Pub Date : 2022-07-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2045332
David Katiambo, F. Ochoti
Abstract The Covid-19 (acronym for the coronavirus disease of 2019) pandemic negatively affected the world economy akin to the global financial crisis of 2008, leading to the revival of the debate about neoliberal rationalities. Although many nations attempted to contain the pandemic through a public goods approach, the authors argue that these state interventions concealed neoliberalism by advancing its governmentalities. Further, they use Norman Fairclough's (1992) interdiscursivity to describe how in Kenya, The Standard newspaper's coverage of the government interventions was dialogical, euphemising neoliberalism through content that seemed to advocate state welfarism while advocating for the free market at the same time. The interdiscursive analysis was enriched by using Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe's (1985) concept of chains of equivalence and difference to explain the power relations behind the euphemisation of neoliberalism. The authors also argue that the invisible free-market mechanism becomes hegemonic when it takes over populist demands through the transformation of the chains of difference – the antagonism against neoliberalism – into chains of equivalence, the points of similarity between neoliberalism and people's welfare demands. For the current study, the authors selected articles on Covid-19 that appeared in the Standard, chiefly those written on policy issues and published during the early period of the pandemic. Two regular themes were analysed to illustrate the euphemisation of neoliberalism, namely, corruption watchdogism and unemployment narratives. The authors use interdiscursivity to illustrate how these two themes euphemise neoliberalism.
{"title":"Mediatised “Statist Neoliberalism” in Kenya during the Time of Covid-19: The Case of the Standard","authors":"David Katiambo, F. Ochoti","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2045332","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2045332","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The Covid-19 (acronym for the coronavirus disease of 2019) pandemic negatively affected the world economy akin to the global financial crisis of 2008, leading to the revival of the debate about neoliberal rationalities. Although many nations attempted to contain the pandemic through a public goods approach, the authors argue that these state interventions concealed neoliberalism by advancing its governmentalities. Further, they use Norman Fairclough's (1992) interdiscursivity to describe how in Kenya, The Standard newspaper's coverage of the government interventions was dialogical, euphemising neoliberalism through content that seemed to advocate state welfarism while advocating for the free market at the same time. The interdiscursive analysis was enriched by using Ernesto Laclau and Chantal Mouffe's (1985) concept of chains of equivalence and difference to explain the power relations behind the euphemisation of neoliberalism. The authors also argue that the invisible free-market mechanism becomes hegemonic when it takes over populist demands through the transformation of the chains of difference – the antagonism against neoliberalism – into chains of equivalence, the points of similarity between neoliberalism and people's welfare demands. For the current study, the authors selected articles on Covid-19 that appeared in the Standard, chiefly those written on policy issues and published during the early period of the pandemic. Two regular themes were analysed to illustrate the euphemisation of neoliberalism, namely, corruption watchdogism and unemployment narratives. The authors use interdiscursivity to illustrate how these two themes euphemise neoliberalism.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"20 - 42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43604479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2143836
Constance U. Nnachi, Queen M. Munyai
Abstract Air quality in the Emalahleni area was found to be non-compliant with the South African national ambient air quality standards in terms of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (39 of 2004). This study aimed to explore the communication strategy that the Emalahleni Local Municipality (ELM) is using to raise community awareness of air quality improvement. A mixed-methods approach was followed; interviews were conducted with officials in the ELM and, in the second phase, questionnaires were administered to community members. The results from the qualitative data were confirmed using those obtained by the quantitative method. The survey questionnaires investigated the communication strategies and channels used to raise awareness of air quality improvement. An analysis of the responses showed a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93, indicating acceptable internal consistency and reliability of the variables measured. The results showed that ELM community members are aware of the air quality improvement programme, how to maintain air quality, and the channels used to disseminate information. Although the dissemination of information on air quality is successful in the ELM, the approaches used were not strategic enough to encourage residents to improve air quality. This article suggests that an evaluation of the strategic communication interventions is required to properly ascertain the communication intervention outcomes.
