The media, ideology and the fight of concepts - EFF

combatants say unbiased media simple, dominant ideology of liberal race individualism have to be combated

financial Freedom opponents 1st country wide individuals's meeting discussion documents:

americans's energy for economic Freedom

Media, Ideology and the fight of ideas

INTRODUCTION

1. South African society has been deeply fashioned by way of colonial capitalism, and in consequence entry to assistance is structured by patterns of colonial capitalist ownership and privilege. Who is aware of what, for what applications remains generally determined by who owns what or has how an awful lot entry to energy and materials

2. The colonial capitalist state has been pretty much a state that rules in the pastimes of white subculture, white capital and white domination. It had been designed to perpetuate the exploitation of the black majority, relegating them as tons as possible as an inexpensive and simply disposable labour

three. Ideological apparatuses of the colonial capitalist society pursued the direct interpolation of blacks as exactly topics of racial exploitation; the training system, the media, the urban and rural household, as well as religious establishments. Blacks have been socialised to hate themselves, not to trust in themselves, both as a bunch and as individuals. Worst of all, blacks were socialised to accept their position as inferior and to "concern a world devoid of whites" as Fanon rightly says.

four. for the reason that the birth of the post-1994 state, the African Revolution has been trapped by means of ideological inadequacies expected with the aid of Fanon within the Wretched of the Earth about an inability and lack of appreciation of the economic critique of the colonial situation through liberation circulation. These actions lack economic knowledge of their own nation, nonetheless it has considering the fact that produced an intellectual dependency from with out the movement which in the mean time finds fortitude in the neo-liberal mildew of issue solving

5. For a revolution to take place, a innovative circulation should deliver innovative ideology and cogent modern software to the various rebellions, revolts and protests of the oppressed. Lenin exhorted that devoid of progressive conception (advice and software) revolution is unattainable. Such an ideological and programmatic option have to be rooted in the financial critique of the colonial condition and its offspring put up-colonial state

6. From the family, the religious formations, schooling equipment to the usual media, progressive ideology should penetrate and counteract the statuesque by means of mobilising society on a revolutionary program. This doc is for this reason about how the EFF can penetrate ideological apparatuses with progressive ideology and mobilise for the modern application of economic freedom in our lifetime as expressed in the Founding Manifesto.

7. South Africa faces the culminating element of colonial capitalism expressed in its supposed two-ness: a white supremacist capitalist extraction and exploitation on one hand. in addition to a black comprador beneficiation and dilution of the African revolution on the other. Colonial capitalist extraction and exploitation has at last succeeded in gaining an organised black classification to cozy, manage and provide legitimacy for its affairs.

8. The combat of the African progressive is an awful lot extra problematic as the combat traces are not as clear cut. in spite of this, the struggle have to rage on, much more robustly than ever earlier than. The concepts of the revolutionary movement ought to ultimately gain hegemony in opposition t the ruling concepts for a real transformation of society to take area. The oppresses must communicate and must hear themselves - this is the assignment at hand, how will we as EFF unfold the ideas of financial freedom whose superior effect must be the oppressed telling their story; for EFF is the primary expression of that story?

9. How do we achieve this? What are the obstacles to the oppressed and their emancipatory ideas speakme, in regards to the future they want, the past they have got and the existing it is upon them?

the character OF MEDIA IN SOUTH AFRICAN

10. The story of the oppressed speakme begins with a key analysis of the South African media; the character of the media, its possession and content. As things stand, usual media in South Africa is inaccessible to the oppressed, yet it survives through their audience participation, exactly to supply the deadly opium sterilising innovative ideas in them.

eleven. ordinary media will also be labeled into three; Broadcast Media which comprises television and radio; Print Media which describes newspapers, magazines and knock-and-drop; New Media which includes web and cellular telephone media. All these may additionally either be public, commercial or neighborhood based mostly.

12. South African legislation guarantees media freedom, freedom of speech and access of tips as key constitutional prerogatives. Legislative framework has been put into region with the aid of the put up-apartheid state enacts these prerogatives, from the impartial Communications Authority of South Africa (ICSA) as per ICASA Act of 2000, the entry to information Act of 2000, Media building and diversity agency (MDDA) Act of 2002, to the electronic Communications Act of 2005.

