De verzoeningsrol van drie Klerkdorpse kranten in de aanloop naar de Zuid-Afrikaanse algemene verkiezing in 1994

Abstract

This treatise deals with the conciliatory role that the three Klerksdorp newspapers, Wes-Transvaal Rekord, Lentswe and the Klerksdorpse Rekord, played in the year before the general elections of April 27th, 1994 in South Africa. This conciliatory role has been determined with the use of elements from normative models for developmental and civic journalism. Two theoretical positions have been formulated, based on these two models. From this it appears that developmental journalism is all about encouraging tolerance, about nation building and about the strengthening of desirable relations. Civic journalism consists of giving insight in the structures of society, encouraging of commitment, guide-dog function (along with the role of watchdog), stimulation of civic consultation and the bringing to pass of reconciliation. By means of these features a qualitative analysis has been made of the content of the three newspapers in the period between May 1993 and April 1994. From this it appeared clearly that the newspapers desired to play a conciliatory role. The emphasis was laid on nation building, on encouraging tolerance and on reconciliation. The conciliatory role of the newspapers has been affirmed by six interviewees who played an important role in the preparations for the 1994 general elections in Klerksdorp and surroundings. It has also been determined that the editorial staffs of the three newspapers consciously chose to play this conciliatory role. This not only appeared from the content of the newspapers, but also from editorials and from the answers of the above-mentioned interviewees. The three newspapers served different readerships and were distinct in their organisations. It has been determined that each of them played a conciliatory role that was most suitable for their readership.