Academic literature on the topic 'Afrikaans newspapers'

In the increasingly competitive media landscape newspapers, among others, are underpressure from digital and social media. As a result, the performance and positioningof traditional Afrikaans newspapers like Rapport, Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad, aswell as the forms of Afrikaans they use, are constantly scrutinised in surveys about therelevance and profitability of the Afrikaans print media. These surveys often point tothe use of Afrikaans ‘as spoken by the people’ in emerging newspapers like Son andSon op Sondag, as the main reason for the growing popularity, healthy sales figuresand advertising revenue of these two newspapers. As a result, Son developed into thelargest Afrikaans daily in an Afrikaans print market long dominated by establishedtitles like Beeld, Die Burger and Volksblad. In view of this, this contribution will firstlyinvestigate the profitability (in monetary terms and circulation) of actually using Kaapsin newspapers. Secondly, it will focus attention on the use of this form of Afrikaansin traditional newspapers in which Standard Afrikaans is the dominant form. Thequestion is: What is the nature of the Kaaps in these newspapers compared to theKaaps in Son specifically? The aim of this contribution is to explore how Afrikaansnewspapers create space for the use of colloquial varieties in general and Kaapsspecifically, and to determine the relevance or function of Kaaps in the news domain.On the one hand the focus will be on columns in which Kaaps is the medium and onthe other, on newspaper articles about the Afrikaans language variety. The data onwhich this paper is based were firstly, the responses to a list of questions posed to thenews-editor of Son, and secondly a critical content analysis and interpretation of themanifestations of Kaaps in this newspaper in comparison to the forms in the moreestablished Afrikaans newspapers. The general perceptions of, and attitudes towards,the use of colloquial varieties of Afrikaans, collated in a 2012 survey among readers,are also taken into account.

The transformation of Afrikaans - a review of the media debate of the last decadeThis article focuses on the language debate concerning the position and status of Afrikaans. This debate has mainly been conducted in Afrikaans newspapers during the past ten years. The apparent trends of the debate are interpreted against the background of transformation as a key concept. Apart from a brief theoretical investigation of the theory of social change, this article explores the applicability of these theoretical parameters on the transformation process to which Afrikaans has been subjected during the last decade. The article aims to demonstrate that the media debate on Afrikaans which has been conducted by members of the Afrikaans speech community is not unique but illustrates responses typical of all transforming societies regardless of time and space.

Afrikaans and English television news started in 1975 with equal airtime. In 1996 afteran SABC policy change, the Afrikaans TV news bulletin was relegated to a lesser andinfrequent time slot. Many Afrikaans-speaking viewers perceived these changes as athreat to the future of Afrikaans and pressure was exerted by cultural organizations andAfrikaans newspapers. There are also indications that economy of language played amajor role in the re-establishment of a regular time slot for Afrikaans television news.Economy of language is a field of study probing the relationship between linguistic andeconomic variables. The role of language in people’s involvement in the economy isdiverse but fundamental. On the one hand language empowers or disempowers peopleto join the national economy, and on the other hand people’s language preferencessometimes determine their consumer decisions. The SABC’s Afrikaans television news isa prime example of language preference becoming an economic determinant.

Afrikaans freedom songs as a reconstruction of Afrikaner identity Media polemics that centred on Afrikaner identity and language proliferated in Afrikaans newspapers of the early 2000s. It illustrates that although more than a decade has passed since democratisation, identity politics are still an important South African topic and renegotiation therefore continues. This article discusses the role of Afrikaans freedom songs as a reconstruction of white Afrikaner identity with the specific aim of establishing a point of departure for an ideology-critical theorising of the topic. In this regard, the interpretative tools of metaphor analysis and ideology critique of Johann Visagie (1996) are applied within the broader framework of the so-called Critical Theory. The five dominant postapartheid narratives recorded by Melissa Steyn (2001) serve as starting point for this study. The selection of freedom songs is related to specific constructions of “whiteness” portrayed in the mentioned narratives.