13. The legislative framework establishes ICASA to adjust broadcasting, telecommunication and postal capabilities in the public activity. ICASA then acts in the limits of coverage and legislation, prescribes rules, enacts measurable license terms and stipulations, monitors compliance to the license situations and manages frequency spectrum.

14. South African legislations allows for print media self-rules through the Press Ombudsman. Print media sets up the clicking Council, Ombudsman and Appeals Panel to deal with disputes between the general public and the print media (newspapers and magazines).

15. MDDA emerges out of the should seriously change the media following publish-apartheid transition to permit media building and its diversification. MDDA, in partnership with the predominant print and broadcast media business, is meant to help create an enabling ambiance for media development and diversity this is conducive to public discourse and which reflects the wants and aspirations of South Africans.

sixteen. Guided through the principle of editorial independence, media in South Africa enjoys relative freedom. despite the fact, this doesn't make the newsrooms immune from handle at once or in a roundabout way by way of those in vigor, each state and personal capital. existing legislations promotes range in all degrees of the media; its administration, possession, and information sources to make room for diverse views.

17. There are certainly deep problems beginning with the language access of the media. The English language continues to be the predominant language of discourse peculiarly in print media and television. Radio, which has the greatest reach of all mediums in South Africa and in many ways exactly on account of that, is the most diverse when it comes to language attain because it caters for all authentic languages.

18. in response to the All Media and products Survey (AMPS) for 2012 of the South African audience analysis basis (SAASF) Radio at present reaches ninety three.1% of the grownup population (aged 15+) over a seven-day duration, with listeners numbering 32,522-million. Weekly listening to complete business radio stands at ninety.2%, with 31,506-million listeners in complete. complete community radio reaches 25.eight% of the grownup population (15+) over the route of the ordinary week, with listeners pegged at 9,016-million.

19. The same file indicates that in 2013 December, tv stood at a weekly viewership of 91.7%, achieving 32,022-million grownup South Africans (aged 15+) each week. Viewing of neighborhood television reaches eight.6% of the adult population (2,990-million viewers) each week.

20. Pay tv is also showing huge growth; DStv weekly attain stands at 26.3%, with 9.198-million viewers. The satellite tv for pc platform has also viewed increase across each city and rural areas. With the exclusion of the terrestrial channels, DStv's weekly attain is 25.1% and proper tv is at 1.6% reach in an ordinary week, with 551 000 viewers.

21. Cinema continues to trend down in total, however the tremendous declines viewed in the previous AMPS release had been halted. Cinema attain in South Africa stands at 17.9 % with the 2013 stories of AMPS, whereas on the conclusion of 2012 it reached 6,379-million, or 18.3% of the grownup population.

22. The AMPS 2012 reports print media as reaching 65.6% of the adult population, with a normal subject readership of twenty-two,925-million. The report demonstrates the steadiness of print media over a two yr length, and from time to time data growth;

23. This ability South Africa's newspaper market continues to hang its fort regardless of the digital typhoon it is raging and has destabilised it in different ingredients of the realm. As for Magazines, the research indicates that its readership has declined, and here's mostly attributed to financial elements as adverse to the digital readership migration.

24. regular concern readership for magazines is 48.eight%, down from 50.5% with a total readership stands at 17,031-million.

MEDIA possession AND handle

Capitalism seeks to turn every thing into a commodity, even a factor as noble as access to a non secular sermon

25. The circulation of guidance, public discourse and criticism, together with the printed of indicates (entertainment or sports) isn't immune to the capitalist pursuit for profit. significant media is beneath ownership and control, either of the state or inner most capital. here's an element in knowing what interests could be prioritised in which reviews are told, how they are advised, for the way lengthy, at what time, for what audience and income neighborhood.

26. SABC is dominant in possession and handle of the radio business, accounting for 41.6% of the full radio audience within the country. SABC boasts 18 public radio stations, divided into 15 public broadcasting carrier (PBS) stations and 3 public commercial features (PCS) stations, covering all respectable languages.

27. There are further 13 deepest industrial radio stations that are regional or provincial stations; they have sixteen.5% of the full radio grownup viewers. there's also the realm area which is a subscription satellite tv for pc radio carrier providing a restricted number of encrypted channels. There are additionally 87 functional neighborhood radio stations.

