Country Report: South Africa
Traditional periodicals (3)
- Title: The Sowetan
Author / Organization: Tiso Blackstar Group
Format/Type of source: Digital & Print
Website Link: https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/about-us/
How often is this source updated: At least once a day
Overview
The Sowetan: A South African newspaper that sends out daily publications. This newspaper kicked things off in 1981 as a liberation struggle newspaper and has done well since then. They are published by the Tiso Blackstar Group and is distributed in English. This newspaper is one that is freely distributed to households in the then apartheid-segregated township of Soweto, Johannesburg, Gauteng Province. The website carries exactly the information found in print to facilitate accessing the information if you’re not subscribed or on the go. The Sowetan doesn’t just report on South African news however, it reports on global news as well as news pertaining to Africa in general. Speaking on things like the land invasions in Zimbabwe, South African protests, how political leaders are abusing their positions and power and much more. A particular weakness that I have personally found is the layout of the website. I believe that if the articles featured on the homepage where in chronological order, it would have been easier to keep track of how frequently the website is updated.
- Title: The Times
Author / Organization: Tiso Blackstar Group
Format/Type of source: Digital & Print
Website Link: https://www.timeslive.co.za/
Frequency of update: At least once a day
The Times: An influential South African newspaper outlet who provides constantly updated news which is delivered on a daily basis. The Times is the second biggest South African news website in South Africa and is an offshoot of their “Sunday Times” offering free access to subscribers. Unfortunately, nonsubscribers have to pay in order to gain access to detailed reorts. The good news, however, is that even as a nonmember, you are granted limited access to the website. This news outlet discusses general news, politics, sports, lifestyle, and more. Registration to the TimesLIVE or Sunday Times websites is free and allows the subscriber to give their input on select articles. Their website appears to be updated on a daily basis.
- Title: IOL – Independent OnLine
Author / Organization: Independent group in South Africa as well as from news wires like the African News Agency.
Format/Type of source: Digital/Online Only
Website Link: https://www.iol.co.za/
Frequency of update: At least once a day
Overview
IOL: This news media source (Independent OnLine) is one of South Africa’s leading multi-platform content companies featuring independent media that keeps its content frequently updated. The information to which they give their following access to is made up of 20 of South Africa’s most prominent independent newspapers. It is the digital offering of “Independent” bringing immediate access to news in real time to its millions of subscribers. The perspectives offered on the website are refreshing and often unbiased thanks to its nature of collection of independent news outlets. One drawback that I found for this particular source is that you don’t get a clear look at the people providing the news just by reading the “about us” section. Understandable that it’s a team of multiple people, however, having a meet the team section, for example, may really help/appeal to their followers.
New media sources (2)
- Title: Inspired living
Author / Organization: Fiona Rossiter
Format/Type of source: Digital Only
Website Link: https://www.inspiredlivingsa.co.za/about-me
Frequency of update: At least once a week
Overview
Inspired living: This is a blog in English about South Africa that covers the general living in South Africa and entertainment of course. For the foodies, it provides a couple blog posts on how to have a “festive lunch” with different wines, restaurant reviews and things of that nature, as well as different restaurant suggestions. With currently over 300 posts managed by Fiona Rossiter, a woman who enjoys focusing on decor, fashion trends, restaurants, local wine, and travel, this blog is one of the go-to sites for tourist. Inspired Living South Africa was named runner-up as Best Lifestyle Blog in Africa, in the African Blogger Awards in 2015 and 2016. Inspired Living also won the Category of Best Social Media, in the SA Travel Blog Awards making it an extremely influential yet lighthearted blog. This blog doesn’t necessarily have any weaknesses since the website is easy to navigate and self-explanatory.
- Title: East After Noon
Author / Organization: Georgia East
Format/Type of source: Digital/Online Only
Website Link: http://eastafternoon.com/about/
Frequency of update: At least once bi-weekly
Overview
East After Noon: Choosing to browse or review this blog written and edited in English by Georgia East allows for a glance at the fun things to do in South Africa. As a writer, food stylist, photographer, and owner of clothing label “Fortune” in Cape Town, South Africa, East simply sets out to share her passion for food with the world. Although she is a self-confessed Shakespeare groupie who studied to be a wordsmith, her deep passions for both style and food put her in the perfect position to make recommendations that are helpful for both locals and tourists. This light-hearted blog allows gives a sense of simplicity, especially to tourists, to a trip to South African that can be a tad overwhelming.
Social media sources (2)
- Title: EFF South Africa – Economic Freedom Fighters
Author / Organization: Not Specified
Format/Type of source: Twitter
Website Link: https://twitter.com/EFFSouthAfrica?lang=en
Frequency of update: At least 5 tweets a day
Overview
EFF: The EEF, along with other South African social media pages received quite a bit more attention as South Africa is trended for a while thanks to Rihanna’s performance of “Gwara Gwara”, a South African originated dance at the Grammy’s! There’s no better place to keep in touch with South African news than Twitter? Even though that’s this trend faded relatively quickly, and not necessarily related to the purpose of this social media at all, South Africa does have other conversations going on twitter and EFF has been part of that conversation. The topics the EFF (Economic Freedom Fighters) focuses on typically revolve around its being of a platform that champions radical economic policies in South Africa discussed in English. With over 423,000 followers, they post at least 5 tweets a day about various subjects, giving a slightly more economic aspect to South African News. The only drawback for EEF as far as their twitter page, is that they are very passionate about the things they discuss. And with that passion sometimes comes quite a bit of bias.