Rabbi Ungar was born in Budapest to Bela and Frederika Ungar. The family lived in hiding with false identity papers from 1944 under the German occupation. After the war, a scholarship brought him to the UK where he studied at Jews’ College, then part of University College, and subsequently studied philosophy. Feeling uncomfortable within Orthodoxy, he met with Rabbi Harold Reinhart and Rabbi Leo Baeck and eventually became an assistant rabbi at West London Synagogue. In 1954 he obtained his doctorate in philosophy and was ordained as a rabbi through a programme that preceded the formal creation of Leo Baeck College in 1956. In 1955 he was appointed as rabbi at the progressive congregation in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Very soon his fiery anti-Apartheid sermons were condemned in the Afrikaans newspapers and received mixed reactions from the Jewish community. In December 1956 he was served with a deportation order and was forced to leave the country.

How do people from our day and age view the Bible? Not all members of the Dutch Reformed Church cherish the same view about Scripture. The letters in the Afrikaans newspapers on religious issues clearly reflect this. There are two groups of scholars in the church whose views on Scripture impact on church members’ views. They are (1) systematic theologians and (2) biblical scholars. A large number of systematic theologians adhere to the view which was formulated during the heydays of Protestant Orthodoxy, i.e. that the Bible reflects a double authorship. They prefer to use the Latin words “auctor primaries” and “auctores secundarii” when writing about Scripture. A large number of biblical scholars, however, work with the idea that the Bible reflects single authorship. God did not write. Humans wrote the books of the Bible. It goes without saying that ordinary church members do not always understand the differences and are often perplexed by these differences. It is of utmost importance to discuss these differences and to try and find some middle ground in the church.

This article focuses on views expressed in newspaper articles and in letters to the editor about the future of Afrikaans in a new political dispensation. It seems as if people do not believe that despite the constitutional assurances of November 1993 - Afrikaans will be able to maintain its present status as one of the official languages of South Africa as the mistakes of the past are constantly being thrown into its face. There have been signs in the business community (for example by Toyota, Coca-Cola, BMW, SA Breweries) and in the political arena that English, rather than Afrikaans, is the favoured language. The views expressed in the articles and letters indicate that the Afrikaans community will not accept this attitude and that a new struggle for language rights (especially those of Afrikaans in the light of the history of Afrikaans) could be the result. This struggle could according to one letter writer - have serious consequences for peace in the country after the assumption of power by a new government will come to power after April 27 1994.

Early research into the Afrikaans vocabulary was mainly diachronic and comparative (Dutch being the “mother” language from which Afrikaans developed) and the relationship between the lexicons of the two languages was not explored in any great detail towards the end of the twentieth century. This state of affairs changed with the publication of Groot Woordeboek Afrikaans en Nederlands (“Great Dictionary Afrikaans and Dutch”) in 2011, a dictionary with an amalgamated lemma list. One of the outcomes of the lexicographic project was the realisation that less than fifty percent of the lemmas in the dictionary were absolute cognates, words which are similar in both form and meaning. This finding prompted a synchronic comparison of word forming processes in Afrikaans and Dutch, using two small newspaper corpora from 2009 as well a selection of neologisms. Analysis of the data shows that although Afrikaans and Dutch differ in the way in which loan words are incorporated—Dutch speakers prefer to take over the words as they are, whereas Afrikaans speakers make use of calques— the morphosemantic process of compounding is still the most productive way for adding words to the lexicon. The two languages do not make use of each others’ coinages, one indication that their lexicons are increasingly growing apart.

In this commentary the authors express their opinion on the role that the Vrye Weekblad in particular and the Press in general, can play in a post-apartheid South Africa. The article is not based on any empirical quantitative research. Rather, It should be seen as a critical analysis of comtemporary conjecture surrounding literature pertaining to this specific topic. The authors postulate that the Vrye Weekblad is ofter mistakenly portrayed as a radical newspaper by those who feel the mos threatened by the possible conse quences that its messages can produce. The value of this particular medium lles In the fact that it will help ensure that Afrikaans, as a language, will survive. It Is able to fulfil this function by showing that Afrikaans need not always be im. mediately equated with racism or suppression, but in sharp contrast, that Afrikaans can be synonomous with democracy. The difficulties and challenges facing the Vrye Weekblad (and other media) as a variable that will play a vital role in not only moulding, but also influencing a post-apartheid South Africa, are highlighted