28. television is also dominated by means of the SABC. The SABC has 3 public terrestrial television channels (SABC1, 2 and 3) with complete viewership accounting for sixty nine.three% of the entire television audience. SABC 1: 79.eight% (27,867-million grownup viewers, aged 15+). SABC 2: seventy one.6%, with 25,007-million grownup viewers. SABC 3: 58.four% (20,389-million viewers). e.television has grown its reach from 67.four% prior to now to 68.6% presently (23,981-million viewers). M-web leading channel: 6.eight% (2,384-million). Viewing of DStv is 27.5% (9,598-million) and complete desirable tv: solid on 1.5% (513 000 viewers).

29. private commercial television station's HDI ownership sits on an average of 64.four% per television station. The high quality adjustments in ownership stakes in the broadcasting industry can be because of the work of the then independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) (based in terms of the unbiased Broadcasting Authority Act of 1993) and ICASA's regulatory and licensing interventions. one of the crucial criteria to qualify for licensing enshrined in the IBA Act and now digital Communications Act is possession by means of HDIs, obstacles on foreign ownership to twenty% and that broadcasting is effectively controlled by way of South Africans.

30. The South African print media is centred amongst four most important avid gamers: Naspers via its subsidiary Media24; Caxton; and Avusa; and the overseas owns impartial Newspapers.

31. Media 24 is dominant when it comes to circulation of newspapers in accordance with the ABC. related to possession, most important print media avid gamers such as Media24 and Avusa have some diploma of HDI ownership. The MDDA document suggests that Avusa has at the least a 25.5% HDI shareholding, Media 24 has 15%, and Caxton and impartial Newspapers don't have any HDI participation.

32. Caxton CTP holds one hundred thirty recognized titles, 89 fully owned and forty one co-owned, in all representing 28.3% of newspaper titles within the South Africa. Naspers, via its print media subsidiary, Media24 is at 68 titles; the international owned independent Newspapers neighborhood owns 28 titles after which Avusa (previously referred to as instances Media restrained and then Johnnic Communications) with 23 titles. These titles encompass each business and local free newspapers.

STATE COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

33. Twenty years into democracy, the South African govt is restructuring communications greatly both through government inner media as well as via entities just like the SABC, MDDA, and ICASA. The creation of the ministry of communications inclusive of GCIS, SABC and MDDA, the place information and Communications expertise and Postal services are run one by one must be study signifying the beginning of state propaganda.

34. A democratic way of life ought to be anchored by means of freedom of media, similar to tutorial, inventive and non secular freedom and independence. The threat isn't so lots that govt runs publications, however its proximity and manage over the general public broadcaster - the SABC which controls forty one.6% of radio audience and sixty nine.3% of tv audience within the country.

35. The SABC is by way of legislation meant to broadcast within the activity of the public, and not government or ruling parties. It has editorial independence of both the creation of information and different content material and has an impartial board dependable to parliament. however, the SABC has been compromised beneath the existing govt as it lacks a reputable board and credible management leadership.

36. The SABC has in fresh history suppressed adverts that are critical of the executive right through elections, and refuses to offer reside insurance of opposition parties' pursuits. Yet is broadcasts all the principal pursuits of the ruling birthday party reside in its radio and television structures.

37. This hostility of the SABC is a chance to the fundamental tenets of a democratic practice in a democratic South Africa. it is undoing range of views, not simplest in explicit political content but all content that may be critical of the ruling birthday celebration. an extra illustration is the closing down of the large Debate simply on the eve of 2014 time-honored elections, which become a favored show that managed to show the disasters of executive.

38. The SABC is additional used to mobilise artists and different entertainers all through elections to support and publicly promote the ruling party with the risk that their platforms on SABC may be withdrawn.

39. The SABC as a broadcasting house is hence shutting down slowly for significant democratic contestation and participation. it's deteriorating as the platform of public scrutiny on energy and government in particular.

40. government additionally uses its commercial muscle to censor the media, each print and broadcast, specifically group radio, tv and print. Papers face the opportunity of now not receiving govt commercial enterprise if they public important information on the ruling party and connected individuals.

