Alternative media in South Africa
South Africa has a long history of alternative media. During the 1980s there was a host of community and grassroots newspapers that supplied content that ran counter to the prevailing attitudes of the times. In addition, a thriving small press and underground press carried voices that would not have been heard in the mainstream, corporate media. Pirate radio projects operated by Caset were the forerunners of the country's community radio and small pamphlets and samizdat were included in the mix.[citation needed]
The
However, there are some who criticise what they call a lack of real alternative media in South Africa.[1]
Print media
1940s
- Varsity (Cape Town) (1942–)
1980s
- Akal
- Die Suid-Afrikaan (1983–1996)
- Grassroots (1980–1990)
- Izwe
- Kagenna (1989–1993)
- New Era
- New Nation (1980–1997)
- South (1987–1994)
- Weekly Mail(1985–1993)
- Vrye Weekblad (1988–1994)
- Vula
1990s
2000
Since the end of Apartheid, there has been a dearth of alternative media in South Africa as most of it got incorporated into mainstream corporate media as well as government and political party organising. Some of South Africa's largest social movements and other activist organisations have an online presence of alternative blogs and activist websites. According to the social movements, the importance of these alternative media sites are that they provide a way for 'poor people to speak for themselves'.[2] These include:
- Abahlali baseMjondolo, the shackdwellers movement has the following website: www.abahlali.org
- The Western Cape Anti-Eviction Campaign in Cape Town
- The Zabalaza Anarchist Communist Front produces Zabalaza: A Journal of Southern African Revolutionary Anarchism as well as a newssheet called Zabalaza News.
- Khayelitsha Struggles
- Mandela Park Backyarders
- South African Civil Society Information Service
- Amandla! Magazine
- Skawara News
Radio
- Caset
- Bush Radio
- Tuks FM
- UJ FM
- Metro FM
- Ukhozi FM
- Umhlobo Wenene FM
Television and video
- CVET
- MediaWorks Publishing
- barefootWORKSHOPS
- [CTV capetowntv.org]
Access
Internet
See also
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References
- ^ "What's wrong with the alternative media in South Africa?". KillingTrain.com. The Killing Train. 11 July 2005.
- ^ "Khayelitsha's shackdwellers march and speak for themselves!". Anti-Eviction Campaign. 2008-10-20. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2009-01-17.