The past has become a focal point in contemporary South African discourse, in public debate, newspaper articles and various forms of literature. South African literature written during the eighties and nineties, in particular English and Afrikaans novels, effectively portray this climate of confrontation and reconciliation by engaging in dialogue with the past and history. This article traces the evolution of political consciousness in the female protagonists of A Sport of Nature (1987) by Nadine Gordimer, Die reise van Isobelle (1996) by Elsa Joubert and Imaginings of Sand (1997) by André Brink. All three novelists subvert the traditional stereotypes of white women: Gordimer in an ironic quasi-picaresque form, Joubert by staging a family saga that assumes a testimonial quality and Brink in a fictionalised meta-history of women interwoven with strands of magic realism. The novels all engage with history, and in particular the role of women in history, in a constructive manner and attempt to anticipate a positive scenario for the future.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is primarily an examination of the effect of multilingualism on Afrikaans newspapers, with specific reference to Die Burger (Western Cape). The study also looks at the origin and development of South Africa's multilingual dispensation, the effect of this on South Africa's press history, the newspaper market in South Africa, how newspapers position themselves in this multilingual market, an outline of Die Burger's potential and real market in the Western Cape, how Die Burger positions itself in this market, the challenges and effect of multilingualism on Die Burger's market, ways in which Die Burger handles this impact, and possible shortcomings in the handling thereof. The study further examines the effect of multilingualism on the financial and operating management of newspapers, strategies for survival in a multilingual market, the possible shortcomings of these strategies, and suggests possible solutions for these shortcomings. Through electronic media such as television, radio and the internet more and more Afrikaans speaking people are exposed to English and it is likely and possible that growing numbers of Afrikaans speaking people are able to communicate fluently in English. The possible effect of this may be that Afrikaans speaking people, Die Burger's primary market, can, with growing ease, support Die Burger's direct competition, namely English dailies. Die Burger can therefore no longer depend on language loyalty, but have to compete on level footing with English newspapers for Afrikaans readers. Because of the uniqueness of the Die Burger's market there is no generic model for survival strategies in this market. Thus this study also examines influences on the Afrikaans market such as globalisation, anglicization and the impact of the electronic media on language preference and ability. The study also examines the specific challenges for Die Burger, especially in terms of not losing it's current readers, and secondly to survive in a market increasingly under pressure from multilingualism.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is primêr 'n ondersoek na die invloed wat veeltaligheid het op Afrikaanse koerante, met spesifieke verwysing na Die Burger (Wes-Kaap). Daar word ook 'n ondersoek gedoen na die oorsprong en ontwikkeling van Suid- Afrika se veeltalige bestel, die invloed van veeltaligheid op Suid-Afrika se persgeskiedenis, die koerantmark in Suid-Afrika, hoe koerante hulle in dié veeltalige mark posisioneer, 'n beskrywing van Die Burger se potensiële en werklike mark in die Wes-Kaap, hoe Die Burger hom in dié mark posisioneer, die uitdagings en invloed van veeltaligheid op Die Burger se mark, die maniere waarop Die Burger dié impak hanteer, en moontlike leemtes in die hantering daarvan. Die studie ondersoek verder die finansiële en bedryfsimpak van 'n veeltalige samelewing op koerante, strategieë vir oorlewing in 'n veeltalige mark, moontlike leemtes in dié strategieë, en doen moontlike oplossings aan die hand. Weens die elektroniese media soos televisie, radio en die internet word al meer Afrikaanssprekendes aan veral Engels blootgestel en is dit waarskynlik en moontlik dat al meer Afrikaanssprekendes ook gemaklik in veral Engels kan kommunikeer. Dit kan tot gevolg hê dat Afrikaanssprekendes, en dus Die Burger se primêre teikenmark, met toenemende gemak ook Die Burger se direkte kompetisie, naamlik Engelse dagblaaie, kan begin ondersteun. Die Burger sal dus nie meer kan staatmaak op taallojaliteit nie, maar moet op gelyke voet met Engelse koerante meeding vir Afrikaanssprekende lesers. Weens die uniekheid van die mark waarin Die Burger hom bevind, bestaan geen generiese model wat strategieë vir oorlewing binne dié mark uitstippel nie. Dus word in die studie 'n ondersoek gedoen na die invloede op die Afrikaanse mark soos byvoorbeeld globalisering, gepaardgaande verengelsing, en die invloed van die elektroniese media op die mark se taalvoorkeur en -vaardigheid. Die studie behels ook 'n ondersoek na die spesifieke uitdagings vir Die Burger, veral in terme daarvan om eerstens sy huidige lesers te behou, en tweedens om te oorleef in 'n mark wat toenemend die invloed voel van veeltaligheid.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Newspapers across the world, and more particularly here in South Africa, are in trouble due to dropping circulation figures and reduced income from advertisements. Technology, although impacting on the printed product, should not be seen as a threat, but rather as an opportunity. New and novel ways need to be explored to generate revenue from newspaper websites, by increased subscription figures, as well as other ways of monetizing content. Revenue from advertisements is still important in the online environment, but online news services can generate money in other ways by monetizing online news content through different payment models, advertorial content and e-commerce. In this study, the needs of users of an Afrikaans regional newspaper’s website will be explored and cues taken from the results of an online survey in order to better understand what it is that online news users want and what they are willing to pay for it, which is, by all accounts, not a lot.

