Peace-seeking Afrikaans editors in the apartheid era: Journalistic perspectives in a theological framework

• Main Authors: Johannes D. Froneman, Christo J. Lombaard
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: AOSIS 2020-12-01
• Series: Verbum et Ecclesia
• Subjects: ethical journalism; christian evaluation; apartheid-era journalism; schalk pienaar; willem de klerk; frits gaum; doret jansen; max du preez
• Online Access: https://verbumetecclesia.org.za/index.php/ve/article/view/2133
• ISSN: 1609-9982; 2074-7705

n this study, the ethical-journalistic contributions of five apartheid-era Afrikaans language newspaper editors are taken into review: Schalk Pienaar (Die Beeld and Beeld), Willem de Klerk (Die Transvaler and Rapport), Frits Gaum (Die Kerkbode), Doret Jansen (Western Transvaal Record) and Max Du Preez (Vrye Weekblad). Their ethical-journalistic contributions are described, keeping in mind the constraints within which they operated in these five diverse newspapers. Based on Christian historical-theological considerations, evaluative remarks are made, en routeto promoting ethically sound journalism. Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The use of central theological ideas and/or a theological framework to evaluate aspects of societal ethics in the practice of journalism, here more specifically in the history of Afrikaans journalism, is explored.