Tabloidisation and the Coverage of Political Issues in Zimbabwe – the Case of Joice Mujuru
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TABLOIDISATION AND THE COVERAGE OF POLITICAL ISSUES IN ZIMBABWE – THE CASE OF JOICE MUJURU By WELLINGTON GADZIKWA Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY in the subject of COMMUNICATION at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR K.B.KHAN CO-SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR M. T. VAMBE OCTOBER 2017 DECLARATION STUDENT NUMBER: 5726 – 731 -6 I Wellington Gadzikwa declare that: TABLOIDISATION AND THE COVERAGE OF POLITICAL ISSUES IN ZIMBABWE – THE CASE OF JOICE MUJURU is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. I further declare that I have not previously submitted this work, or part of it, for examination at UNISA for another qualification or at any other higher education institution. 06 /10/2017 Wellington Gadzikwa Date i SUMMARY The study critically explored the tabloidisation of political news in Zimbabwe by focussing on the coverage of the expulsion of Joice Mujuru from ZANU PF and government by selected newspapers. The study analysed three national dailies across the ownership divide; The Herald, Daily News and NewsDay. The objective of the study was to establish whether or not the decline in standards of journalism and performance in Zimbabwe could be attributed to tabloidisation. The study employed a qualitative methodology through qualitative content analysis and in-depth interviews to assess whether the framing reflected tabloid or broadsheet journalism styles. The framing of Joice Mujuru by The Herald was pejorative and derisive as she was depicted as corrupt, traitor, inept and a simplistic thinker who cannot handle issues to do with statecraft. Daily News sympathised with Joice Mujuru as a victim of chauvinistic factional politics in ZANU PF, especially, after the death of her husband, General Solomon Mujuru. The study argued that Joice was also depicted as a brave leader who could challenge for the office of the president, if she formed a coalition with MDC –T leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Daily News sought to counter all the negative framing of Joice Mujuru by The Herald. NewsDay framing was sympathetic, like Daily News but was more inclined on creating an image of a moderate leader in Mujuru, one who would be acceptable to all Zimbabweans because she had the critical liberation war credentials that Tsvangirai lacked and Mujuru’s perceived abilities to extricate the country from the economic challenges by mending relationships with the West. Despite the diametrically opposed frames in terms of The Herald versus Daily News and NewsDay, all the newspapers are undergoing the damaging process of tabloidisation by employing tabloid styles and formatting in their political news coverage through sensationalism, trivialisation and emotionalism. It was argued that the media needs self-introspection and recommitment to ethical and objective journalism as the watchdogs of society. ii KEY TERMS Tabloids, tabloidisation, sensationalism, trivialisation, framing, broadsheet, The Herald, NewsDay, Daily News, journalism, media standards, ZANU PF, Joice Mujuru. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to pay special tribute to the various individuals who helped me to complete this study. I am particularly indebted to my supervisors, Professor K.B. Khan and Professor M. T. Vambe for their tireless efforts in supervision, encouragement, and guidance during the course of this study. I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to UNISA –Department of Student Funding (DSF) for generously funding my study up to completion. Special mention goes to my wife, Locadia, for the unconditional support, my children Nomatter for taking care of the younger ones, Michael, Catriona and Sinclair for watching cartoons and let me do my work, Alexander Madanha Rusero, Dr Eng. Tafadzwa Mudondo, Dr Lytton Ncube, Dr Collence Takaingenhamo Chisita and Professor Ruby Magosvongwe for the encouragement, Apostle Benjamin Murata for helping in a special way, Samanyanga Memory Chirere for remembering me and Mukoma Elliard Mambambo (muri munhu mukuru pachokwadi). Thank you all. iv DEDICATION To my wife Locadia, Michael, Catriona and Sinclair for all the support. I love you. v LIST OF FIGURES Figure1: The Herald Story “Step down, war vets tell Mujuru and …Mutasa also, say analysts” (17/11/14) by Takunda Maodza and Felex Share Figure 2: The Herald Story “Congress is judgement day for VP Mujuru – MP” (3/12/2014) by Herald Reporter Figure 3: The Herald editorial “Mujuru blown away by own bomb” (10/12/14) Figure 4: The Herald Story “President breaks silence on Mujuru… raps simplistic thinking… collusion with opposition, Westerners” (3/12/14) by Lloyd Gumbo and Farirayi Machivenyika Figure 5: The Herald