- Title: South African Exposed
Author / Organization: Not Specified
Format/Type of source: Facebook
Website Link: https://www.facebook.com/pg/southafricexposd/videos/?ref=page_internal
Frequency of update: At least a post a day
Overview
South Africa Exposed: A well-known English based South African Facebook page that shares a little bit of everything with its fan base. It isn’t just focused on policies, law makers, and things of that nature. Their goal is to focus on and expose everything relative to South Africa, whether it be good, bad, or ugly. This source is useful for young adults and adult. One of the downfalls to this social media page is that it isn’t necessarily suitable to all because they don’t sensor out some things. They hold true to their promise of providing everything about South Africa as well as other nations. It’s an important source because it gives various perspectives without the need for bias.
Audio / video sources (3)
- Title: SABC – South African BroadCasting
Author / Organization: SABC – Group of dedicated individuals
Format/Type of source: Online
Website Link: http://www.sabc.co.za/sabc/
Frequency of update: At least a post a day
Overview
SABC: This a South African broadcasting website that sets to inspire and change enriching, credible, relevant and compelling content that is accessible by all. SABC’s number one focus is to sound and television broadcasting to the Republic of South African and also beyond their borders. Their mission statement is “[t]o educate, inform and entertain all audiences accessing SABC services.” They’re not just focused on providing entertainment, they seek to educate not only their people but also those who dedicate the time to really listen Valuing conversations and partnerships, the restoration of human dignity, and the building of a common future. There weren’t any particular weaknesses that stood out to me.
- Title: Streema
Author / Organization: eNCA
Format/Type of source: Online
Website Link: http://externals.streema.com/tv/play/8395/?language=en
Frequency of update: At least a post a day
Overview
Streema: This South African website is one that offers quite a bit of information as far as entertainment. It is free online website that features online radio tuner discovery for multiple stations and countries as well as providing access to different television stations. One of the television channels I have decided to focus on is eNCA, E-News Channel Africa. eNCA happens to be one of the most watched and trusted television stations in South Africa. After its launch on the 1st of July in 2008, eNCA set out to become the country’s first 24-hour television news service. It offers its viewers live reports, breaking new, sport, weather, entertainment, and business updates. This television network is staffed by a dedicated team of developers and editorial personnel who make it possible for upward of 1.5 million monthly users to have an immersive experience.
- Title: All Africa
Author / Organization: Not Specified
Format/Type of source: Online
Website Link: http://allafrica.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/list/resource/main/main/doc/all.html
Frequency of update: At least a post a day
Overview
All Africa: This audio and video media outlet is a voice of, by and about Africa – aggregating, producing and distributing news and information from over 140 African news organizations and our own reporters to an African and global public. Their multi-channel platform is the only independent, comprehensive pan-African news source, with unrivaled reach and reputation. All Africa operates from Cape Town, Dakar, Abuja, Monrovia, Nairobi and Washington DC and publishes around 800 reports a day from more than 140 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. Most of the stories found on the website is from news agencies, newspapers, and publications all over Africa. One of the biggest strengths of AllAfrica is their reflection of diversity in reporting, analysis and commentary. The only downside to accessing this AllAfrica is that it has to be done through the OSU library which requires student login information.
Data sources (2)
- Title: South African Data Portal
Author / Organization: Not Specified
Format/Type of source: Online
Website Link: //southafrica.opendataforafrica.org/
Frequency of update: Not very frequent, once every couple of years
Overview
South Africa Data Portal: This website is one that is easy to navigate and provides very clear yet detailed data on South Africa. It features the different population sizes of each state and unemployment rates, GDP at market prices, and various demographic maps and charts.With this website, you are given the chance of seeing things from a numbers point of view almost. It gives just the basics and the fundamentals, nothing more and nothing less. It’s a site that does exactly what it’s set out to do, which is to simply provide data. One of its biggest disadvantages, however, is how infrequently it’s updated.
- Title: STATS SA – Statistics South Africa
Author / Organization: Not Specified
Format/Type of source: Online
Website Link: http://www.statssa.gov.za/
Frequency of update: At least yearly
Overview
The vision and mission statement for STATS SA is very straightforward and to the point. Their vision is to deliver South Africa as the home they know and understand with a mission to lead and partner in statistical systems for evidence-based decisions. The webpage is very clean and uncluttered, giving browsing options such as publications, censuses, suppliers, etc. Posting statistics from economic gains to recent effects mining has had on South Africa over the past couple years. The only weakness and strength pertaining to this website is how thorough the information is. It’s definitely a curse and a blessing because you need to be familiar with different visualizations of data to be able to understand it. On the other hand, it provides great exposure to new forms of visualization with statistics pertaining to South Africa. In addition, their about me section doesn’t per say help you get a clear picture of who is putting together this date.