Redakteursbrief / Editor's Letter

Earlier this year Koos Bekker, owner of Media24, said he would not buy the New York Times even though his company could afford it. According to Moneyweb.co.za Bekker said the days of print media are numbered and the New York Times is old news.

Die afgelope klompie jare het die media ’n transformasie ondergaan. In Suid-Afrika spesifiek is talle beperkinge op die media in die post-94-era opgehef. Die media funksioneer in ’n vryemark-stelsel en die algemene persepsie is dat dit meer fokus op die kommersiële as tevore. Met die ekonomiese afplatting is daar boonop gerugte van personeelvermin-derings – en word selfs meer verwag van die Gideonsbende wat in die nuuskantore oorbly.

Exposure to a variety of TV channels and internet websites is increasing the visual stimulation of media audiences. Media products are being redesigned to satisfy specific needs, in specific niches. One big change in terms of design is that more – and bigger – visuals and less text are being used.
Vanjaar het e.tv die eerste 24-uur-nuuskanaal in Suid-Afrika geloods en al hoe meer drukmediaprodukte fokus op hul aanlyn-teenwoordigheid. Die Mail&Guardian het in Junie sy webtuiste herontwerp en sy groepblog, Thoughtleader, het die prys vir die Beste Suid-Afrikaanse Blog in die 2008 Suid-Afrikaanse Blogtoekennnings gekry. The Times, die Sunday Times se interaktiewe dagblad, het vanjaar sy eerste verjaarsdag gevier en bewys (sover) dat die konsep van ’n koerant wat met ’n webblad geïntegreer is, wel werk.

We are living in exciting times as far as development in the media is concerned. And that is why this year’s edition of SMF has as its theme “Change in the media”.
Dié veranderende media is hoofsaaklik te danke aan die ontwikkeling van tegnologie, soos dat jy jou nuus op jou selfoon kan kry. Nuttig, veral in Suid-Afrika waar die toegang tot breëbandinternet gebrekkig is. Die koms van blogs noop koerante nou om onmiddel­likheid en interaksie na te volg.

These developments also influence journalists, sources and their audiences. With the advent of democracy in South Africa, changes in the consumer demographics of certain media products have occurred. And, oh yes, women have also advanced in the media since 1994, both as producers of media, and how they are represented. And then there is the youth, who “owns” new media technologies. And the disabled, who can get access to a new world through media technology.

But, there are still many people in South Africa who do not have access to media, be­cause of socio-economic circumstances: too poor to own the latest technology; illiterate and forgotten by the media elites.

Die rol van die media, om debat te stimuleer, as waghond op te tree en die stem van die stemloses te wees, word deur al hierdie veranderings uitgedaag. Toenemende kom­mersialisering kan mediavryheid van binne erodeer. En dan is daar steeds die moont­likheid van politieke inmenging, al is mediavryheid grondwetlik verskans. Tradisionele kunsvorme in die media, soos kortverhale, radiodramas en boekresensies word gemar­ginaliseer, maar tog is daar die moontlikheid dat hulle kan aanpas en bly voortbestaan.

Another challenge is the media’s coverage of environmental issues, which has to be in sync with the phenomenon of global warming. Sport reporting also has to adapt to new developments, with sport writers now needing to have a knowledge of economics and politics as well.

Een ding is seker: maatskappye, mense, produkte en onderwerpe wat by die media betrokke is, sal soos ’n verkleurmannetjie moet aanpas om te kan oorleef.

Besoek ons blog by http://smf2008.wordpress.com/

Carolyn Meads