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Dissertation Name: Cheryl Abboo Student No. : 0306957X Level: Media Studies 500 Course Code and Name: AFRT 8003 Masters (Media) Dissertation Date: 15 February 2008 Title: Public service broadcasting and the public mandate: A critical analysis of the SABC ii Abstract Print media reports on the SABC suggest that the public service broadcaster (PSB) is undergoing a crisis in terms of fulfilling its PSB responsibilities. Hence, this study examines whether the SABC is a genuine PSB. In examining the SABC as a PSB, theories of media and democracy and critical political economy of the media are used. However, this study also engages with the corollary theories of the public sphere, the public interest, PSB, and development journalism. The study uses the PSB characteristics of independence, accountability, distinctiveness and finance as themes to ascertain whether the SABC is a genuine PSB. The methodology of this study consists of institutional analysis, document analysis (which is split into a policy analysis and an examination of print media reports on the SABC) and semi-structured interviews. The study finds that firstly, the SABC’s independence, both politically and economically, is eroded. Secondly, although the SABC is accountable to the state and ICASA, the institution is not adequately accountable to the public it claims to serve. Thirdly, due to the SABC’s reliance on commercial sources of funding, the institution is increasingly shifting towards commercialisation. Fourthly, due to the SABC’s increasing shift towards commercialisation, the institution’s high-quality content provision is being compromised. Hence, the SABC’s distinctiveness in comparison to other broadcasters is eroding. The SABC’s violation of the central tenets of PSB is indicative of a governance crisis within the institution, but most importantly, it indicates that the SABC is not a genuine PSB. A core reason for the SABC’s inability to fulfil the central tenets of PSB and the governance crisis that has befell the institution, are flaws in legislation. The legislation that governs the SABC does not adequately ensure the institution’s independence from the government or its accountability to the public. Consequently, legislation governing the SABC inhibits the institution from fulfilling its PSB responsibilities. iii Contents Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 1.1. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.2. Brief history of the SABC ................................................................................... 1 1.3. Aims .................................................................................................................... 4 1.4. Rationale ............................................................................................................. 5 1.5. Research questions and hypothesis ..................................................................... 7 1.6. Theoretical framework ........................................................................................ 7 1.7. Methodology ....................................................................................................... 7 1.8. Research within the field: A review of existing literature .................................. 8 1.9. Dissertation structure .......................................................................................... 9 Chapter 2: Literature review and theoretical framework ..................................... 11 2.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 11 2.2. The media’s relationship to democracy ............................................................ 13 2.2.1. The ideal institutional roles of the media ................................................... 14 2.2.1.1. Watchdog role ..................................................................................... 14 2.2.1.2. Information role .................................................................................. 16 2.2.1.3. The provision of analysis .................................................................... 17 2.2.1.4. Open forum for debate and discussion ................................................ 17 2.2.1.5. Entertainment and cultural roles ......................................................... 19 2.3. The public sphere .............................................................................................. 20 2.4. The public interest and citizenship ................................................................... 25 2.4.1. Citizenship ................................................................................................. 26 2.5. Public service broadcasting ............................................................................... 29 2.5.1. Continental shifts ....................................................................................... 30 2.5.2. Global shifts ............................................................................................... 31 2.5.3. Key characteristics of public service broadcasting .................................... 34 2.5.3.1. Independence ...................................................................................... 36 2.5.3.2. Accountability ..................................................................................... 37 2.5.3.3. Distinctiveness .................................................................................... 39 2.5.3.4. Financing............................................................................................. 40 2.5.4. Commercialisation and market failure ....................................................... 42 2.6. Developmental journalism ................................................................................ 44 2.7. Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 46 Chapter 3: Methods ................................................................................................... 47 3.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 47 3.2. Qualitative analysis ........................................................................................... 47 3.3. Institutional analysis ......................................................................................... 48 3.4. Document analysis ............................................................................................ 50 3.5. Policy-oriented analysis .................................................................................... 51 3.7. Interviews .......................................................................................................... 52 3.8. Data Collection ................................................................................................. 53 3.9. Limitations to the study .................................................................................... 54 3.10. Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 54 Chapter 4 – The SABC’s public service delivery .................................................... 56 4.1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 56 4.2. The SABC’s Independence ............................................................................... 58 4.2.1. The SABC Board ....................................................................................... 58 iv 4.2.2. SABC Board appointments ........................................................................ 59 4.2.3. The SABC’s governance crisis .................................................................. 63 4.2.3.1. SABC Commission of Enquiry into Blacklisting and Related Matters .......................................................................................................................... 63 4.2.3.2. The blacklisting saga ........................................................................... 65 4.2.3.3. Leaked internal audit report ................................................................ 66 4.2.3.4. SABC-SANEF issue ........................................................................... 67 4.2.3.5. SABC staff mass exodus ..................................................................... 67 4.3. Accountability ................................................................................................... 67 4.3.1. Editorial values of the SABC ..................................................................... 69 4.3.2. SABC Code of Ethics ................................................................................ 71 4.3.3. Current SABC Corporate Goals ................................................................. 71 4.3.4. Total citizenship empowerment ................................................................. 72 4.3.5. Relationship between the SABC and other organisations and institutions 73 4.3.5.1. SABC license conditions .................................................................... 74 4.3.5.1.1. SABC 3 ........................................................................................ 77 4.3.5.2. The IBA Act ........................................................................................ 79 4.3.5.3. The Broadcasting Act ........................................................................
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