{"title":"Strategic Communication on Air Quality Improvement Plan in the Emalahleni Local Municipality","authors":"Constance U. Nnachi, Queen M. Munyai","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2143836","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2143836","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Air quality in the Emalahleni area was found to be non-compliant with the South African national ambient air quality standards in terms of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act (39 of 2004). This study aimed to explore the communication strategy that the Emalahleni Local Municipality (ELM) is using to raise community awareness of air quality improvement. A mixed-methods approach was followed; interviews were conducted with officials in the ELM and, in the second phase, questionnaires were administered to community members. The results from the qualitative data were confirmed using those obtained by the quantitative method. The survey questionnaires investigated the communication strategies and channels used to raise awareness of air quality improvement. An analysis of the responses showed a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.93, indicating acceptable internal consistency and reliability of the variables measured. The results showed that ELM community members are aware of the air quality improvement programme, how to maintain air quality, and the channels used to disseminate information. Although the dissemination of information on air quality is successful in the ELM, the approaches used were not strategic enough to encourage residents to improve air quality. This article suggests that an evaluation of the strategic communication interventions is required to properly ascertain the communication intervention outcomes.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"112 - 129"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47258068","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2091629
Albert A. Anani-Bossman
Abstract The current study explores models of public relations (PR) that inform PR practice in Ghana. The paucity of knowledge and understanding about PR practice in Ghana means that Ghana, and Africa in general, cannot fully contribute to the development of global theory of PR practice. The research was conducted by means of a literature review of PR models and empirical verification through face-to-face-interviews. Qualitative methodology was used to gather data from twenty-two communication practitioners from the financial services sector in Ghana. The results demonstrate that PR in Ghana is dominated by the two-way asymmetrical model and the personal influence model. The study provides insight into the models that inform PR practice in Ghana and demonstrates the need for PR scholars and practitioners in Ghana, and Africa in particular, to work together to develop models that reflect the nature of PR practice on the continent.
{"title":"An Exploration of the Models of Public Relations: A Study of the Financial Services Sector of Ghana","authors":"Albert A. Anani-Bossman","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2091629","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2091629","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The current study explores models of public relations (PR) that inform PR practice in Ghana. The paucity of knowledge and understanding about PR practice in Ghana means that Ghana, and Africa in general, cannot fully contribute to the development of global theory of PR practice. The research was conducted by means of a literature review of PR models and empirical verification through face-to-face-interviews. Qualitative methodology was used to gather data from twenty-two communication practitioners from the financial services sector in Ghana. The results demonstrate that PR in Ghana is dominated by the two-way asymmetrical model and the personal influence model. The study provides insight into the models that inform PR practice in Ghana and demonstrates the need for PR scholars and practitioners in Ghana, and Africa in particular, to work together to develop models that reflect the nature of PR practice on the continent.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"88 - 111"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42997600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-07-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2113111
Yolo Siyabonga Koba
Abstract It has been more than 32 years since Communicatio published “The Functions of Pornography in Society: A Survey of Some Alternative Intellectual Views”, a 1989 article by Stefan Sonderling that explored various ideological viewpoints and social roles of pornography. Despite the article’s suggestive title, it presents no actual survey data of porn functions by consumers. South Africa has repeatedly appeared amongst the top 20 porn consumer countries in the world, yet no academic publication has explored the quantitative dimension of South African porn use. Statistical data provided by websites such as Pornhub remains site-specific, insular, and devoid of experiential accounts by users. This article presents mixed-methods research data collected in 2017 as part of my doctoral study at the University of the Witwatersrand. The national study utilised a large anonymous survey (Phase 1) and a smaller number of in-depth interviews (Phase 2). This led to the collection of 676 completed survey responses and the recruitment of 25 interview respondents. The data shows that porn consumption pleasure possesses spatio-temporal specificities and that location and time are integral to enjoying porn. Porn is able to be a masturbation aid, a stress remedy, a sleep sedative, and an energy stimulant, arguably because it emulates the corporeal effects of sex. Lastly, this study reveals that the majority of porn consumers, including those in relationships, prefer to watch porn alone, away from the purview of their romantic partners.
