Media events in contexts of transition: sites of hope,disruption and protest

Abstract

This article looks briefly at the past and current role played by Dayan and Katz’s media events in South Africa and speculates about their potential future. While in the past, media events have played a pivotal role in the post-apartheid state’s nation-building project, current events suggest a more frissured socio-political landscape, with three likely manifestations of the media event. The first is the enduring integrative and hope-filled event, which audiences still desire and support. The second is the disruptive, non-integrative event and the third is the hijacked media event, which see media events being targeted as sites of protest.