Media Power and Hegemony in South Africa: The Myth of Independence

This book examines how public service broadcasters in the global south, particularly the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), construct and redefine meanings of independence. It challenges colonial-era paradigms that continue to influence broadcasting and media in the region and presents a radical local understanding of freedom. Drawing on empirical interviews with SABC staff, the author offers an intimate insight into their perceptions, understanding, and challenges related to independence. The book provides a theoretical and empirical framework to prioritize the experiences and needs of subjects and accurately understand independence in various senses. It contributes to global debates on decolonizing knowledge and is essential reading for scholars and researchers in African media, culture, communication, and epistemic freedom.

Format: Hardback
Length: 156 pages
Publication date: 16 November 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into a critical examination of how public service broadcasters in the global south, particularly the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), construct and redefine notions of independence. Author Blessed Ngwenya challenges the paradigms inherited from colonialism that continue to shape broadcasting and media in the region, offering a radical local perspective on freedom in the contemporary era. Through in-depth empirical interviews with staff members from various levels of the SABC, including board members, senior management, and journalists, the author gains an intimate understanding of how these individuals perceive, comprehend, and navigate the challenges and complexities associated with independence.

The book is contextualized within a comprehensive analysis of historical events, providing readers with a theoretical and empirical framework to prioritize the experiences and needs of their subjects. By doing so, the book aims to achieve a nuanced understanding of independence in its various manifestations.

Contributing to ongoing discussions about decolonizing knowledge, this book is of utmost importance for advanced scholars and researchers in the fields of African media, culture, communication, and epistemic freedom. It offers valuable insights and perspectives that will enrich the scholarly discourse on these critical topics.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 159 x 241 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367489892