{"title":"The Functions of Pornography in South Africa: A Mixed Research Study of What Remains Unsaid about Explicit Media","authors":"Yolo Siyabonga Koba","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2113111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2113111","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract It has been more than 32 years since Communicatio published “The Functions of Pornography in Society: A Survey of Some Alternative Intellectual Views”, a 1989 article by Stefan Sonderling that explored various ideological viewpoints and social roles of pornography. Despite the article’s suggestive title, it presents no actual survey data of porn functions by consumers. South Africa has repeatedly appeared amongst the top 20 porn consumer countries in the world, yet no academic publication has explored the quantitative dimension of South African porn use. Statistical data provided by websites such as Pornhub remains site-specific, insular, and devoid of experiential accounts by users. This article presents mixed-methods research data collected in 2017 as part of my doctoral study at the University of the Witwatersrand. The national study utilised a large anonymous survey (Phase 1) and a smaller number of in-depth interviews (Phase 2). This led to the collection of 676 completed survey responses and the recruitment of 25 interview respondents. The data shows that porn consumption pleasure possesses spatio-temporal specificities and that location and time are integral to enjoying porn. Porn is able to be a masturbation aid, a stress remedy, a sleep sedative, and an energy stimulant, arguably because it emulates the corporeal effects of sex. Lastly, this study reveals that the majority of porn consumers, including those in relationships, prefer to watch porn alone, away from the purview of their romantic partners.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"61 - 87"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46772737","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2091628
Eyo O. Mensah, Samson Nzuanke, Theophilus Adejumo
Abstract In Nigeria, political actors, especially those in the ruling and opposition political parties, utilise labelling as a rhetorical strategy to characterise each other in negative and face-threatening ways and achieve positive self-presentation before the public. The aim of this article is to contribute to existing literature on political communication through an investigation of labelling as a discursive political strategy and a mechanism for understanding Nigeria’s sociopolitical dynamics. We adopt Culpeper’s theory of impoliteness to foreground labelling as a relationship of power which is an aggravating facework rooted in interactional behaviour. Data for this study were purposively sampled from online newspaper articles which were published between 2015 and 2020. We conclude that Nigerian politicians use labelling as a face-saving strategy to showcase themselves to their best advantage and to discredit or attack their opponents. Therefore, while labelling may create positive or negative emotional reactions, it can also serve as a face-threatening act or a face-maintaining act, articulating opposing ideologies aimed to deceive, gain advantage, or simplify politics.
{"title":"Giving a Dog a Bad Name: The Strategic Use of Labelling in Contemporary Nigerian Political Discourse","authors":"Eyo O. Mensah, Samson Nzuanke, Theophilus Adejumo","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2091628","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2091628","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In Nigeria, political actors, especially those in the ruling and opposition political parties, utilise labelling as a rhetorical strategy to characterise each other in negative and face-threatening ways and achieve positive self-presentation before the public. The aim of this article is to contribute to existing literature on political communication through an investigation of labelling as a discursive political strategy and a mechanism for understanding Nigeria’s sociopolitical dynamics. We adopt Culpeper’s theory of impoliteness to foreground labelling as a relationship of power which is an aggravating facework rooted in interactional behaviour. Data for this study were purposively sampled from online newspaper articles which were published between 2015 and 2020. We conclude that Nigerian politicians use labelling as a face-saving strategy to showcase themselves to their best advantage and to discredit or attack their opponents. Therefore, while labelling may create positive or negative emotional reactions, it can also serve as a face-threatening act or a face-maintaining act, articulating opposing ideologies aimed to deceive, gain advantage, or simplify politics.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"63 - 84"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46325274","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2086893
C. Tink, Jenni Lauwrens
Abstract From mythology, history, and religion to contemporary popular culture, Lilith has been represented in a variety of ways. As either an avenging vampire or a seductive temptress, or a fascinating combination of both, she has been understood as both an object of a patriarchal view of women and a liberated and liberating feminist icon. The meanings that are ascribed to Lilith are thoroughly interwoven with contemporary feminist discourse. We argue that it is precisely within the postfeminist media economy that the meanings and functions of various tropes of femininity are destabilised and renegotiated. In this article, we limit our focus to the appearance of Lilith in two recent television series, namely The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–) and Shadowhunters (2016–2019). Our aim is to highlight the ways in which the Liliths represented in each series negotiate one specific trope of femininity used in popular culture, namely the femme fatale. We show that whilst these manifestations of Lilith as postfeminist femme fatale may open up potentialities for feminist resistance, they are simultaneously trapped in an oppressive system of representation that constructs women as passive objects of heteronormative male fantasies.
