The impact of commercialism on community: a case study of coverage of the Alexandra Renewal Project by two commercially-owned newspapers
Year: 2009
Type: dissertation
Abstract: In a bid to reflect the role of commercial media in communities, this study examines the \nreportage, by two commercially-owned community newspapers, on the township of \nAlexandra’s important community development story, the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP). \nDriven by a common assumption that commercialism poses a threat to the watchdog role of the \nmedia, and does not reflect community views, this study uses the theories of community media \nand media political economy to highlight the tension between commercial publishers and \ngrassroots community media advocates. The study uses content analysis and interviews to \nreflect the role of the newspapers by critically analysing content and opinions about the \ncoverage of ARP by the two newspapers. The dissertation argues that if the two \ncommercially-owned newspapers, namely Alex News and City Vision, are covering ARP – a \nvital story for Alexandra’s post apartheid revival, then they are moving towards fulfilling their \ncommunity function as community media. However, a closer analysis of such coverage is key \nto questions on whether commercialism can balance between making money and serving \ncommunities.
Author: Michael Tsingo
Language: English
Subfield: Communication
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2149664738