this study stemmed from a fascination in knowing why tourists would choose to visit one particular site within the same geographical area. Does the lives and culture of the people there matter at all? The results as this study showed, buttressed the point made in the opening paragraph that yes indeed, we as a people living in these areas do take for granted the artifact, its history and the giant number of tourists that come to see the peculiarities that our area offers. To revert this however, we must begin to think of employing the tried and tested community-participation methodologies that foster sustainable development through the integration of the very important and interrelated strands of culture, heritage and people.