The People’s Voice: The development and current state of the South African small media sector

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The study provides an overview of relevant legislation and policy in South Africa, pre- and post-1994, and a review of international research that reveals global trends in small media development. It sketches the sector's distribution in South Africa, revealing the topography of service providers and key stakeholders. The report identifies the interests that are common to small independent and community media groupings and examines ways in which the sustainability of these organisations can be promoted. This study will be invaluable for anyone wishing to engage effectively with the small media sector, providing a range of pertinent data, analysis, and information. The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) was established to direct funding and support to the small media sector in the interests of deepening South Africa's young democracy. The principal objective of this study is to assist the MDDA in its important and complex work.

List of abbreviations
Executive summary
Acknowledgements

1. Small media in South Africa
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Opportunities and challenges
1.3 Research goals and objectives
1.4 Methodology
1.5 Assumptions and scope
1.6 Definition of community and independent media in South Africa

2. Small media and the policy environment
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Community media and values
2.3 Overview of policy developments prior to 1994
2.4 Overview of policy developments: post-1994
2.5 Small media: the law, ethics and the regulators
2.6 Universal access and ICT policy
2.7 Small media: labour and skills development
2.8 Small media and the global experience
2.9 Parallel initiatives

3. Overview of small media in South Africa
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Community radio
3.3 Print media
3.4 Community audiovisual media
3.5 The future: community multimedia services?
3.6 Conclusion

4. Analysis and conclusions
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Human resource development
4.3 Institutional capacity building
4.4 Partnerships
4.5 Financial modelling
4.6 Networking and information
4.7 Content development
4.8 Technical sustainability
4.9 Further research

5. Conclusion
Appendix: Questionnaires
References