14 research outputs found
Magazines' representation of women and the influence on identity construction
No full textSubmitted in fulfillment of the requirements for PhD: Management Sciences , Durban University of Technology. Durban. South Africa, 2015.The history of South Africa has many scars of oppression and women have long experienced a disempowered position in society. It is also a history of intrepid efforts to emancipate South Africans from past afflictions. Media in South Africa played a key role in amplifying the apartheid regime and also overthrowing it. Media has significant power, is regarded as a bastion of freedom and nation building, and by means of its representation, contributes to our individual and social identities. Magazine media, in particular, are modern and popular cultural forms of representation. It is a significant force in South African culture and plays a central role in shaping public opinion on women. South Africa has a deep-rooted patriarchal value system and while advances can be commended, significant challenges persist. Despite women actively engaging in various aspects of society, from business to sport, they continue to receive marginal support and media attention. Stereotypical representations abound in magazine content and women are often sexualised and objectified in traditionally feminine, decorative roles and framed by their social positions as homemakers and non-professionals. This study explores magazines’ representation of women and the influence on identity construction. The connected landscapes of media’s production and consumption practices is also addressed, as there is a powerful interplay of how the economics of publishing significantly shape media content. This study proposes a model that contributes to promoting diversity in media content, ownership and control, critical citizenry and media accountability in terms of social change and gender equality. The qualitative methodological approach addresses the issue of objectification of women in editorial content and advertisements of two of South Africa’s leading consumer magazines, YOU and DRUM. The findings reveal that gender stereotypes thrive in magazine texts that repeatedly represent women as objects for male consumption, thereby not reflecting the diverse and progressive roles of modern day women. Magazine media can play a powerful role in helping to dislodge the patriarchal, public attitudes towards women. Diversified, equitable representation of gender in media is important so that it may demonstrate, and influence, society’s shift towards egalitarian principles. This study serves as a catalyst for change by building a knowledge base and raising awareness regarding magazines’ role in identity construction, by advocating gender issues and by contributing to gender parity in and through the media.
The influence of social media on organisational communication : a case study of the Public Relations Institute of Southern Africa
No full textSubmitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree: Masters in Management Sciences: Public Relations and Communication at the Durban University of Technology Faculty of Management Sciences
Department of Public Relations Management, 2021.The internet and the rapid development of information and communication technologies
(ICTs) has changed the way society interacts today. Social media, particularly Facebook
and Twitter, have brought a new era of communication to the world, thereby leading
organisations to rethink their communication strategies. Social media are reshaping
communication in organisations and incorporating social media into an organisations’
communication strategy in today’s fast-paced technological aeon has become essential
for sustainability, success and survival. It offers organisations opportunities to
communicate their messages to key stakeholders. It further enables public relations and
communications practitioners to connect, share ideas and experiences, collaborate,
engage in dialogue and build mutually beneficial relationships.
This study analysed the influence of social media on organisational communication
using an interpretative, exploratory, qualitative research approach. The Public Relations
Institute of Southern Africa (PRISA) was used as the case study to understand the
phenomenon. The study examined PRISA’s social media platforms (Facebook and
Twitter) and explored affiliated practitioners’ and employees’ perceptions on the use of
social media. Data was gathered through thematic content analysis (observation of
Facebook and Twitter); semi-structured interviews for focus group discussions with
PRISA employees and in-depth interviews with PRISA affiliated members. Participants
were selected through non-probability purposive and convenience sampling.
Findings reveal that there is a poor level of engagement by PRISA on social media
platforms. Participants maintained that PRISA needed to be more constant in their
approach to social media and more engagement and connectedness is required to meet
the needs of key publics. The data also showed that PRISA should invest time and
resources in meeting the online needs of the new generation of practitioners.
Participants expressed that PRISA has the capacity to be a ‘conversation starter’ and
needed to promote discussion forums and digital communities. Findings also
emphasised the significance of a social media policy and regular review and monitoring The study brings new perspectives on how social media can be incorporated into
organisational communication strategies. Practical recommendations for public relations
and communications organisations are provided based on the findings.
