S.A. Volksraadslede en persgeloofwaardigheid : 'n politieke houdingstudie

M.A. (Politics)This study represents an empirical inquiry into the attitudes of South African Members of Parliament towards the credibility of the South African press. The study was conducted in the field of Political Science, but literature from the field of Communication Science was also used to explain certain aspects of mass media behaviour and political communication. In any governmental system political leaders are the most important people in the decision-making process. In most societies with a high level of technological development the mass media is the primary and most frequently used instrument for disseminating information and influencing public opinion. It can be used very effectively by political leaders to make contact with the electorate. Chapter One deals with the research problem of the study. Political leaders in South Africa are confronted by a specific reality when reading different newspapers. This reality is one created by the criteria of newsworthiness and editorial policy, as well as by the political interests of newspapers. This study attempts to determine to what extent political leaders. experience this reality of newspaper reporting as credible. This question is answered by an analysis of the attitudes of South African MPs toward the credibility of the press. The interaction between the political leader and the press is the most important aspect of the theoretical framework for this study. Different dimensions of this relationship are analysed. Influence is regarded as one of the major concepts in this relationship. In the communication process the relationship of influence between sender and receiver is of major importance. This relationship consists of the following elements: (1) the situation or context in which the communication occurs; (2) communicator or message characteristics; (3) receiver characteristics; (4) effects. To isolate certain of these..