Some Random Thoughts on the South African Communication Association

What is it about?

This autoethnography concludes the author’s trilogy on the history of the South African Communication Association (SACOMM) in this 40th anniversary issue of African Journalism Studies, previously titled as Ecquid Novi, a key player since 1981 within the Association. The author discusses paradigmatic contestations and associated administrative arrangements within SACOMM as indicators of post 2000 university managerialism and performance management, in the context of wider political processes. A discussion of naming of the Association reconsiders SACOMM’s origins and history. The successes of the Association in terms of post-apartheid national policy are examined in terms of SACOMM’s achievements and organisational assumptions. Lessons learned are related briefly to other African associations.

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Why is it important?

The author discusses paradigmatic contestations and associated administrative arrangements within SACOMM as indicators of post 2000 university managerialism and performance management, in the context of wider political processes. A discussion of naming of the Association reconsiders SACOMM’s origins and history. The successes of the Association in terms of post-apartheid national policy are examined in terms of SACOMM’s achievements and organisational assumptions. Lessons learned are related briefly to other African associations.