41. There isn't readability on ICASA's repute as a chapter 9 establishment with the mandate to look after democracy. youngsters chapter nine of the constitution requires an independent authority to alter broadcasting, it does not mandate ICASA and interpretations differ. This makes people who run ICASA entrapped in a schizophrenic condition where they are prone to direct governmental influence.

42. Key to the future of tv in South Africa is the shift towards Digital Terrestrial tv that will permit entry to a greater effective use of radio frequency spectrum as well as better satisfactory photos and sound. This shift in South Africa has viewed a multimillion funding initiative that tries to deliver successful migration into digital television devoid of except the poor the place Set-excellent-packing containers which facilitate the conversion of digital signal into analogue may be supplied for by using govt for five million poor households.

43. The state is set to spend billions in distribution of those contraptions in the course of the publish office and regularly occurring carrier and entry Fund. DTT migration must be intently monitored as mistakes within the distribution of Set-good-boxes might also leave most of terrible families devoid of entry to broadcasting provider once a switch from analogue to digital television is made.

MEDIA FREEDOM, range AND ACCOUNTABILITY

44. The South African legislation legislated for independent and "self-regulation" on the a part of the media. here is certainly a key development, notably within the pastime of a rising possibility in opposition t press freedom and independence. Sections of the ruling party have come up with proposals to end 'self-law' on the a part of print media arguing that mechanism currently in area are inadequate to dangle media dependable and supply for ethically qualitative and professional journalism.

45. ownership of print media is trapped in an oligarchic circumstance of the domination of few corporations - Media24, Caxton; and Avusa. This too is not in the most reliable activity of democratic contestation and variety of views. All are dominated through the English language and additionally handle lots of native print publications. They too have verified hostility at modern concepts, and frequent narratives of the negative, like reporting the labour strikes in unhealthy light, with frequent depiction of employees as unreasonable.

forty six. This area continues to be the heaven of the promoting of white supremacist way of life when it comes to representations of wide aesthetics and lifestyles values, the advertising of capitalist consumerist subculture and liberal individualism, in addition to marginalisation of narratives of well-known classes.

forty seven. Media, print in certain, has means to conduct public trails of key individuals in society, consequently prejudicing them before court techniques set up findings. Media is susceptible to manipulation by way of the prosperous and powerful. despite the fact, this is no rationale to end 'self-regulation'. in its place, the Ombudsman and the click council should be reinforced to be purchasable to probably the most vulnerable when they're offended, marginalised and misrepresented.

forty eight. The point is to aggressively battle for diversification in terms of ownership, manage and language spread. The development and strengthening of group based mostly papers and the promotion of the emergence of "grassroots" oriented media that capitalises doing journalism no longer on the groundwork on conventional experiences for income, but giving voice to typical and negative communities.

forty nine. In a democracy, impartial media is essential and the EFF ought to protect this space. constant amazing engagement with it have to now not be puzzled with the totalitarian calls for of centrally micromanaging the editorial choices about what receives mentioned.

NEW MEDIA AND the upward thrust OF THE device SOCIETY

50. There isn't any doubt that the important thing aspect in the diversification, and from time to time, democratisation of media is the invention of the cellular phone and tablet in how they facilitate access to interment. cellphones first destroy communications barriers in lots of and other ways, however they provide americans entry to radio and information superhighway; key amongst which is social media.

51. Two developments within the communications sector ought to for this reason be monitored as they installation a enormous stage and primary shift for the battle and circulation of concepts; it's broadband penetration and the spread of cell devices; sensible cellphones and pills. This capability ordinary media which is via and big less diverse may now not be central to the spread of ideas with the rise and penetration of web.

52. a global large Worx cellular buyer in South Africa survey noted that cellular phone usage in South Africa experienced a dramatic shift between 2012 and 2013, with spending on voice shedding from 73% of cell finances to sixty five% and spending on information increasing from 12% to sixteen%. because of excessive can charge of computer systems cell phones are considered as the tool to bridge the digital divide between the rich and the terrible.

