The transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens: A contribution to reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa
The significant role that the media played during the apartheid years in South Africa is staggering. Abundant evidence suggests that, during those years, the print media served as instruments for propaganda, for the apartheid regime, while the Argus group, for instance, exposed the atrocities and h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of the Free State
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Acta Theologica |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5836 |
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| author | E. Baron |
| author_facet | E. Baron |
| author_sort | E. Baron |
| collection | DOAJ |
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The significant role that the media played during the apartheid years in South Africa is staggering. Abundant evidence suggests that, during those years, the print media served as instruments for propaganda, for the apartheid regime, while the Argus group, for instance, exposed the atrocities and human rights violations of the same regime. However, 24 years into democracy, what is the role of the media in a post-apartheid South Africa, where citizens still suffer from the ghosts of apartheid, the continued human rights violations, racial discrimination, and related issues that make it seem as if South Africa is “irreconcilable”? This
question will be addressed by drawing from a recent study conducted by the author that has demonstrated the role of
newspapers in moral formation as a positive perspective on the media in the process of reconciliation. The author argues that the print media play their role through their articulation of a good society, through regular reporting on issues related to reconciliation, which can be regarded as an exercise in vigilance to help their readers identify, and address immoral behaviour that may impede achieving reconciliation. Through such reporting, the audience could become virtuous people that will serve as assets in the process and journey for reconciliation in South Africa.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ce1ed1b7248b4bf298f9d93396abcf1f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1015-8758 2309-9089 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Theologica |
| spelling | doaj-art-ce1ed1b7248b4bf298f9d93396abcf1f2025-02-11T09:35:54ZengUniversity of the Free StateActa Theologica1015-87582309-90892021-12-0110.38140/at.vi.5836The transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens: A contribution to reconciliation in a post-apartheid South AfricaE. Baron0University of the Free State The significant role that the media played during the apartheid years in South Africa is staggering. Abundant evidence suggests that, during those years, the print media served as instruments for propaganda, for the apartheid regime, while the Argus group, for instance, exposed the atrocities and human rights violations of the same regime. However, 24 years into democracy, what is the role of the media in a post-apartheid South Africa, where citizens still suffer from the ghosts of apartheid, the continued human rights violations, racial discrimination, and related issues that make it seem as if South Africa is “irreconcilable”? This question will be addressed by drawing from a recent study conducted by the author that has demonstrated the role of newspapers in moral formation as a positive perspective on the media in the process of reconciliation. The author argues that the print media play their role through their articulation of a good society, through regular reporting on issues related to reconciliation, which can be regarded as an exercise in vigilance to help their readers identify, and address immoral behaviour that may impede achieving reconciliation. Through such reporting, the audience could become virtuous people that will serve as assets in the process and journey for reconciliation in South Africa. https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5836ReconciliationMediaMoral formation |
| spellingShingle | E. Baron The transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens: A contribution to reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa Acta Theologica Reconciliation Media Moral formation |
| title | The transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens: A contribution to reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa |
| title_full | The transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens: A contribution to reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa |
| title_fullStr | The transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens: A contribution to reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | The transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens: A contribution to reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa |
| title_short | The transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens: A contribution to reconciliation in a post-apartheid South Africa |
| title_sort | transformative role of the media in the formation of virtuous citizens a contribution to reconciliation in a post apartheid south africa |
| topic | Reconciliation Media Moral formation |
| url | https://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/at/article/view/5836 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ebaron thetransformativeroleofthemediaintheformationofvirtuouscitizensacontributiontoreconciliationinapostapartheidsouthafrica AT ebaron transformativeroleofthemediaintheformationofvirtuouscitizensacontributiontoreconciliationinapostapartheidsouthafrica |