Story “Five things 2014 revealed about VP Mujuru” (04/12/14) by Tichaona Zindoga Figure 6: The Herald Story “Jabu confesses to VP Mujuru deals…..confirms extortion allegations….VP’s hands not clean: Analysts” (28/10/14) by Zvamaida Murwira Figure 7: The Herald Story “VP Mujuru stole my picture: War veteran” (2/12/14) by Lloyd Gumbo Figure 8: The Herald Story “Mujuru faction courts MDC-T, Parties discuss merger modalities, Mujuru tipped for presidency, Tsvangirai PM” (20/11/14) by Herald Reporter Figure 9: The Herald Story “Mujuru estate in limbo” (17/11/14) by Daniel Nemukuyu Figure 10: Daily News Story “Grace, the power behind the throne” (7/11/14) by Tendai Kamhungira Figure 11: Daily News Story “Mujuru fears for her life… Attend at own risk, Mujuru warned… Mugabe says VP wants him out” (3/12/14) by Gift Phiri vi Figure 12: Daily News Story “Mujuru takes off gloves …. as she launches 2018 campaign Byo rally” (4/06/16) by Mugove Tafirenyika Figure 13: Daily News Story “Mujuru shows Grace the way…..as politburo members weep for VP” (27/10/14) by Fungi Kwaramba Figure 14: Daily News Story “Mujuru opposed Makoni” (21/11/14) by Fungi Kwaramba Figure 15: Daily News Story “Tsvangirai, Mujuru present formidable coalition” (17/08/16) by Maxwell Sibanda Figure 16: NewsDay editorial “Don’t be fooled by ZANU PF opportunists” (19/11/14) Figure 17: NewsDay Story “Attacking Mujuru is unAfrican: Msipa” (10/11/14) by Richard Muponde Figure 18: NewsDay Cartoon Editorial cartoon NewsDay (22/11/14) Figure 19: NewsDay Story “Auction floor rejects Mujuru tobacco” (05/05/15) by Xolisani Ncube Figure 20: NewsDay Cartoon Editorial cartoon NewsDay (11/12/14) vii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION i SUMMARY ii KEY TERMS iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iv DEDICATION v LIST OF FIGURES vi CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1.0 Background to the study 1 1.1 Purpose of the study 2 1.2 The expulsion of Joice Mujuru from ZANU PF and Government 3 1.3 Relevance of the topic 4 1.4 Relationship of the topic to the discipline of Communication 5 1.5 Broadsheet newspaper journalism 5 1.6 Tabloid journalism 6 1.7 Objectives of the study 7 1.8 Formulation of the research problem 7 1.8.1 Formulation of the sub problems 8 1.9 Methodology 8 1.10 Importance of the study 9 1.11 Anticipated contribution of the study to the discipline of Communication 9 1.12 Organisation of the study 9 1.13 Conclusion 10 CHAPTER TWO EXTENDED LITERATURE REVIEW: TABLOIDISATION, JOURNALISM STANDARDS AND THE ZIMBABWEAN MEDIA LANDCSAPE 2.0 Introduction 11 2.1 Theoretical perspectives 11 2.1.1 Media framing 11 viii 2.1.2 The concept of the Public Sphere 13 2.1.3 Agenda setting 14 2.2 Unpacking tabloidisation 14 2.3 What are the real causes of tabloidisation? 17 2.4 Tabloidisation : The American experience 17 2.5 Critique of the American tabloidisation experience 18 2.6 Is tabloidisation “dumping down” or “reaching out”? 19 2.7 Tabloidisation indicators 20 2.8 Reviews of studies on tabloidisation on the African context 21 2.9 Studies on the Zimbabwean media scene 22 2.10 Media credibility 25 2.11 Polarisation, perception and interference 26 2.12 The effects of polarisation on journalism standards 27 2.13 Interference in media production 27 2.14 Media corruption 28 2.15 The IMPI report and the tabloidisation of the media 28 2.16 Conclusion 31 CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3.0 Introduction 33 3.1 Qualitative methodology 33 3.2 Research design 35 3.3 Qualitative content analysis 35 3.4 In-depth interviews 36 3.5 Data collection methods 37 3.5.1 Newspaper articles 37 3.5.2 In-depth interviews 38 3.6 Purposive sampling 39 3.7 Sample size 40 3.8 Unit of analysis 40 3.9 Data interpretation and analysis 41 3.9.1 Analysis of data from newspaper articles 41 3.9.2 Analysis of interview data 42 ix 3.10 Coding 43 3.11 Validity 43 3.12 Ethical considerations 43 3.13 Conclusion 44 CHAPTER FOUR THE HERALD FRAMING OF THE EXPULSION OF JOICE MUJURU 4.0 Introduction 45 4.1 Putschists Cabal Frame 45 4.1.1 Words and symbols 47 4.1.2 Preferred meanings 49 4.1.3 Omission analysis 50 4.1.4 Limiting debate 51 4.2 Traitor/Economic Saboteur Frame 56 4.2.1 Words and symbols 58 4.2.2 Preferred meanings 58 4.2.3 Omission analysis 59 4.2.4 Limiting debate 59 4.2.5 Use of editorials in the traitor frame 61 4.3 Incompetent leader/Simplistic frame 67 4.3.1 Words and symbols 70 4.3.2 Preferred meanings 70 4.3.3 Omission analysis 71 4.3.4 Limiting debate 72 4.4 The Corrupt Frame 79 4.4.1 Words and symbols 81 4.4.2 Preferred meanings 82 4.4.3 Omission analysis 83 4.4.4 Limiting debate 83 4.5 The False War Legend Frame 89 4.5.1 Words and symbols 90 4.5.2 Preferred meanings 91 4.5.3 Omission analysis 91 4.5.4 Limiting debate 92 x 4.6 Regime Change Agent Frame 95 4.6.1 Words and symbols 97 4.6.2 Preferred meanings 98 4.6.3 Omission