53. The identical survey suggests that mobile phones are the dominant verbal exchange technology amongst low-revenue clients and informal agencies; in 2012, about three quarters of low-profits South Africans, in rural and in city areas, possessed a cellular telephone.

fifty four. in response to InfoDev examine on the use of mobile phones in South Africa. despite the fact smartphone penetration in South Africa is increasing at a quick pace, at about 20% a year. As of mid-2013, about 10 million smartphones had been sold in South Africa. That potential that only one in five cellphones in use in South Africa is a smartphone. About 50% of contraptions used are Nokia. Samsung and BlackBerry each have 18% market share, whereas the market share of Apple iPhone is set 1%

fifty five. this is a key statistic as it provides a sense of where issues should be within the following few years. With the unfold of gadgets we're taking a look at greater than 50% of the inhabitants having a wise cell with cyber web access in the subsequent three years. through all conservative estimation, counting on the invention of an affordable smartphone and pill, the 2019 customary elections will be fought on the sky.

56. The Broadband fee, a world physique installation by means of the ITU and UNESCO, released its "The State of Broadband 2013" document and in response to the 2013 version of the UN document, cellular broadband is the quickest starting to be expertise in human heritage. mobile broadband subscriptions, which permit users to entry the net via smartphones, tablets and WiFi-linked laptops, are starting to be at a cost of 30% per 12 months. South Africa is performing badly in line with this reporting.

57. all over the world Worx and Fuseware have identified fb as the main social community web page in South Africa, overtaking mixit with close to 10 million money owed. 87 % of facebook clients are doing so on cellphones and the research suggests that it has become the enchantment of all age groups, with adolescence dementing. Mxit: 7.four-million is at energetic users, Twitter stands at 5.5-million users, 2go: 1.1-million users, Instagram stands with 680 000 lively clients, Google+ is at 466 828 active users, YouTube has 1.5-million account views every for the top 200 YouTubers and LinkedIn: 2.7-million registered users. WhatsApp identifies SA is one of its excellent 10 international locations. they have more than 300M month-to-month active users international that send 11 billion messages and get hold of 20 billion messages per day.

fifty eight. of these social media sources, center of attention needs to be placed on mass media social network like facebook, Twitter and Youtube as key facets within the unfold of ideas as a result of their interactivity. here's regardless of the significance of all message related networks whose value remains in the unfold of message.

59. EFF need to occupy social media community aggressively to profit relevance and additionally have an effect on social discourse. internet presents choice ability to online broadcasting and publications. EFF radio and television can also be pursued on-line with americans gaining access to it by the use of mobile know-how gadgets.

fight OF ideas

The ruling ideas are the ideas of the ruling courses - Marx 1845, German Ideology

60. The ruling ideology today is the ideology of liberal individualism which makes flourish the device of capitalist exploitation. Liberal individualism within the colony services with a racial persona and may be referred to as liberal racial individualism; this is the thought that there is a self, which creates and sustains itself and is the groundwork of all abilities and truth. This self can feel the world into being, any world; all they do is think it and it comes into being.

sixty one. Colonial violence however socialises the natives as incapable of one of these self-ample and self sustaining self on the foundation that they are black. This makes blacks inadvertently decide on a fight to reap attention as self-satisfactory self reliant being capable of capitalist enlightenment. The submit-colonial nationalist mission therefore finds expression during this simple ideology.

sixty two. It follows that the groundwork for the battle of ideas begins with reimagining existence itself as fabric; that the structural situations produce us as beings that ought to see themselves during this manner for his or her very copy and sustenance of the structural circumstances. Revolutions have to actively are seeking for to dispel liberal racial individualism which stratifies society and capabilities individuals as volunteers of their personal servitude in all points of ideological strata

63. The thought of economic Justice and Freedom elements to a socialist future and a society that decentres the individual no longer as the centre of existence but as a part of many centres. Revolution makes viable for an existence that gives priority to the construction of structural situations for the sustenance of existence, all of lifestyles together with human lifestyles as part of existence.

