Problematising Race for Journalists: Critical Reflections on the South African Human Rights Commission Inquiry into Media Racism

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Periodical article

Title:	Problematising Race for Journalists: Critical Reflections on the South African Human Rights Commission Inquiry into Media Racism
Author:	Berger, Guy
Year:	2001
Periodical:	Critical Arts: A Journal of Media Studies
Volume:	15
Issue:	1-2
Pages:	69-96
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	journalism race relations freedom of the press Literature, Mass Media and the Press Ethnic and Race Relations Politics and Government Law, Human Rights and Violence
External link:	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02560240185310081
Abstract:	How journalists report race and racism was at the centre of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) Inquiry into racism in the media. A critical analysis of the conceptual assumptions in the Inquiry's Final Report, however, reveals serious limitations to the enterprise. In particular the flawed conceptual assumptions, plus the generalized character of the findings are of little help in assisting the momentum of eradicating racism in South Africa's media. This article identifies the problems as race essentialism and a relativism about what constitutes racism. It argues instead that journalists need the concept of racialization in order to change their reporting. Bibliogr., sum.