Abstract:
In this essay, we critically reflect on digital disruption in
journalism and journalism education with specific focus
on the South African context. After contextualising
the problematics in terms of what Castells terms the
“information technology revolution”, we define data
visualisation and survey the existing literature on
the subject. The history of journalism education in
South Africa is briefly revisited before assessing the
current state of the profession in the country. The
dangers posed by digital visualisation to the core ethos
and function of journalism as a vehicle in the service
of contributing to a resilient democracy is thrown into
relief by utilising critical concepts from the work of
Foucault, Habermas and Fuchs. We subsequently cite a
few examples of the undisclosed bias inherent in data
visualisation. In conclusion, we consider the feasibility
and potential effects of the necessity to adopt data
visualisation techniques on journalism in South Africa.
