State interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘Mirrorgate’ in Zimbabwe
Publication by Mr Oswelled Ureke, Lecturer in the Department of Media and Society Studies, Midlands State University
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Intellect
2016
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| Online Access: | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290472762 http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/jams.8.1.17_1 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1765 |
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| _version_ | 1779905310276714496 |
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| author | Ureke, Oswelled |
| author_facet | Ureke, Oswelled |
| author_sort | Ureke, Oswelled |
| collection | DSpace |
| description | Publication by Mr Oswelled Ureke, Lecturer in the Department of Media and Society Studies, Midlands State University |
| format | Article |
| id | ir-11408-1765 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publisher | Intellect |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-17652022-06-27T13:49:06Z State interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘Mirrorgate’ in Zimbabwe Ureke, Oswelled CIO; Mediagate; Mirror; Mirrorgate; propaganda model; state takeover Publication by Mr Oswelled Ureke, Lecturer in the Department of Media and Society Studies, Midlands State University This article explores the events leading to the closure of the Zimbabwe Mirror Newspapers Group (ZMNG) in 2007. It narrates how the state in Zimbabwe, through its intelligence arm, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), covertly took over the privately owned newspaper stable, publishers of the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror, leading to the organization’s demise. The article is informed by critical political economy theory, particularly the Propaganda Model and the concept of Social Control in the newsroom, linking Mirrorgate to the narrative of media control by the state in Zimbabwe. Interviews were conducted with key personnel – former Mirror staff members – to collect data. Archival newspaper reports were also analysed to trace the development of Mirrorgate and its consequences on the Mirror’s performance as a media entity. The article also benefits from experiential data accumulated through observation by the author as a former Mirror employee. The article shows that the Mirror takeover by the state had debilitating consequences on the organization’s performance, and can be attributed as the major reason behind the newspaper stable’s eventual collapse. The article also speculates on the possible reasons why the state could have taken over the newspaper company, particularly to manipulate public opinion during a time of political strife. 2016-08-31T09:53:04Z 2016-08-31T09:53:04Z 2016 Article 2040-199X https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290472762 http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/jams.8.1.17_1 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1765 en Journal of African Media Studies;Vol. 8, No. 1; p. 17-34 open Intellect |
| spellingShingle | CIO; Mediagate; Mirror; Mirrorgate; propaganda model; state takeover Ureke, Oswelled State interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘Mirrorgate’ in Zimbabwe |
| title | State interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘Mirrorgate’ in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | State interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘Mirrorgate’ in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | State interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘Mirrorgate’ in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | State interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘Mirrorgate’ in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | State interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘Mirrorgate’ in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | state interference, para-politics and editorial control: the political economy of ‘mirrorgate’ in zimbabwe |
| topic | CIO; Mediagate; Mirror; Mirrorgate; propaganda model; state takeover |
| url | https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290472762 http://dx.doi.org/10.1386/jams.8.1.17_1 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/1765 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT urekeoswelled stateinterferenceparapoliticsandeditorialcontrolthepoliticaleconomyofmirrorgateinzimbabwe |