Investigative Journalism in Grassroots Independent Print Media in South Africa

For a democracy to be fully functional, transparent communication between government and its citizens is a prerequisite.

The local independent media, composed of community radio stations and newspapers, play a critical role at grassroots level. However, the local independent media sector struggles with financial sustainability and staff shortages which can negatively impact on maintaining standards

This 2013 report summarises research by the Eastern Cape Communication Forum (ECCF) and the AIP on the extent of investigative journalism in select local independent newspapers in Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga, to ascertain whether government and private sector players were being held accountable through these outlets, and assess how additional training and support could strengthen investigative practices in these contexts.