| Summary: | Thesis (MPhil (Journalism))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. === The development of the regulation and self-regulation of Die Matie, official student newspaper of the University of Stellenbosch (US), were researched in this study. Die Matie is subjected to a complete code of conduct since 1995, which has been approved by the US council. This code developed after several conflicts with university authorities in a period in which South Africa changed into a new political system and when government became more tolerant towards the press. The origin and development of Die Matie’s code of conduct, the operations of the Media Council, the origin and development of the Die Matie’s Financial Advisory Committee, and developments in terms of the subsidy Die Matie receives from the US on an annual basis, are therefore studied with in the context of the regulation and self-regulation of the South African press in general.
The theoretical framework with in which this study was done is the normative media theory because this theory focuses on the ideal role the media should fulfil in society. The normative media theory also offers a basis from which the media’s responsibility and the quality of the media can be tested and controlled. The study has focused especially on the theory of social responsibility, which is one of the four original press theories and of which regulation and self-regulation forms a part.
The methodology which has been used is that of historical research, a qualitative methode. This methode was refined even further more by using the approach of microhistory which, firstly, entails the analising of a small area, and secondly acknowledges the researcher’s personal experience of the subject.
The study came to the conclusion that Die Matie firstly enforces self-regulation via its code of conduct, the Media Council and the Financial Advisory Committee. Secondly the editorial team has the freedom to publish whatever they would like to publish and to be as critical and controversial as they find necessary as long as they obey the regulations of the code of conduct. The study also finds that Die Matie’s position is currently protected and that the university authorities and the Student Representative Council can not take any random decisions about the existence of the newspaper.
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