Thesis (MEcon)--Stellenbosch University, 1990.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie ondersoek is om 'n psigometriese toets= battery te ontwikkel wat gebruik kan word in die keuringsproses van advertensieverteenwoordigers. Uit literatuur het geblyk dat daar 'n teoretiese raamwerk bestaan naamlik 'n samevallende geldigheidsmodel waarvolgens die navorsings= projek uitgevoer kan word. Eienskappe word ook geldentifiseer wat kerunerkend van suksesvolle verteenwoordigers is. Genoegsame bewyse is gevind dat persoonlikheid, belangstelling en aanleg belangrike eienskappe van suksesvolle verteenwoordigers is. Die navorsings= probleem wat ontstaan is "of die sukses van advertensie= verteenwoordigers in die koerantsektor voorspel word deur middel van 'n keuringsbattery bestaande uit psigometriese toetse?\I Psigometriese toetse wat psigometriese eienskappe meet gebaseer op belangstelling, aanleg en persoonlikheidsmetings wat Nasionale Pers se suksesvolle en onsuksesvolle advertensieverteenwoordigers van mekaar onderskei, wat sodoende in die toekoms tydens die keuringsproses gebruik kan word om beter advertensieverteenwoordigers te keur. Om'n antwoord op die navorsingsprobleem te kry was dit nodig om die advertensieverteen= woordigers by die verskillende dagblaaie wat onderskeidelik as die suksesvolle en onsuksesvolle presteerders bestempel kan word aan die hand van die volgende kriteria te identifiseer: kornrnissieverdien, prestasiebeoordeling en 'n kornbinasie van die kriteria. Dit was ook nodig om die nie-kognitiewe eienskappe naamlik: persoonlikheid, belangstelling en aanleg te identifiseer wat die suksesvolle presteerders beskryf. Hierdie eienskappe word gemeet deur die volgende toetse: Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za die Sest.ienpersoonlikheids~faktorvraelys, Gestruktureerde Objektiewe Rorschachtoets, 19-Veld-Belangstellingsvraelys en die Senior Aanlegtoets. Hierdie meetinstrumente is geselekteer op grond van die waarskynlikheid dat hulle die eienskappe meet wat kenmerkend van suksesvolle presteerders is gebaseer op grond van inligting voortspruitend uit 'n posontleding en literatuurstudie. Die respondente was 77 advertensieverteenwoordigers wat binne die koerante-sektor van Nasionale Pers werksaarn is. Vervolgens is van kontrasgroepe gebruik gemaak om die eienskappe wat kenmerkend van die suksesvolle advertensieverteenwoordigers is mee te bepaal asook 'n sarnevallende geldigheidsmodel waardeur die korrelasies tussen advertensieverteenwoordigers se metings op die psigometriese toetse en aanslae op die prestasiebeoordelingsinstrument bereken is. Op grond van die kontrasgroepe se resultate is daar nie genoegsarne be\vyse gevind dat daar 'n beduidende onderskeid tussen suksesvolle en onsuksesvolle advertensieverteenwoordigers op grond van hul persoonlikheid-, belangstelling- en aanlegtellings gemaak kan word nie. Dit was egter moontlik om op grond van die resultate van 'n meervoudige regressie-ontleding 'n psigometriese toetsbattery saarn te stel vir die keuring van advertensieverteenwoordigers. Deur stapsgewyse regressie is 'n regressie-vergelyking wat 6 veranderlikes insluit verkry met 'n meervoudige korrelasie van 0,62 tussen die betrokke voorspellers en die prestasiebeoordelingmetings. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za Deur die samestelling van 'n voorspellingsmodel is gevind dat die huidige keuringsmetode wat gebruik word met 19,34% verbeter kan word indien 'n psigometriese toetsbattery as een van die fases in die keuringsbattery ingesluit word. Sodoende slaag hierdie ondersoek in sy doel om 'n psigometriese toetsbattery daar te stel wat in die
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The pu.t"poseof .this investigation is to develop a pscyhometric test battery which can be used in the selection process of advertising representatives. Literature showed that a theoretical framework exist namely a concurrent validation model upon which such a research project can be based. Typical characteristics of the successful representatives are also identified. Sufficient proof was found that personality, interest and ability are important characteristics of successful representatives. The research problem which excist is whether "the success of advertising representatives in the newspaper industry can be predicted by means of a test battery consisting of psychometric tests?" Psychometric tests which measures characteristics that differentiate between the successful and unsuccessful advertising representatives of Nasionale Pers based on their personality, interest and ability measures which in future can be used in the selection process to select successful advertising representatives. To answer the research problem it was necessary to identify the successful and unsuccessful achievers at the various newspapers based on the following criteria: commission earned, preformance evaluation and a combination of the named criteria. It was also necessary to identify the non-cognitive characteristics of the good achievers namely: personality, interest and ability. Four psychometric tests were used in the research project namely: the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, Structured Objective Rorschachtest, 19-Field Interest Questionnaire and the Senior Aptitude Test. Stellenbosch University http://scholar.sun.ac.za The measuring instruments were selected on the basis that they sufficiently measure the characteristics which are typical of successful representatives based on the job analysis and a study of the relevant literature. The respondents were 77 newspaper advertising representatives employed at Nasionale Pers. Contrast groups were used to determine the typical characteristics of a successful advertisement representative and a congruent validity model where by the correlations between the pscychometric tests and the scores of advertising representatives on the preformance appraisal instrument are determined. Based on the findings of the contrast groups no sufficient evidence could be found that a distinction can be drawn between the successful and unsuccessful advertising representatives based on their personality, interest and ability scores. By using a multiple regression analysis it was possible to construct a psychometric test battery that can be used in the selection of advertising representatives. By means of stepwise regression, a multipile equation including six variables were determined. A multipile correlation of 0,62 were found between the relevant predictors and the preformance appraisal scores. By making use of a prediction model it was found that the current selection procedure could be improved by 19,34% if the psychometric test battery is included as one of the phases in the selection battery. This study therefor succeeds in its purpose to develop a psychometric test battery which can be included in the selection process of advertising representatives.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2005.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Since South Africa’s transition from a nationalistic state to a democracy in 1994, debates about the media’s role have intensified as the challenges and complexities of the South African society unfolded. In this debate, which mainly played out between the government and the media, the liberal theory and the developmental theory were used as the two main normative positions from which to contest the media’s role. As normative theories they describe the ideal role of the press within societal systems and thus fall within the functionalist paradigm. Historically, the liberal approach was seen as the accepted normative framework for the media within a democracy to protect that very democracy. The liberal consensus adopted by the post-apartheid media therefore came as no surprise. However, the optimism initially experienced regarding the independence of the new, liberal media, its professionalisation and economic restructuring, is gradually being challenged by the critical perspective. This perspective questions the extent of transformation in a public sphere where entrance is still restricted by class structures. The argument of this paper is that although the above changes to the media landscape are recognised as important, they do not account for issues of class and how the poor, the spaces they live in and the factors impacting on their lives, are framed by the media. This paper is presented as a normative undertaking and presents civic journalism as alternative normative framework. It moves from the premise that the representations afforded to the poor in die media are being hampered by the individualistic aims of the Western, liberal, journalistic tradition. The argument is further that the use of a community-driven approach should lead to broader representation of the poor in the media and the inclusion of this currently marginalised group in the public sphere. Reframing, one of the most important methods of civic journalism, is singled out to explore the possibility of applying civic journalism to the South African context. The motivation for this paper is the belief that the need exists for a greater plurality of voices and discourses.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sedert Suid-Afrika in 1994 beweeg het van ’n nasionalistiese staat na ’n demokrasie, het die debat oor die rol van die media algaande verdiep namate die uitdagings en kompleksiteite van die Suid-Afrikaanse situasie ontvou het. In die debat tussen die postapartheid media en die regering was die twee normatiewe posisies van waar die media se rol by uitstek betwis is, die libertynse en ontwikkelingsteorie. As normatiewe teorieë wat die ideale rol van die pers binne samelewingsisteme verwoord, val dit binne die funksionalistiese paradigma. Histories word die liberale benadering gesien as die vanselfsprekende roete wat ’n media binne ’n demokrasie moet volg om daardie demokrasie te beskerm. Die liberale konsensus van die post-apartheid media was in die lig hiervan geen verrassing nie. Maar die optimisme wat aanvanklik ervaar is oor die onafhanklike, liberale media, sy professionalisering en ekonomiese herstrukturering, word algaande uitgedaag deur ’n kritiese perspektief. Hierdie perspektief bevraagteken die waarde van ’n getransformeerde media waar toelating tot die openbare sfeer steeds deur klasstrukture gereguleer word. Alhoewel die bogenoemde erken word as belangrike veranderinge, is die argument dat die liberale normatiewe paradigma nie genoeg was om kwessies van klas te verreken en hoe armes, die kwessies wat hulle lewens beïnvloed en die ruimtes waarin hulle ’n bestaan maak, deur die media beraam word nie. Hierdie werkstuk is ’n normatiewe onderneming wat burgerlike joernalistiek as normatiewe raamwerk wil voorstel. Die uitgangspunt is dat representasie van armes in die media deur die individualistiese doelstellings van die Westerse, liberale joernalistieke tradisie beperk word. Die argument is verder dat die toepassing van ’n gemeenskapsgerigte benadering behoort te lei tot ’n breër representasie van armes en die insluiting van dié tans gemarginaliseerde gemeenskappe by die openbare sfeer. Herberaming, een van die belangrikste metodes van burgerlike joernalistiek, word uitgesonder om die toepassingsmoontlikheid van burgerlike joernalistiek as alternatief te ondersoek. Die motivering vir die werkstuk is die oortuiging dat daar in die Suid-Afrikaanse mediakonteks ’n behoefte bestaan aan ’n groter diversiteit van stemme en diskoerse.