{"title":"“A Face Like This Is Hard to Beat”: Negotiating Lilith in the Postfeminist Media Economy","authors":"C. Tink, Jenni Lauwrens","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2086893","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2086893","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract From mythology, history, and religion to contemporary popular culture, Lilith has been represented in a variety of ways. As either an avenging vampire or a seductive temptress, or a fascinating combination of both, she has been understood as both an object of a patriarchal view of women and a liberated and liberating feminist icon. The meanings that are ascribed to Lilith are thoroughly interwoven with contemporary feminist discourse. We argue that it is precisely within the postfeminist media economy that the meanings and functions of various tropes of femininity are destabilised and renegotiated. In this article, we limit our focus to the appearance of Lilith in two recent television series, namely The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018–) and Shadowhunters (2016–2019). Our aim is to highlight the ways in which the Liliths represented in each series negotiate one specific trope of femininity used in popular culture, namely the femme fatale. We show that whilst these manifestations of Lilith as postfeminist femme fatale may open up potentialities for feminist resistance, they are simultaneously trapped in an oppressive system of representation that constructs women as passive objects of heteronormative male fantasies.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"21 - 40"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49615895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2105924
Tessa Djamilla Rwubaka, M. Prieler
Abstract This study analysed gender representations in a sample of 100 Rwandan music videos. Some of our findings were in accordance with those of previous studies focusing on other countries, including the findings that in videos men clearly outnumber women and women are sexually objectified through the use of clothing, gaze, partialising, and sexually suggestive movements. However, in contrast to previous literature on music videos in Western countries, this study on Rwandan music videos found hardly any violence or aggression in the videos and hardly any age differences between the men and women represented. Reasons for these results are discussed as well as the potential effects of such representations, including the objectification of women and an acceptance of gender role stereotypes.
{"title":"Gender Representation in Rwandan Music Videos","authors":"Tessa Djamilla Rwubaka, M. Prieler","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2105924","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2105924","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This study analysed gender representations in a sample of 100 Rwandan music videos. Some of our findings were in accordance with those of previous studies focusing on other countries, including the findings that in videos men clearly outnumber women and women are sexually objectified through the use of clothing, gaze, partialising, and sexually suggestive movements. However, in contrast to previous literature on music videos in Western countries, this study on Rwandan music videos found hardly any violence or aggression in the videos and hardly any age differences between the men and women represented. Reasons for these results are discussed as well as the potential effects of such representations, including the objectification of women and an acceptance of gender role stereotypes.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"1 - 20"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42930483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2105925
Mandla J. Radebe
Abstract South Africa’s deep-seated social inequality problem has been exposed and exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic pain and joblessness are disproportionately felt by the poor living in townships and informal settlements. This study investigates online news media’s coverage of the plight of poor people living in townships and informal settlements during the pandemic. Although numerous scholars have argued that the commercial media is biased and mutes the voices of the subalterns, this study shows an increase in the voices of ordinary citizens on the online media in question. During the pandemic, coverage of the poor and their issues increased and was framed from a human interest perspective. Despite this positive trend and the massive upsurge in online media during the pandemic lockdown, many online platforms are still linked to traditional media. In the final analysis, the commercial media’s problem of ownership, control, and concentration has migrated to online platforms. Because it is located in capitalist structures of power, commercialised media reproduces the views of the dominant powers and remains unable to unpack the underlying failures of capitalism. This article therefore makes a case for considering an alternative, decommodified media that will serve the majority as a public good.