Recommendations include building an online presence to enhance visibility; employing
sustained and constant social media approaches; enabling social media discussion
forums to facilitate dialogical communication; researching target audience to meet the
needs of all stakeholders; enabling younger generation public relations practitioners to
spearhead social media activity; appointing staff dedicated to social media management
to improve efficiency; implementation of a social media policy; social media
monitoring and review; and training and development of staff. This study serves as a
knowledge base for public relations and communications organisations to understand
the influence of social media on organisational communication. It offers a foundation
for future research in the field of social media in organisations as well as offering
practitioners, managers and organisations the capacity to make more informed decisions
when developing and implementing their communications strategies
The role of the Writing Centre in negotiating inclusive learning spaces in the context of Covid-19
No full textThe Covid-19 pandemic catapulted higher education institutions to shifting their teaching, learning and assessment practices. Universities globally were abruptly forced to close their doors and adapt to digital learning platforms with the intention of meeting students’ learning needs. In a University of Technology (UoT) context such as the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in South Africa, the university had to relook the way it interacted and engaged with students. Writing centres at universities in South Africa have evolved and have led to the development of opportunities for collaborative learning underpinned by humanistic principles and interconnectivity in teaching, thinking and learning. Traditionally in the writing centre, students grow and develop in an informal way by face-to-face interactions in a physical space with tutors, peers and writing practitioners. However, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the writing centre has shifted to virtual learning platforms in order to continue creating inclusive and flexible learning spaces to foster criticality and academic and social resiliency in students. This paper explored how the writing centre as a vibrant community of practice (CoP), with the use of digital platforms initiated innovative tutoring techniques to contribute to creating a safe, enabling learning environment for students during these uncertainties. Paulo Freire’s idea of a Humanising Pedagogy (1970) and Lave and Wenger’s (1991) concept of communities of practice were used to gain insights into the contextual dynamics that shape a writing centre’s practice as the centre conceptualises how to respond to the ‘new normal’ in higher education. This paper asked a fundamental question about learning approaches and what is most valuable, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic. Data collection included written reflections from eight writing centre tutors from one writing centre site and surveys with 20 student users. This enabled an understanding of their perceptions and experiences of using the writing centre remotely, within a qualitative, exploratory inquiry. The findings revealed that the writing centre acknowledges the socio-economic difficulties faced by students and sees the value of CoP and a humanistic approach in its work in assisting students in coping with challenges and the realities that currently confront them. It found that tutors are central to contributing to transformative, multi-modal learning, and the writing centre can serve as a vehicle for promoting and sustaining inclusive learning environments and new ways of supporting students during uncertain times such as the pandemic
The influence of the print media in portraying women in sport : a case study of The Independent on Saturday
No full textDissertation submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Master's Degree of Technology: Public Relations Management, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2010.During the Apartheid era in South Africa, women were marginalised from
sport. The ability to participate in sport in South Africa is intrinsically linked to
the political history of the country. Sport played a dynamic role in the
struggle against the diabolical system of apartheid in South Africa and has a
powerful role to play in the transformation and nation building of South Africa.
Women have made great strides in sport in recent years in South Africa and
the way in which media portray these sporting achievements is critically
important to dislodging negative stereotypes and overcoming discrimination
of women in sport. The unfair coverage of women’s sport displays gender
based attitudes which systematically disadvantage women’s position in
society. Women’s participation in sport has grown dramatically but despite
this growth coverage of women in sport remains inferior to that given to men
in sport across all media. Media need to acknowledge, promote and
celebrate the wealth of talent that there is to be enjoyed by society.
Newspaper reports are seldom challenged for not being accurate or truthful.
But readers have a right to truthful information and reporting, and being
trustworthy to the reader is the basis of good journalism. Media need to
collectively reflect a diversity of content to ensure public access to a variety
of viewpoints and they should expect societal intervention if the media fail to
meet professional standards. The print media has a fundamental role to play
in shaping public opinion and undoubtedly have an influence in portraying
women in sport in South Africa. This study critically analyses the influence of
the print media in portraying women in sport.