M.A. (Afrikaans)
Newspaper style books prescribe language usage in newspapers across the Western world. Their influence is also apparent in the language usage of Afrikaans daily newspapers. In order to establish the distinguishing characteristics of newspaper Afrikaans the language prescribed by the style books of Die Burger, Die Volksblad, Beeld, Die Vader/and and Die Transvaler was investigated. The register newspaper Afrikaans, as determined by the newspaper style book, displays distinct characteristics usually associated with the standard variety of a language. The establishment of those Afrikaans newspapers investigated resulted from the nationality aspirations of those then regarded as Afrikaners. Those newspapers have been closely involved in the creation, introduction and standardization of Afrikaans. Language standardization, in tum, is often implemented in unifying a community. Grammarians and language autocrats officially involved in standardizing the eventual standard variety (L.W. Hiemstra as member of the Taalkommissie and J.J. Smith as first editor-in-chief of the Woordeboek van die Afrikaanse Taa/) also held senior positions in the newspaper hierarchy. Newspaper Afrikaans, like standard Afrikaans, aims through standardization to maximize the communication potential of the language and to minimize the threat of ambiguity. Language standardization also results in prescriptive ness and language purism. These elements are inherent characteristics of the register newspaper Afrikaans. The register manifests itself in the medium where a standard language usually enjoys its most successful manifestation: written language. Beyond these similarities between the register newspaper Afrikaans and the standard variety, the register displays several unique characteristics distinguishing it from other registers in the Afrikaans language. These characteristics can be classed in two main sections. Although the aims of newspaper Afrikaans are in many respects similar to those set by international newspaper practice, care should be taken not to disregard the inevitability of language change as it could prove to be detrimental to the very existence of Afrikaans.

