Media ownership and democratization

As has already been indicated in previous chapters, the economic aspects of the media play an important role in assessing what contribution they can make to democratization on the continent. In most places, the challenge is lack of material resources and an inadequate infrastructure. In this chapter, however, that focuses on South Africa, the most significant aspect of the media sector is the dominance of corporate capital. More specifically, it will examine the political economy of the South African print media. As a country case study it offers greater detail but also highlights some of the general issues that African countries are likely to face as they embark upon privatizing the media and democratizing their politics. The termination of sanctions in the early 1990s following the end of apartheid witnessed significant shifts in the previously stable South African commercial media industry. These took the form of acquisitions by international capital, and the procurement of previously white-owned firms by domestic black groups. Changes also occurred in the political and ideological allegiance of each of the media corporations.