Challenging Authoritarianism: Revisiting Journalism Theory in New Democracies

• In Event: When Authoritarianism Rattles Journalism’s Supposed Foundations

Abstract

One of the central claims made by journalism in democratic societies is that it holds powerful interests to account by playing a monitorial role. In a time that established democracies in the North are experiencing heightened populism and a loss of trust in mainstream journalism, this foundational claim is invoked to re-establish the public interest orientation that lies at the centre of journalistic authority. This claim, however, has long been less than self-evident in contexts such as transitional countries emerging from authoritarianism. Here, journalism not only often exacerbates entrenched social and political polarisations, but is often captured by social and political elites, leading to creeping authoritarian renewal in young democracies. Journalistic monitoring of abuses of power does not always evoke a response of greater transparency and accountability. This paper will draw on findings from a study of journalists’ attitudes about democracy in South Africa to explore parallels between recent pressure on journalism and appeals to populism by politicians in the North, and longer-standing concerns in the South, to critique foundational normative theory about journalism’s monitorial role.

Author

• Herman Wasserman, University of Cape Town