Text in Afrikaans
Die navorsingsonderwerp van hierdie proefskrif is ondersoekende joernalistiek en die moontlike of waarskynlike invloed wat die spesifieke joernalistieke praktyk op die proses van sosiale verandering kan uitoefen. Daar word van die aanname uitgegaan dat koerantberigte weens ondersoekende joernalistiek in sommige gevalle kan lei tot die bewusmaking van ongeregtighede en/of onregmatige dade in die samelewing en dat die joernalistieke praktyk 'n bydraende faktor of soms 'n katalisator tot optredes van owerhede en uiteindelik sosiale verandering kan wees. Om die aanname toe te lig, word eerstens gekyk na die betekenis van sosiale verandering. Antwoorde word onder meer gesoek op vrae soos: (i) Wat is sosiale verandering? en (ii) Wat is die invloed van die media op sosiale verandering? Tweedens word daar gekyk na wat ondersoekende joernalistiek behels en hoe dit verskil van veral die konvensionele joernalistieke praktyk. Derdens word 'n profiel van Vrye Weekblad gegee ten einde die koerant as gevallestudie te regverdig. Vierdens word 'n model vir die kwalitatiewe inhoudsontleding van voorbeelde van ondersoekende joernalistiek geformuleer. Vyfdens word die model empiries getoets op ondersoeke wat deur Vrye Weekblad gedoen is. Laastens word gepoog om die teoretiese perspektiewe oor sosiale verandering en die invloed van die media te versoen met die empiriese ontledings van die voorbeelde van ondersoekende joernalistiek in Vrye Weekblad.
The research topic of this thesis is investigative journalism and the possible or probable influence that this specific journalistic practice may have on the process of social change. The study proceeds from the assumption that investigative newspaper reports can in some instances lead to an awareness of injustices and/or illegal actions in society. This form of journalistic practice could therefore be a contributing factor, and in some cases, a catalyst for government action and ultimately social change. To elaborate on this assumption, attention is firstly given to the meaning of social change. In this respect answers to the following questions are sought: (i) What is social change? and (ii) What is the influence of the media on social change? Secondly, attention is given to the characteristics of investigative journalism and how this practice differs from conventional journalism. Thirdly a profile of Vrye Weekblad is offered in order to justify the case study. Fourthly a model for the qualitative content analysis of instances of investigative journalism is formulated. Fifthly this model is tested empirically on investigations undertaken by Vrye Weekblad. Finally an attempt is made to reconcile the theoretical perspectives on social change and the influence of the media with the empirical analyses of investigative journalism in Vrye Weekblad.
Communication Science
D. Litt et Phil. (Kommunikasiekunde)

