Media Analysis
The Institute for Media Analysis in South Africa (est. 1999) offers a wide range of consultation services on matters regarding journalism and the media.
About us
The Institute for Media Analysis in South Africa (est. 1999) offers a wide range of consultation services on matters regarding journalism and the media. The Institute also owns the academic journal African Journalism Studies, published by Routledge/Taylor & Francis and collaborates with the disinformation research group Disinfoafrica.org.
Consultation Services
- Content Analysis of media coverage of particular topics or companies.
- Audience and User Surveys and Focus Groups.
- Academic Reviews and Publication advice.
Previous assignments include surveys on media literacy, analysis of public exposure to ‘fake news’ and disinformation, journalism skills training and reviews of academic programmes.
Prof Herman Wasserman,
Director
An internationally leading researcher in journalism and media studies. A distinguished academic leader with more than years of international experience in higher education, media production, journalism, and consulting environments. Widely published on global media, with a focus on media in Africa and the Global South…
Latest News
Communication Education as a Driver of Change
Prof Herman Wasserman gave a keynote talk, ‘Communication Education as a Driver of Change’ at the 2023 annual conference of the South African Communications Association in Johannesburg. He also participated in a panel session discussing the Unesco handbooks on Reporting Artificial Intelligence and Teaching Journalism Online. He is pictured here with other panelists, Sisanda Nkoala, […]
Imasa’s Herman Wasserman joins authoritative new global information environment expert panel
Herman Wasserman, Director of the Institute for Media Analysis in South Africa, has been invited to join a new international authoritative panel of experts who will address threats to the global information environment. The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) was officially launched yesterday (24 May 2023) at the 2023 Nobel Prize Summit held in Washington DC. The […]
Media capture and information laundering – China and Russia’s propaganda assault on Africa
One of the ways in which foreign influence operations gain traction in African societies is through influencing local media. This influence can range from subtle attempts to influence editorial agendas to outright capture of media outlets. China has been especially active in the African media space for at least a decade. The expansion of Chinese […]
An interview with Prof Herman Wasserman by Yuval Katz from The Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication at Annenberg, University of Pennsylvania, has been released as a podcast
Herman Wasserman, “The Ethics of Engagement: Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa” (Oxford UP, 2020)New Books in African Studies Hello, world! This is the Global Media & Communication podcast series. In this episode, our host Yuval Katz discusses the book The Ethics of Engagement: Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa (Oxford UP, 2020) by Herman Wasserman. You’ll hear about: The ethical […]
Research done by Herman Wasserman and Tanja Bosch shows that South African tabloids did not conform to stereotypes of sensationalism, but provided relevant, contextual coverage of the Covid19 pandemic (repost the piece from The Conversation
Tabloid newspapers are seen as sensationalist – but South Africa’s Daily Sun flipped that script during COVID-19 Tabloid journalism usually refers to short, easily readable and mostly human-interest news, presented in a highly visual and sensationalist style. “Tabloidisation” has become shorthand for the deterioration of journalistic standards. Newspapers like this are often criticised for diverting readers […]
Prof Herman Wasserman co-authored an opinion piece in the Daily Maverick about the South African government’s position on the war on Ukraine and Russian disinformation campaigns
Sergei Lavrov (left), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, attends a meeting for bilateral talks with his South African counterpart, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor (right), in Pretoria on 23 January 2023. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Kim Ludbrook). The choice of language by the South African government to refer to […]
After the disruption: the future of journalism education as a connective and collaborative practice
Prof Herman Wasserman made a presentation titled “After the disruption: the future of journalism education as a connective and collaborative practice” to the Wits University Jamfest workshop.
The messenger, the message and the receiver: South African government communication during the Covid-19 pandemic
Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales have co-authored a chapter in Manufacturing Government Communication on Covid-19: A Comparative Perspective. Their chapter titled “The messenger, the message and the receiver: South Africa government communication during the Covid-19 pandemic” provides an overview of how communication on the Covid-19 crisis delivered by the South African government was received by the South African […]
The Incompleteness of Knowledge Production: An Interview with Francis Nyamnjoh
About the author Francis B. Nyamnjoh is a Professor of Social Anthropology at the School of African and Gender Studies, Anthropology and Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Read the full article here
Architects of Communication Scholarship – Francis Nyamnjoh theorizing incompleteness, mobility, belonging, and conviviality from the Global South.
Communication Professor Francis Nyamnjoh discusses studying social anthropology as it pertains to communication scholarship in Africa. Francis also gives his thoughts on the role of technology in many African societies and communication. Listen to the podcast here.
