[ecrea] Post on Research Opportunity

Research on Local Media in South Africa

The Eastern Cape Communication Forum (ECCF) in partnership with Walter 
Sisulu University (WSU) offers the opportunity for a student to conduct 
media related research in the Eastern Cape. ECCF is a registered 
non-profit organisation (NPO) which aims at strengthening and 
professionalising local independent media in the Eastern Cape, primarily 
grassroots newspapers and radio stations, to ensure adequate citizen 
participation in the democratic processes of the country. It furthermore 
tries to combine theoretical teaching of WSU journalism students with 
practical interventions in the media sector. ECCF provides training, 
workshops, and other forms of support to grassroots media and journalism 
students. It also includes a ‘Student News Agency’ (SNA) and catalyzes 
debates with students and media. ECCF is actively involved in the 
exchange of information and sharing of resources for the development of 
community media. Contacts have been established with local, national and 
international media support organisations. The German Gesellschaft für 
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is the core funder of the ECCF.

Research

Are you interested in grassroots media and its challenges? Are you 
studying media or a related field that asks questions about media and 
development? Are you learning about theories on the characteristics of 
different media systems? Then use the ECCF as a gateway to study local 
media in the Eastern Cape in South Africa.

Research Assistance

ECCF and WSU will be able to assist in facilitating contact with 
representatives from local independent media organisations for interview 
opportunities and conducting surveys. It will further assist in 
providing contacts with all spheres of government, civil society 
organisations and relevant media support organisations. You will be able 
to liaise directly with journalism students and other departments of 
WSU. ECCF and WSU will assist in identifying relevant themes for 
postgraduate and any other studies, if necessary. It is hoped that any 
research conducted would produce valuable information for ECCF and WSU 
to further develop their programmes of media support. ECCF and WSU will 
not be able to avail any financial contribution to the study opportunity.

Research Facilities

ECCF and WSU offer a working space (office) within the facilities of the 
media hub. The media hub comprises of a training venue, offices and a 
resource centre. The resource centre accommodates a collection of local 
independent publications from the Eastern Cape as well as some relevant 
material with regards to media and strengthening civil society and local 
democracy.

For More Information

Contact Aniela Batschari  Lecturer in Media Studies and Communication 
Advisor
E (abatschari /at/ wsu.ac.za)
I www.eccf.org.za <http://www.eccf.org.za/>
T 0027 43 703 8591
C 0027 82 546 4261