Monitoring Grocott’s Policy:Monitoring Grocott’s Policy:

Research Team:

Thanduxolo JikaModise KabeliThandy KuneneSusan NakacwaThando Sebesho

Research Aims:Research Aims:

To identify trends followed in monitoring policy

To establish who is better placed for the responsibility of monitoring policy

Provide propositions for monitoring Grocott’s policy

Research Methods:Research Methods:

Qualitative research: Interviews E-mails In-depth (open ended) questions

Findings: Findings:

Grocott’s does not have a formalized document that outlines who is responsible for monitoring policy

Only an arbitrary level of implementation of arbitrary policy decisions exists

Readers have been acting as watchdogs e.g. calling-in to complain about something published

Board of Directors

General Manager

Editor

Board ofAdvisors

Adverts Publishing

Grocott’s Organogram:Grocott’s Organogram:

Advisory Board:Advisory Board:

Advisory Board MembersAdvisory Board Members

Editorial PolicyExpert/s

Financial Expert/s

Legal Expert/s

OtherExpert/s

Policy Awareness

Focus GroupsMedia CampaignsPublic Meetings

Recommendations:Recommendations:

There should be a Qualitative Review of each issue - this will help the editor monitor the quality of the newspaper, especially in the beginning stages.

The Review can be as simple as passing a copy of the newspaper to all people responsible for content & production, & asking them to mark criticisms and suggestions on the copy for all to see.

Recommendations continued:Recommendations continued:

Composition of the Advisory Board: Should be representative

- consist of members with diff. expertise, e.g authorities in the areas of law, finance, education, editorial policy, etc.

- also, consist of different communities and social orientations in Grahamstown.

Recommendations continued:Recommendations continued:

Responsibilities:

Advisory Board (Policy Expert/s):Advisory Board (Policy Expert/s): create policy awareness through media campaigns,

focus groups & public meetings. Sit-in & mediate on meetings to solve conflict

regarding policy matters. Investigate, judge or punish those responsible for

lapses

Recommendations continued:Recommendations continued:

Responsibilities:

Editor:: clearly define & implement the editorial policy establish procedures to maintain newspaper

quality, identify errors & problems, detect trends & monitor possible failures that

reflect a deterioration in quality, & implement corrective actions as needed.

Recommendations continued:Recommendations continued:

Focus groups: gather role players in all sectors for policy

input create policy awareness review/assess adherence to policy - e.g.

review articles on Grocott’s Mail for policy adherence.

Recommendations continued:Recommendations continued:

Radio broadcasts and press releases For information broadcasts, awareness

campaigns, creating a platform to call public meetings or give reminders e.g Radio Grahamstown, RMR and Grocott’s.

The radio stations will be mediums of giving feedback, responses and reminders.

Recommendations continued:Recommendations continued:

Public meetings large scale meetings in different areas in

Grahamstown. should be recorded & have translators

available for Xhosa or Afrikaans speakers. Grocott’s Project e.g. GRAB – could use

students on a voluntary basis

Finally…Finally…

The Board of Advisors will, on their bi-annual meetings, submit an

audit of the qualitative review to the Board of Directors.