Afrikaans text
In die perswese van Suid-Afrika het Die Burger gedurende die dertiger- en veertigerjare ’n besondere plek beklee. A1 was dit nie ’n koerant met reusesirkulasiesyfers nie, is dit gerespekteer omdat dit onder meer ’n besonder bevoegde redaksie en bestuurspan gehad het. Die wyse waarop hy sy direkte teenstander, Die Suiderstem, in die stof laat byt het, lewer bewys van Die Burger se krag en invloed, veral in sy hinterland. Die Burger en die Nasionale Party van Kaapland se noue verbintenis het tot gevolg gehad dat hulle ’n gedugte span gevorm het. Die verbintenis, wat wedersydse voordele ingehou het, is grootliks versterk deur D.F. Malan se betrokkenheid by Die Burger. Die rol wat die twee redakteurs A.L. Geyer en PJA. Weber in die tydperk 1934 tot 1948 gespeel het, moet as van kardinale belang beskou word. Veral die persoonlike ondersteuning wat hulle aan D.F. Malan gegee het in sy opbou van die Nasionale Party in die jare 1934 - 1948, het ’n deurslaggewende uitwerking op die Suid-Afrikaanse politieke geskiedenis gehad. Die rol wat Die Burger gedurende die koalisietydperk en daarna tydens samesmelting gespeel het, asook sy besonder noue verbintenis met sy lesers, het die koerant veral in Kaapland ’n baie belangrike politieke faktor gemaak. Dit het aan hom ook ’n besondere posisie van mag binne die Nasionale Party van Suid- Afrika laat inneem. Hierin het Geyer as redakteur, maar veral in sy persoonlike hoedanigheid, ’n groot rol gespeel. Die Burger se jarelange bydrae as kultuurbouer van die Afrikaanssprekendes het meegewerk dat die koerant as mede-skepper van die Nasionale Party se apartheidsfilosofie opgetree het. Die filosofie is beskou as die enigste wyse waarop die Afrikaanssprekende se kulturele en politieke regte beskerm en bestendig kon word. As praktiese instrument het dit veral ná 1939 ook meegehelp om die Nasionale Party aan bewind te bring in 1948. Die koerant het J.C. Smuts en die Verenigde Party gereeld aangeval en op alle gebiede aan die kaak probeer stel. Veral gedurende en na die Tweede Wereldoorlog het die koerant die Smuts-bewind as ’n onbevoegde regering aan sy lesers voorgehou, 'en het sekerlik sukses daarmee behaal.
During the nineteen thirties and forties the Afrikaans newspaper Die Burger occupied a prominent place within the ambience of the South African press. Without reaching large circulation figures, it achieved recognition and respect because - apart from other reasons - it commanded the skills of a very competent editorial staff and management team. The way in which it effectively ousted its main rival Die Suiderstem, is testimony of its power and influence, particularly in its hinterland. The close association between Die Burger and the Cape National Party represented a formidable joining of forces. This relationship, entailing mutual advantages, was sustained significantly by the involvement of Dr. D.F. Malan with Die Burger. Of cardinal importance also was the part played by two editors, A.L. Geyer and P.A. Weber, in the period 1934 to 1948. Their personal support of Dr. Malan in establishing and consolidating the National Party during the years 1934 to 1948 had a decisive influence on South African political history. The role assumed by Die Burger in the period of Coalition and Fusion, as well as the close bond it had established with its readership, made it a potent political force, particularly in the Cape Province. At the same time it gained for itself an important position of power within the National Party of South Africa. In all of this Geyer was a central figure - officially as editor, but more particularly also in a personal capacity. Die Burger's efforts over the years in advancing the cultural cause of Afrikaners led the paper to become a co-founder of the National Party's philosophy of apartheid. The implementation of this ideology was regarded as the only way in which the cultural and political rights of Afrikaners could be safeguarded and maintained. After 1939 the paper proved instrumental in bringing the National Party to power in the election of 1948. It regularly attacked General J.C. Smuts and his United Party on a wide political front, pointing out their shortcomings in various areas. Especially during and immediately after World War II it severely criticized the Smuts government for being incompetent, and it undoubtedly achieved political success with this strategy.
History
D. Litt. et Phil.

