Description
Paper Tiger: Iqbal Survé and the Downfall of Independent Newspapers by Alide Dasnois and Chris Whitfield is a gripping exploration of one of South Africa’s most controversial media takeovers. The book examines the 2013 acquisition of Independent Newspapers by Iqbal Survé’s Sekunjalo Independent Media Consortium, initially seen as a hopeful return of local ownership. However, the dismissal of Cape Times editor Alide Dasnois following a critical story sparked widespread debate about editorial independence and corporate influence.
Dasnois and Whitfield provide an insider’s view of the turmoil that followed: newsroom tensions, political pressure, and the systematic erosion of journalistic freedom. Through detailed accounts, the authors shed light on the human and professional cost of corporate manoeuvring, illustrating how the media landscape was reshaped under new ownership.
Essential reading for anyone interested in journalism, media ethics, and South African contemporary history, Paper Tiger offers a revealing look at the fragility of press freedom in a politically charged environment.
