The South African Civil Society Information Service

Reg Rumney: Focusing Only on the Social Responsibility Aspect of Journalism Can Lead You Astray

10 Nov 2010

Reg Rumney, Head of the Centre for Economics Journalism in Africa, Rhodes University, speaking about how the media reports on the economy in South Africa.

Rumney argued that the media does not have a common vision for South Africa's economic development as it is not a homogenous entity.

He also said that focusing only on the social responsibility aspect of the media and neglecting the financial or market aspect of it can lead you astray.

Rumney spoke at  length about "fallacies of the news media."

Rumney delivered this presentation at a roundtable discussion co-hosted by SACSIS and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung South Africa Office. The roundtable discussion examined the media's perspective on the South African economy.

The following questions were put to editors: Is the economy on the right growth path? What are the prospects for making it more inclusive? How does the media report on the economy? Does the media have a vision for South Africa's economic development?

Other media speakers at the event included, Mondli Makhanya (Editor in Chief, Avusa Media/Chairperson, SANEF), Alide Dasnois (Editor, Cape Times) and Nic Dawes (Editor in Chief, Mail & Guardian).

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You can find this page online at http://sacsis.org.za/site/article/299.19.