Globalizing Media Studies: Invitation to join our network
We are an informal collective of academics from different continents. We are launching a network of scholars who are keen to globalize media and communication studies. This is hardly a new ambition. But we believe that the timing has never been better to make major advances toward a more globalized field. There is already a […]
Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales appear on SABC’s ‘Media & Society’
On Sunday the 21st of August, Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales appeared on a segment of Media & Society by SABC News. Alongside Africa Check’s Head of Education and Training, Carina Van Wyk, Wasserman and Madrid-Morales discussed the importance of media literacy and how it can aid in the fight against misinformation. Their discussion highlights the importance […]
Disinformation in the Global South: a new book edited by Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales
Disinformation in the Global South was published on April 14. Both print and electronic copies are available. You can use the code ICAW2 until June 30, 2022 to get a 20% discount on your copy. Media and communication scholars Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales to release a new book on disinformation in the global south. Through […]
An Assessment of Media Literacy and Fact-Checking Training Needs in South African Schools and Universities
This new report co-authored by Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales aims to identify knowledge and skills gaps related to teaching about misinformation through a needs assessment of educators in South Africa. The aim is to assist the development of media and information literacy materials that can be used in South African schools on a secondary […]
Media literacy education in South Africa can help combat fake news – here’s what’s needed
Online platforms are replete with examples of false information – from WhatsApp messages punting some miraculous cure for COVID, to social media posts claiming a politician said something they didn’t. It’s increasingly common in South Africa. More than 75% of South Africans say they regularly come across political news they think is false. Eight out of 10 South […]
Watch Prof Herman Wasserman interviewed about World Press Freedom Day
Communication Education as a Driver of Change
Prof Herman Wasserman gave a keynote talk, ‘Communication Education as a Driver of Change’ at the 2023 annual conference of the South African Communications Association in Johannesburg. He also participated in a panel session discussing the Unesco handbooks on Reporting Artificial Intelligence and Teaching Journalism Online. He is pictured here with other panelists, Sisanda Nkoala, […]
Imasa’s Herman Wasserman joins authoritative new global information environment expert panel
Herman Wasserman, Director of the Institute for Media Analysis in South Africa, has been invited to join a new international authoritative panel of experts who will address threats to the global information environment. The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) was officially launched yesterday (24 May 2023) at the 2023 Nobel Prize Summit held in Washington DC. The […]
Media capture and information laundering – China and Russia’s propaganda assault on Africa
One of the ways in which foreign influence operations gain traction in African societies is through influencing local media. This influence can range from subtle attempts to influence editorial agendas to outright capture of media outlets. China has been especially active in the African media space for at least a decade. The expansion of Chinese […]
An interview with Prof Herman Wasserman by Yuval Katz from The Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication at Annenberg, University of Pennsylvania, has been released as a podcast
Herman Wasserman, “The Ethics of Engagement: Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa” (Oxford UP, 2020)New Books in African Studies Hello, world! This is the Global Media & Communication podcast series. In this episode, our host Yuval Katz discusses the book The Ethics of Engagement: Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa (Oxford UP, 2020) by Herman Wasserman. You’ll hear about: The ethical […]
Research done by Herman Wasserman and Tanja Bosch shows that South African tabloids did not conform to stereotypes of sensationalism, but provided relevant, contextual coverage of the Covid19 pandemic (repost the piece from The Conversation
Tabloid newspapers are seen as sensationalist – but South Africa’s Daily Sun flipped that script during COVID-19 Tabloid journalism usually refers to short, easily readable and mostly human-interest news, presented in a highly visual and sensationalist style. “Tabloidisation” has become shorthand for the deterioration of journalistic standards. Newspapers like this are often criticised for diverting readers […]
Prof Herman Wasserman co-authored an opinion piece in the Daily Maverick about the South African government’s position on the war on Ukraine and Russian disinformation campaigns
Sergei Lavrov (left), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, attends a meeting for bilateral talks with his South African counterpart, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor (right), in Pretoria on 23 January 2023. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Kim Ludbrook). The choice of language by the South African government to refer to […]
After the disruption: the future of journalism education as a connective and collaborative practice
Prof Herman Wasserman made a presentation titled “After the disruption: the future of journalism education as a connective and collaborative practice” to the Wits University Jamfest workshop.
The messenger, the message and the receiver: South African government communication during the Covid-19 pandemic
Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales have co-authored a chapter in Manufacturing Government Communication on Covid-19: A Comparative Perspective. Their chapter titled “The messenger, the message and the receiver: South Africa government communication during the Covid-19 pandemic” provides an overview of how communication on the Covid-19 crisis delivered by the South African government was received by the South African […]
The Incompleteness of Knowledge Production: An Interview with Francis Nyamnjoh
About the author Francis B. Nyamnjoh is a Professor of Social Anthropology at the School of African and Gender Studies, Anthropology and Linguistics, Faculty of Humanities, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Read the full article here
Architects of Communication Scholarship – Francis Nyamnjoh theorizing incompleteness, mobility, belonging, and conviviality from the Global South.
