Abstract
Although post-apartheid South Africa has witnessed constraints on press freedom by
the ruling party, there is limited understanding of how media discourse is contested
and constructed by diverse social actors. This article is interested in the extent to
which various social actors in the Durban network society, such as civil society,
corporations and the state, shape public information and perception in their own
interests regarding environmental discourse. Empirical evidence presents viewpoints
from key social actors and a local case study. The article compares the urban regional
and case study analyses, and highlights the complex relationship between various social
actors and the numerous avenues used to shape public information and perception.
While corporations causing pollution mainly serve as barriers to civil society using the
media effectively to highlight environmental injustices (e.g. through corporate media
sponsorships, media intimidation), this is further complicated by limitations within civil
society and media outlets to influence media discourse (e.g. limited financial/human
resources, individualized leadership, media remuneration issues). Alongside these
limitations, and the power of government and corporations, the influence of media
discourse and perceptions regarding industrial risks are also dependent upon successful
horizontal and vertical networking between civil society actors.