The architecture of amplification — how SA news media manufactures public figures (opens original article in a new tab)

South African media's role in amplifying xenophobic rhetoric through unverified claims and commercial interests is highlighted, with calls for greater journalistic accountability.

• Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma's media presence is manufactured through a fragmented media ecosystem with varying journalistic integrity
• Media outlets like SAfm and Gagasi FM allow unverified claims and xenophobic rhetoric to spread without scrutiny
• Commercial platforms repackage inflammatory content for digital engagement, amplifying social tensions
• Newzroom Afrika demonstrates an adversarial approach by cross-examining claims against legal and factual evidence
• South African media fails to address external manipulation of public discourse and digital campaigns