Text in Afrikaans
It has become clear that the continued existence of the Afrikaner in the 21st century will demand a recontextualisation of the identity and values attached to being an Afrikaans-speaking South African in a post-apartheid South Africa. Various institutions and intellectuals are already busy with this process. The study used the social phenomenology of Alfred Schutz to describe and analyse the first steps taken in the recontextualisation of Afrikaner identity from the perspective of letter writers to the Afrikaans daily newspaper, Beeld. Phenomenology accepts that the world of everyday life is man's fundamental and pervasive reality. Schutz uses concepts like the social stock of knowledge, typifications and intersubjectivity to explain how people interpret their everyday reality so that it becomes meaningful to themselves and others in communication. The task of the phenomenologist would be to question the taken-for-grantedness of this life world and identify its underlying principles (or essences). The study found that, while the letter writers did adjust their typification of the Self, no fundamental review of their typification of the Other (black South Africans) took place. Letter writers managed to free themselves of the baggage of apartheid after De Klerk gave up power in 1990 and declared white South Africa ready for negotiations for a new democratic South Africa. Together with giving up power, letter writers also freed themselves from the aspect of Christian-nationalism which was one of the fundamental building blocks of Afrikanerskap. The Afrikaner of 2004 seems to be a white minority, proud of their language and culture, and fighting for their right to speak and hear Afrikaans. However, no major revision of the Other has taken place. The study will show that letter writers have adjusted their perception of blacks in so far as it became practically relevant to do so for survival in the new South Africa. Very few, if any, fundamental changes took place in terms of the perception of racial or cultural superiority.
Communication Science
M.A. (Communication)