Communication Professor Francis Nyamnjoh discusses studying social anthropology as it pertains to communication scholarship in Africa. Francis also gives his thoughts on the role of technology in many African societies and communication. Listen to the podcast here.
Globalizing Media Studies: Invitation to join our network
We are an informal collective of academics from different continents. We are launching a network of scholars who are keen to globalize media and communication studies. This is hardly a new ambition. But we believe that the timing has never been better to make major advances toward a more globalized field. There is already a […]
Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales appear on SABC’s ‘Media & Society’
On Sunday the 21st of August, Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales appeared on a segment of Media & Society by SABC News. Alongside Africa Check’s Head of Education and Training, Carina Van Wyk, Wasserman and Madrid-Morales discussed the importance of media literacy and how it can aid in the fight against misinformation. Their discussion highlights the importance […]
Disinformation in the Global South: a new book edited by Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales
Disinformation in the Global South was published on April 14. Both print and electronic copies are available. You can use the code ICAW2 until June 30, 2022 to get a 20% discount on your copy. Media and communication scholars Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales to release a new book on disinformation in the global south. Through […]
An Assessment of Media Literacy and Fact-Checking Training Needs in South African Schools and Universities
This new report co-authored by Herman Wasserman and Dani Madrid-Morales aims to identify knowledge and skills gaps related to teaching about misinformation through a needs assessment of educators in South Africa. The aim is to assist the development of media and information literacy materials that can be used in South African schools on a secondary […]
Media literacy education in South Africa can help combat fake news – here’s what’s needed
Online platforms are replete with examples of false information – from WhatsApp messages punting some miraculous cure for COVID, to social media posts claiming a politician said something they didn’t. It’s increasingly common in South Africa. More than 75% of South Africans say they regularly come across political news they think is false. Eight out of 10 South […]
Communication Education as a Driver of Change
Prof Herman Wasserman gave a keynote talk, ‘Communication Education as a Driver of Change’ at the 2023 annual conference of the South African Communications Association in Johannesburg. He also participated in a panel session discussing the Unesco handbooks on...
Imasa’s Herman Wasserman joins authoritative new global information environment expert panel
Herman Wasserman, Director of the Institute for Media Analysis in South Africa, has been invited to join a new international authoritative panel of experts who will address threats to the global information environment. The International Panel on the Information...
Media capture and information laundering – China and Russia’s propaganda assault on Africa
One of the ways in which foreign influence operations gain traction in African societies is through influencing local media. This influence can range from subtle attempts to influence editorial agendas to outright capture of media outlets. China has been...
Prof Herman Wasserman visited the University of Miami to give a talk on disinformation in the Global South and discuss partnerships
More information coming soon
An interview with Prof Herman Wasserman by Yuval Katz from The Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication at Annenberg, University of Pennsylvania, has been released as a podcast
Herman Wasserman, "The Ethics of Engagement: Media, Conflict and Democracy in Africa" (Oxford UP, 2020)New Books in African Studies Hello, world! This is the Global Media & Communication podcast series. In this episode, our host Yuval Katz discusses the...
Research done by Herman Wasserman and Tanja Bosch shows that South African tabloids did not conform to stereotypes of sensationalism, but provided relevant, contextual coverage of the Covid19 pandemic (repost the piece from The Conversation
Tabloid newspapers are seen as sensationalist - but South Africa’s Daily Sun flipped that script during COVID-19 Tabloid journalism usually refers to short, easily readable and mostly human-interest news, presented in a highly visual and sensationalist style....
Prof Herman Wasserman co-authored an opinion piece in the Daily Maverick about the South African government’s position on the war on Ukraine and Russian disinformation campaigns
Sergei Lavrov (left), the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, attends a meeting for bilateral talks with his South African counterpart, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor (right), in Pretoria on 23 January 2023....
After the disruption: the future of journalism education as a connective and collaborative practice
Prof Herman Wasserman made a presentation titled “After the disruption: the future of journalism education as a connective and collaborative practice” to the Wits University Jamfest workshop. https://twitter.com/DineshBalliah/status/1584565274178916353?s=20
PROF HERMAN WASSERMAN,
Director
An internationally leading researcher in journalism and media studies. A distinguished academic leader with more than years of international experience in higher education, media production, journalism, and consulting environments. Widely published on global media, with a focus on media in Africa and the Global South...