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Anti discrimination unit

As part of the Media Monitoring Project’s daily work, we undertake monitoring based on issues of discrimination. Falling under the Anti Discrimination Unit, it includes daily monitoring activities, which are most often presented as comprehensive analyses of media coverage of particular issues. These regular analyses highlight the presence of discriminatory reports, as well as reports that are exceptional in their challenging of stereotypes and discrimination.

The primary focus of the unit is to monitor human rights-related issues, including race, gender, children, poverty, HIV/AIDS, crime, disability and stories relating to Africa.

The aims and objectives of the Anti Discrimination Unit are:

To highlight discriminatory reporting in a clear and understandable manner
To promote debates and constructive discussions by working with the media to provide practical suggestions for improvement
To defend the freedom of expression and human rights
To extend and entrench a human rights culture within the media to better inform both the public and representative public bodies of human rights issues in the media
To promote ethical journalism, by pointing out and helping to eradicate instances of unethical journalistic practice

Please browse through our past updates.

Media Articles

Current Articles | Categories | Search | Syndication

Articles from February 2007

Friday, February 23, 2007

Saluting Ma Tambo?
By MMP @ 12:13 PM :: 1261 Views :: 2 Comments ::

:: Gender, Race

This short look at the coverage around the death of Adelaide Tambo was a follow-up to coverage on Coretta Scott King. The media did exceptionally well in their role to educate and inform in this instance.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Addressing the state of the media
By MMP @ 10:44 AM :: 980 Views :: 0 Comments :: Media freedom and performance, Gender, Children, Race, Elections, HIV

Following President Mbeki’s state of the nation address, the Media Monitoring Project (MMP) would like to add the following state of the media in South Africa observations. In line with the MMP’s mandate we looked at a number of human rights issues and their relationship to the media. These include press freedom, race and racism, gender, HIV and AIDS, children, and the local government elections.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Media Monitoring Project’s Wishlist for the Presidents State of the Nation Address
By MMP @ 3:37 PM :: 930 Views :: 4 Comments ::

:: Media freedom and performance, Gender, Children, Elections

Dear Mister President,

We at the MMP submit the following wishes for the State of the Nation Address on Friday.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Upsurge of women who kill for money?
By MMP @ 10:10 AM :: 1748 Views :: 0 Comments :: Media freedom and performance, Gender

The coverage surrounding the ongoing court case over the death of Netshisaulu Avhatakali and the representation of his wife as a “black widow” murderer typifies recent coverage on women involved in their husband’s deaths. The coverage of this court case brought to light other cases, in which women were suspects in the killings of their husbands. It is interesting to note the bias in partner killing reports, where women kill their husbands for financial gain, whilst men kill their intimate partners out of an irrational rage. Both these examples exclude systemic physical and emotional abuse and, in so doing, create the impression that these events are somehow insulated from broader social problems.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Sex worker twice abused
By MMP @ 10:00 AM :: 801 Views :: 0 Comments :: Gender

Sex workers in South Africa and around the world, are doubly vulnerable because of their job which exposes them to a myriad of risks, including rape, HIV/AIDS and even slavery. They are vulnerable, too, because they engage in illegal activities, which opens them up to exploitation by police and other parties. It is therefore not surprising that the police personnel are alleged to have ‘attacked’ a sex worker. The Sowetan (18 Jaunuary 2007, p1) and The Star (18 Jaunuary 2007, pg 3) are to be commended for covering stories of this particularly vulnerable group of people. Sowetan went a step further and even followed up the story (Sowetan 22 January 2007, p5). However, the Sowetan’s coverage story, further abused the human rights of this already vulnerable woman, by showing her face when her life is apparently already in danger.