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Research Proposal


Sonja Ruppersberg-Blom – Blog Post

A note to my discussant and class mate:

I am not registered for Com 4809 and my selection of the Bell Pottinger campaign was pure coincidence. Prof Milton is aware of this matter and have asked that I advise my discussant of this.

A Brief introduction:

My name is Sonja Ruppersberg-Blom, I am a post graduate student at the University of South Africa and am currently busy with BA Honours in Media Studies. I am currently busy with a research project that is aiming to measure the impact of misinformation and fake news in a South Africa discourse, with emphasis on the Bell Pottinger misinformation campaign.

Title of study:

Understanding the impact of fake news on the attitudes of a population within a South African discourse.

2. Stating the problem

The research problem is understanding and illustrating the impact of fake news and misinformation on the attitudes of South African individuals. This research is specifically aimed at a South African discourse.

The research wants to find out how the Bell Pottinger campaign affected the attitudes of regular South Africans. Information gets created at a rapid pace and can be disseminated over vast territories instantly. It is therefore important that the accuracy of information and “facts” are carefully scrutinised. The campaign produced by the Public Relations Firm, Bell Pottinger, instigated by external entities, played an essential role in the process of state capture.

South Africans are only now learning the scope of state capture with the revelations taking place at the Zondo Commission. The misinformation campaign gave rise to the term “white monopoly capital” and was developed to created tension and fear in an already polarised South African society. The researcher is conscious of how fragile and precious good race relations are in South Africa and are therefore passionate about the subject.

The major issues are therefore the impact of fake news and misinformation on the attitudes of South Africans. The sub issues are the subsequent and resultant actions of individuals at the polls, their trust in Government and their trust in media.

This research will highlight the need for regulation, both personally and industrywide as it relates to the creation and publication of content.

In this study the researcher will therefore look at an independent variable, the average South African, and a dependent variable, the impact of misinformation, within a population. Looking specifically at the misinformation campaign around state capture, the research will aim to establish a connection between attitudes, views, feelings, emotions, actions, and how these aspects were influenced by misinformation and fake news, with specific reference to the Bell Pottinger campaign. 

3. Stating the rationale

The research is pertinent. The entire world is affected by the impact of fake news. Battles are fought through the media, on cable news and social networks.

South Africa is a relatively young democracy with many struggles and a polarised society, fragile and vulnerable to outside forces. The researcher wants the reader to consider the impact of the misinformation campaign perpetrated by foreign entities. It is therefore important to unpack for the reader how this campaign took place, why it took place and what resulted in its aftermath. It is the “what” that the researcher wants to explore.

While there are existing research as it relates to this phenomena abroad, more research is needed from an African, and more specifically, a South African perspective. The concept of looting and dominating is not a new concept in South Africa. As a country with a colonised past, being “taken over” by an outside entity is part of its history. The differences are the perpetrators and their method. The researcher therefore likens the seriousness of state capture to a new form of colonisation and domination.

Sources consulted

Berger, AA. 2016. Media and Communication Research Methods. 4h edition.
Sage Publications Ltd. London.

Bell Pottinger PR support for the Gupta family. 2017.
[O]. Available:
Accessed on 3 May 2019

University of South Africa. Department of Communication Science. 2019. CMNHONE: Tutorial letter 301/0/2019. Pretoria.

University of South Africa. Department of Communication Science. 2019. Tutorial letter 101/0/2019 for COM4802. Pretoria.

University of South Africa. Department of Communication Sciences
Assignment workbook for incoming Honours students. COM4802: Media research


Comments

  1. Good morning Sonja.

    You have an interesting topic. I see your interest is on how the fake news created by Bell Pottinger affected South Africans.

    I suggest you consult the book by Johann Mouton: How to succeed in your Master's & Doctoral Studies. It is a very good book and will help you structure your work properly.

    Please note that the background/rationale section of your proposal should indicate the general aims of the study and provide with reasons why you are studying that particular phenomenon. For example you may put it this way: The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe and explain the impact of the fake news on South African Citizens as created by Bell Pottinger during its economic emancipation campaign.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In terms of your literature study, remember that it is where you give information relating to the phenomenon as done by other researchers before. You should describe this phenomenon in detail. That is my understanding of a literature review.

      I have not yet seen your indication whether this is a qualitative study or not. In terms of the research problem, I see you said it is understanding and illustrating the impact of fake news and misinformation on the attitudes of South African individuals.

      I think a research problem is that which you want to address or solve through your study. Therefore, if you say the problem is understanding and illustrating the impact of fake news on citizens, is that a problem? How are you going to illustrate and understand the impact of fake news and misinformation as a research problem?

      I suggest that you also read Doing Social research: A global context by Claire Wagner, Barbara Kawalich and Mark Garner.

      The book will help you to develop a research topic, problem statement and how to plan the research project.

      Delete
  2. Thanks Martina, for your suggestions. My research problem is the fact that the extent, depth and breadth of fake news, misinformation and disinformation is not sufficiently understood and researched, therefore the inability to mitigate its affects. The research question is therefore how do we understand the impact of this phenomena on a populace? We examine the impact and gauge people feelings and opinions. This is what I want to resolve through my study. The Bell Pottinger case is merely a case in point. There are thousands of examples. The South African discourse is important to me, therefore the Bell. Pottinger event.

    ReplyDelete

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