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14 January 2019 | Story Charlene Stanley | Photo Anja Aucamp
Dr David Patrick
Dr David Patrick hopes that his book will encourage a more sceptical view of Western media’s portrayal of enocides.

A movie night 10 years ago featuring Hotel Rwanda, set a young Scottish Social Sciences scholar off on a disturbing journey of discovery about just how twisted the portrayal of genocide by Western media houses can be.

Dr David Patrick found the mass slaughter of Tutsis, directed by members of the Hutu majority government during a 100-day period in 1994, to be totally incomprehensible. It is believed that between 500 000 and two million people were killed.

 

Research interest

It sparked a research interest and has led to the recent publishing of his monograph: Reporting Genocide: Media, Mass Violence and Human Rights.

He found liberal democratic countries’ advocacy of human rights to be little more than positive-sounding rhetoric when it came to their reaction to genocide in the rest of the world. There was also a remarkable contrast between places like Bosnia and Rwanda in terms of overall news coverage, with Bosnia consistently receiving far more coverage than Rwanda.

“Given that the Rwandan genocide was far more destructive – both in terms of speed and scale – provides ample evidence of the importance placed on both geographical location and race in relation to setting the news agenda,” Dr Patrick says.

 

International Studies Group

He’s been coming to South Africa as part of the UFS International Studies Group under the leadership of Professor Ian Phimister since 2014.

“Being exposed to so many people from different countries has been incredibly enriching,” Dr Patrick says.

“I love the texture and vibrancy of the South African society and also the braaiing culture – seeing that it rains back in Scotland almost 300 days of the year!”

He’s found a happy home in the south of Bloemfontein with his wife Tamsin, a teacher of Academic English at the UFS, and their three dogs.

 

Effect of findings

He is sober about whether his book will help change the prevailing news agenda. “Media institutions are not really known for critical self-reflection,” he says.

“But I do hope that people who read my book will at least adopt a more sceptical view of Western media’s portrayal of genocides.”

News Archive

Music programme receives a boost
2004-08-20

 

 

Back standing fltr: Mr Peter Guy - Founder and coordinator: Mangaung String Program and snr lecturer at the Musicon; Mrs Francine Duvenage, Manager: Human Resources, Wesbank. Middle fltr: Prof Frederick Fourie, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS; Mr Apie Otto, Area Manager: Vehicles, Wesbank Free State and Northern Cape. Front fltr: Mr John Minaar (17), Gr 12 Sand du Plessis Secondary School; Repiloe Olifant (14) Gr 10 Navalsig Secondary School; Moeketsi Khang (16) Gr 11 Tsoseletso Secondary School; Stella Benbooi (12) Gr 7 Bochabela Primary School.

The Mangaung String Programme, a partnership between the University of the Free State (UFS) and the Free State Musicon, an institution that falls under the auspices of the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, has recently received heartened encouragement when an amount of R342 000,00 was granted to the programme by the Wesbank/First Rand Foundation for the purchasing of a bus.

“Transporting the children who are part of the programme back and forth for tuition and rehearsals has been a major problem as most of them stay in the townships on the outskirts of Bloemfontein ,” said Mr Peter Guy, founder and coordinator of the programme.

“The bus will ensure that those children who have the passion, dedication and commitment can spend every afternoon if they so choose practicing, learning about music and rehearsing with children from all over Bloemfontein,” said Mr Guy.

Mr Guy, a Senior Lecturer at the Musicon, started the programme in 1998 with funding from the Musicon Parents Teachers Association, initially with 15 pupils - today 150 children participate in the programme. In 2002 the UFS formed a partnership with the Free State Musicon in the provisioning of facilities, tuition and musical instruments. “Since the involvement of the UFS, the programme has almost tripled in size and one

fulltime teaching position is now jointly funded by both institutions,” said Mr Guy.

According to Mr Guy the Free State Symphony Orchestra has committed itself to providing opportunities for gifted young players from all backgrounds to perform, develop their talents and to grow musically. Some of the children of the Mangaung String Programme will soon be joining the Free State Symphony Concert in concerts.

Media Release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel: (051) 401-2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
19 August 2004
 

 

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