Transforming Learning: Reimagining Writing Centre Tutor Training in a University Context
No full textTutors in the higher education environment play an important role in facilitating student learning. However, they are often inadequately supported in the contexts in which they work. Tutors often require support through structured training and development programmes that embeds theory and practice to equip them with the powerful knowledge needed in their work with students. A re-examination of the support, training and development of tutors is therefore needed. This paper explored a Writing Centre tutor training progamme within a University of Technology (UoT) context. An academics literacies approach to tutor training has been implemented as it enables the creation of opportunities for students and tutors to question the ways in which they are working with knowledge and demonstrating that knowledge through their writing. Through tutors’ narrative, written reflections and within a qualitative inquiry, this paper explored theory based tutor training and how it contributes to a more responsive Writing Centre practice by developing tutors’ undertsanding of their role in transforming thinking, teaching and learning. It argues for the implementation of on-going, structured and theoretically embedded training that foregrounds Writing Centre pedagogy and creates a foundation for tutors’ cognitive development in their work with students
The influence of social media in building organisational relationships in the public relations industry in South Africa
No full textSocial media has created a new era of global communication. It is reshaping communication in organisations, thereby compeling many to rethink their communication strategies. In today's
technologically driven era, organisations face a multitude of responsibilities and challenges,
one of which is the participatory nature of social media which requires a high level of
responsiveness. Despite the global social media revolution, not all public relations practitioners
in organisations use social media to its fullest potential, regardless of the advantages it may
offer. This case study on a leading public relations and communications body in South Africa
is used to analyse how social media could be used to maintain effective organisational
communication. An interpretative, qualitative approach is employed. Data is gathered through
interviews and thematic analysis enabled the categorisation of data into themes. Findings reveal
a poor level of engagement on social media platforms and recommends the creation of online
discussion forums, the reviewing and monitoring social media platforms, enabling the younger
generation of public relations practitioners to spearhead social media activity, and the training
and development of practitioners to instil confidence and understanding of social media use
The bumpy road to postgraduate supervision in South Africa: A collaborative autoethnography
No full textThe pressure to increase the number of postgraduate qualifications in South Africa has intensified the need for quality supervision within universities. Supervisors often engage with their students based on their own prior experiences as postgraduate students. This has the potential of enabling and validating postgraduate students' learning and success or could constrain and subdue it. This study acknowledges the supervisor-student nexus in contributing to a new generation of academics as key agents in the development of a knowledge economy. Using an autoethnographic inquiry approach we reflect on our supervisory experiences at two universities of technology in South Africa, unpack power relations in the supervision process and critique the models and styles of supervision. We use reflective narratives to unpack the complexities of the student-supervisor journey that can be dark, rough, and lonely. The principles of participatory learning environments and the tenets laid down by the Freirean notion of a Humanising Pedagogy is adopted as a framework underpinning this paper. The findings show that postgraduate supervision should be viewed as a facilitative process that provides supportive and inclusive spaces for student participation in academic practice
Can Universities of Technology in South Africa achieve transformation by promoting a culture of social responsibility among academic and student agents?
No full textUniversity social responsibility is an intrinsic discourse in South Africa. Universities grapple with their identities relating to learning, teaching, research and community engagement. This paper explores how the drive for transformation particularly at universities of technology has promoted a culture of social responsibility among student and staff agents. Two universities were considered in the analysis of existing norms and understanding how institutions integrate the culture of social responsibility while adhering to mandates of creating knowledge societies. This study provides recommendations that could be endorsed as policy to develop innovative developmental strategies and enact new social responsibility partnerships within university spaces
Editorial - Advancing African Women in Academia: Charting Modern Solutions
No full textThere is a gross underrepresentation of women in teaching, research, and leadership in higher education institutions (HEIs) globally. Despite the fact that a few studies have reported some gains in gender balance in HEIs, there are still glaring inequities of women in higher education, particularly in Africa. These challenges include but are not limited to, barriers to academic progression and career development, intersections of race, gender and motherhood, and identity and belonging. While several authors have revealed these gender gaps, it is valuable to understand the lived experiences of woman in academia on the African continent. African women encounter multifaceted challenges in academia. Structural barriers such as limited access to education, gender bias, and cultural norms that prioritise domestic responsibilities over career pursuits hinder their advancement (Founou et al., 2023). Additionally, the scarcity of female role models and mentors exacerbates feelings of isolation and imposter syndrome, further deterring women from pursuing academic careers. These challenges contribute to the underrepresentation of African women in leadership positions and fields traditionally dominated by men
Corporate social responsibility in the mining sector in Zimbabwe.
No full textZimbabwe like any other developing country, invests funds in supporting the upliftment of
communities and in social programmes that enhances community development. The increasing
rate of unemployment and low skills level poses a threat to sustainable development. To support a
strategic shift towards impactful results, organisations with the help of the government need
constructive and efficient Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, which is simple and user
friendly. This can assist project managers and company managers to improve effectiveness and
efficiency of CSR programmes. Using a qualitative approach, this study examined the nature of
CSR in the mining sector in Zimbabwe to understand the challenges that are faced by mining
companies. This paper can be used to design a CSR policy that lead to the planning and
implementation of programmes in the mining sector that yield impactful results. Using purposive
sampling, four CSR managers were selected from two Zimbabwean mining companies (Zimplats
and Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond mining Company). Data was collected through semi structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings indicate that mining
companies in Zimbabwe are involved in CSR initiatives, but they are faced with a number of
challenges including lack of participation from the communities and limited financial resources
