Knowledge, the media and anti-immigrant hate crime in South Africa: where are the connections?

Abstract

There is a growing level of academic interest in how the media covers immigration and xenophobia in South Africa. Various scholars (e.g. Nyamnjoh 2010; Smith 2011; Chiumbu and Moyo 2018) have looked at the role of the South African media but they have tended to focus on print media (primarily newspapers). However, it may be that other types of media (e.g. social media or radio) are more important sources of information. Moreover, many people may primarily rely on non-media source (e.g. friends or family) for information on this subject. This study will look at the sources of information on international migrants that people trust most. Identifying the most-used sources of information will allow anti xenophobia campaigners to target their interventions more effectively. From this perspective, it would be particularly useful to determine which information sources are most utilised by individuals who have strong anti28 immigrant views. In addition, it would be valuable to examine which sources are used by perpetrators of anti-immigrant violence.