Centrist television in the democratic South Africa: policymakers fail to answer the regional/local question, 1990-2011
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the disconnect between policy intent and policy implementation in relation to regional/local (sub-national) TV deliverables in South Africa between 1990 and 2011, and evaluate the impact of this disconnect in pursuit of public interest objectives.
Design/methodology/approach
The article is based on a research case study in which data extracted from policy documents and interviews were qualitatively analysed via the Kingdon “policy streams” framework and the Feintuck and Varney public interest media regulation framework.
Findings
It was found that ruptures in deliberative policymaking, and policy implementation missteps, undermined sub-national TV delivery and, in turn, undermined pursuit of the public interest.
Originality/value
By combining a political science conceptual framework with a media policy conceptual framework, the article provides unique insights into South African TV policymaking in the early democratic era.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This article draws on the author's PhD thesis for attainment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Media Studies, awarded in November 2012 by the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Citation
Armstrong, C. (2013), "Centrist television in the democratic South Africa: policymakers fail to answer the regional/local question, 1990-2011", info, Vol. 15 No. 5, pp. 128-140. https://doi.org/10.1108/info-05-2013-0029
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited