The rise of the rest

When South Africa joined the BRIC in 2010 many responded with scepticism about its comparatively small size population and economy compared to those of Indian and China and Brazil . However, South Africa’s membership into the BRICS is indicative of the global trend of the rise of the rest.
 
Delegates from China, India and South Africa met on Sunday and Monday for a series of discussions to share thoughts on this global phenomenon. Delegates aimed to interrogate just how the media are covering and making sense of this shift in global power and what steps can be taken to improve the media in their countries

Andy Zhou from Tsinghua University gave a glimpse into the unique Chinese media which is tentatively removing itself from its communist government’s clutches. “The internet is allowing China to catch up with the global trend of democratisation” said Abin Shi from Tsinghua University. Through the use of micro-blogging, Chinese civil society has been able to successfully initiate movements and peaceful protests around issues such as better living environments and the public’s access to information. The use of new media tools for social reforms is challenging the simplistic notion of China as wholly undemocratic.

Independent journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta discussed India’s booming media industry. With the largest number of publications, television channels, radio stations and web sites, India is leading the world of media. However, as we know, sheer size does not guarantee plurality. Thakurta stated that the Indian media can still take steps to reflect the country’s diversity and shed light on corruption. Gita Bamezai from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication raised concern about the predominance of political news in the Indian media. The lack of business and economic reporting in India contradicts the rapid growth of the country’s market. When business news is consumed, it is only being consumed by a a few educated professionals

 

Ylva Rodny-Gumede the University of Johannesburg addressed the issue of the ‘Southernasation’ of the media which aims to place media production in the capable hands of local journalists. Last Moyo from the University of the Witwatersrand said that the shift of the global economic centre from the West has given African journalists a chance to rethink ideas about modernity.

Attending speakers agreed that there is a need for more dialogue between BRICS nations. More human interest stories that highlight shared social experiences were also some of the components that could help in such dialogue.