64. Revolution does this throughout the socialisation of productive potential for a truly free society to exist. As issues stand, the publish-colonial/apartheid democracy leaves people only free to think, communicate and affiliate devoid of the liberty to entry of the means to think, speak, affiliate, and free to move. To reap any such steadiness, the property of means of subsistence must be socialised. It have to be unpopular to show water, land, farm animals, rivers and all simple means of subsistence into property.

sixty five. Revolution therefore seeks to fix and reconcile humanity to the capability of subsistence to make their freedom significant. In South Africa revolution necessarily skill taking key sectors of the financial (key in that majority of existence to revolve and majority of the people depend upon them) into the collective possession by using the individuals. It capacity the nationalisation of land, mines, banks and monopoly industries for equal redistribution.

sixty six. The route to make this software customary is the task of EFF media and communications which have to always come up towards the liberal racial individualism in all is kinds, in faith, subculture, art, schooling, and many others.

67. fighters have to be armed with modern recognition to take advantage of the primary freedoms of media, expression and entry to advice to unfold the ideas of economic freedom in our lifetime knowing character of the ruling ideology

setting up EFF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS approach

68. EFF's dedication to democracy ought to be tested in its critical aid of media freedom, in particular in opposition t tide of state propaganda department and catch through the ruling elite. EFF should be uncompromising in its extra exposition of the capitalist hobbies that discover priority and prominence above and towards typical classes and the poor

sixty nine. EFF should contest all spaces devoid of leaving any unchallenged; liberal racial individualism will dilute and at most prevent a socialist transformation of economic activity for the free society to emerge. as a result, in non secular, art, entertainment, training, media and family unit areas; the gospel of economic freedom need to be preached with out a nook left unchecked.

70. EFF combat of concepts in traditional Media should continue with open engagement with the media and journalism group through statements, opinion items, evaluation, and examination of regularly occurring subjects. EFF have to challenge and raise debates as a power itself.

seventy one. The commitment to democracy ought to mainly find expression within the democratisation and diversification of all of media in terms of languages, ownership and handle. through MDDA, government ought to be pressured to develop choice media in broadcasting, print and information superhighway to be certain general access.

72. Ward structures of the EFF must target all mediums of publications to gain the ear of the common and win them over to the revolution in religious, paintings, leisure and other circles. each and every Ward Command crew have to advance a application of battle of concepts on the way to goal native radio, print, and other systems to popularise the ideas of financial freedom. There have to be no day that passes devoid of EFF in any respect levels expressing itself on considerations, providing critique, course or tips to society.

73. There need to be usage of usual ability of spreading concepts: publication, sms, even taking platforms at streetlevel corners and market areas to supply short open addresses on the concepts of the EFF or challenges dealing with the neighborhood

seventy four. There have to be a Multimedia capacity that uses photographic, video and voice recording facilities to generate publications and the spread of EFF ideas. information superhighway which gives new media structures ought to be aggressively used to generate self reliant alternative EFF platforms outside the mainstream; on-line radio, youtube and reside streaming skill

75. There should be an establishment of a weekly book whose instant intention is provision of commentary on present affairs to supply suggestions and ideological tools to engage trends. There need to be a quarterly journal that aims at large publications on the development of coverage and ideological tools of evaluation.

76. EFF media should generate feeds from the grassroots to provide voice to struggles on the floor, now not simply in written form, but different recordings; images, video and voice info. The americans on the floor have to be able to find platform on EFF to inform their reviews, struggles and generate greater circulation of the modern ideas of financial freedom, with a spotlight on internet sources

77. An lively verbal exchange of all EFF is involved in, from parliament and legislatures to foreign work will assist with content further circulation of ideas internally and outside.

CONCLUSION

seventy eight. The country wide people's assembly should pronounce on the political appropriation of the general public broadcaster and mobilise additional on a extra equitable and balanced reporting at the SABC

seventy nine. additional name on the strengthening of self-regulatory capability of print media, notably promptly response and resolution of disputes.

eighty. ICASA have to be expanded as a Chapter nine establishment. EFF should put it to parliament for law to be reviews within the pastime of such an elevation and cogent mandate on the a part of ICASA. furthermore, time allocation should be protected to have a cogent definition of equitable distribution with the exclusion of number of seats an already present party has in parliament. other criterion can work; variety of provinces being contested, if the party is contesting national elections, in addition to variety of candidates being fielded for elections. These ought to be carried out before the subsequent native govt elections

Issued with the aid of the EFF, October 27 2014

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