Projects

The Media Observatory is the hub for the following projects:

HIV/Aids and the Media does research and analysis into the media’s role in dealing with the pandemic. Founded in 2003, it is run in partnership with the Anova Health Institute.

Media and Public Debate examines the ways in which the operations of the media affect public debate in South Africa, and looks at the relationship of media debate to wider debates in society.

Advertising and the News Media critically examines the political economy of the South African news media, with a particular focus on the media dependence on advertising revenue.

Journliams ethics focuses on the standards and principles that guides journalists, as well as the ways in which these are deployed in concrete situations.

Investigative journalism has two current areas of research, into the history of investigative journalism in South African and into PAIA, the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2000.

Radio

Financial journalism and economic reporting is a new project that runs as part of the Financial Journalism Masters specialisation.

South African Network Society Survey is the first dedicated and representative user survey of internet use in South Africa. It aims to track who uses the internet, how they connect and what services they use.