1st Edition
Reconsidering the History of South African Journalism The Ghost of the Slave Press
By Gawie Botma
Copyright 2025
308 Pages
by
Routledge
308 Pages
by
Routledge
308 Pages
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
The concept of the “free press” is often celebrated as the vehicle which finally brought freedom of speech and democracy to post-apartheid South Africa, but historically, the position of the press was more complicated.
This book dives into the history of slavery at the Cape between 1800 and 1838, reflecting on the fact that several founding journalists and printers were slave owners themselves... Read more
Introduction
Part 1: History
1. Slavery and the press
2. The founding of the “slave press” (1800-1826)
3. The rise of the “liberal” champions (1824-1829)
4. Freedom and feuds (1830-1838)
Part 2: Content
5. News and comment
6. Advertisements
Part 3: Aftermath
7. Legacy reconsidered
8. Conclusion
Biography
Gawie Botma is Associate Professor and researcher in the Journalism Department, where he is the PhD programme coordinator, at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