{"title":"Framing the Poor during Covid-19: Townships and Informal Settlements in South African Online News","authors":"Mandla J. Radebe","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2105925","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2105925","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract South Africa’s deep-seated social inequality problem has been exposed and exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The economic pain and joblessness are disproportionately felt by the poor living in townships and informal settlements. This study investigates online news media’s coverage of the plight of poor people living in townships and informal settlements during the pandemic. Although numerous scholars have argued that the commercial media is biased and mutes the voices of the subalterns, this study shows an increase in the voices of ordinary citizens on the online media in question. During the pandemic, coverage of the poor and their issues increased and was framed from a human interest perspective. Despite this positive trend and the massive upsurge in online media during the pandemic lockdown, many online platforms are still linked to traditional media. In the final analysis, the commercial media’s problem of ownership, control, and concentration has migrated to online platforms. Because it is located in capitalist structures of power, commercialised media reproduces the views of the dominant powers and remains unable to unpack the underlying failures of capitalism. This article therefore makes a case for considering an alternative, decommodified media that will serve the majority as a public good.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"41 - 62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46211694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2086593
M. J. Hadji
Abstract This article explores the role of senior-level communication practitioners in strategic planning in the higher education context. To achieve this, the literature on strategic communication was reviewed to ascertain the position of communication practitioners in the organisational structure of universities and their effectiveness in achieving the mission of the university. Using purposive sampling, all South African public universities were approached, and seven responded by availing their university planners and communication practitioners for interviews. The results were analysed using thematic analysis. It was found that most university communication departments were based in the office of the vice-chancellor (VC), and that those based in other offices wished to be moved to the VC's office. Communication practitioners are consulted when university strategy is developed, although the process was criticised as being top-down. The participation of communicators in strategic planning was limited to creating awareness and organising strategic planning sessions, and they had no direct input in the strategy content. Notably, when asked about their contributions to the strategic planning of their universities, most communication practitioners focus on the communication of strategy. The study recommends that communication practitioners should be trained in general management, with particular reference to strategic management and risk management. In order to help improve universities’ monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, communication practitioners should be more actively involved in evaluative research. This would empower communication practitioners to add value in the strategic planning process. This study makes a meaningful contribution to the scholarly debate on the practice of strategic communication in the higher education context.
{"title":"Analysing the Strategic Role of Communication Practitioners in South African Universities","authors":"M. J. Hadji","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2086593","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2086593","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract This article explores the role of senior-level communication practitioners in strategic planning in the higher education context. To achieve this, the literature on strategic communication was reviewed to ascertain the position of communication practitioners in the organisational structure of universities and their effectiveness in achieving the mission of the university. Using purposive sampling, all South African public universities were approached, and seven responded by availing their university planners and communication practitioners for interviews. The results were analysed using thematic analysis. It was found that most university communication departments were based in the office of the vice-chancellor (VC), and that those based in other offices wished to be moved to the VC's office. Communication practitioners are consulted when university strategy is developed, although the process was criticised as being top-down. The participation of communicators in strategic planning was limited to creating awareness and organising strategic planning sessions, and they had no direct input in the strategy content. Notably, when asked about their contributions to the strategic planning of their universities, most communication practitioners focus on the communication of strategy. The study recommends that communication practitioners should be trained in general management, with particular reference to strategic management and risk management. In order to help improve universities’ monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, communication practitioners should be more actively involved in evaluative research. This would empower communication practitioners to add value in the strategic planning process. This study makes a meaningful contribution to the scholarly debate on the practice of strategic communication in the higher education context.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"110 - 135"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43219541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2022-04-03DOI: 10.1080/02500167.2022.2091630
Thérèse Roux, T. Maree
Abstract The focus of this research was to explore consumer brand responses to the brand personality of a South African classical music radio station, Classic 1027. This study investigated how key brand responses are influenced by brand personality. A structured electronic survey was used to collect data from a qualified online panel that reflected the demographic characteristics of typical Classic 1027 listeners. The attitudes and behavioural intentions of listeners were examined, and the findings show positive attitudes and intentions. The “enthusiasm” brand personality dimension was shown to have a significant effect on behavioural responses. This research contributes by measuring brand personality during an actual repositioning campaign, rather than just as an isolated academic study. By considering radio station brand personality from a listener's perspective, it also contributes to theory development and offers some guidelines for media practitioners.
{"title":"The Heart and Mind of a Radio Station: Audience Perceptions of Radio Station Brand Personality","authors":"Thérèse Roux, T. Maree","doi":"10.1080/02500167.2022.2091630","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2022.2091630","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The focus of this research was to explore consumer brand responses to the brand personality of a South African classical music radio station, Classic 1027. This study investigated how key brand responses are influenced by brand personality. A structured electronic survey was used to collect data from a qualified online panel that reflected the demographic characteristics of typical Classic 1027 listeners. The attitudes and behavioural intentions of listeners were examined, and the findings show positive attitudes and intentions. The “enthusiasm” brand personality dimension was shown to have a significant effect on behavioural responses. This research contributes by measuring brand personality during an actual repositioning campaign, rather than just as an isolated academic study. By considering radio station brand personality from a listener's perspective, it also contributes to theory development and offers some guidelines for media practitioners.","PeriodicalId":44378,"journal":{"name":"Communicatio-South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research","volume":"48 1","pages":"85 - 109"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46657378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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