Shifting the Narrative on Food Insecurity: An Investigation into the Potential Power of Social Media to Promote Sustainable Practices
- Authors: De Raedt, Amy
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Food security--South Africa , Ecosocialism--South Africa , Economic development--Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master'stheses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55290 , vital:51448
- Description: Food insecurity is a prevailing problem and according to a report released in 2019 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 2 billion people in the world experience moderate or severe food insecurity (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO 2019: vii). Consequently, if we are to make a significant change in these statistics, the actions taken to “tackle these troubling trends will have to be bolder, not only in scale but also in terms of multisectoral collaboration” (2019: viii). It is against this backdrop that this study will explore the discursive landscape around four social media applications - OLIO, Too Good To Go (TGTG), KHULA and OneFarm Share - working to fight food waste, tackle food insecurity and reimagine the food system. This study is situated in the field of media studies and adopts a qualitative approach, with hermeneutics as the specific research strategy which “[seeks] understanding, rather than to offer explanation” (Kinsella 2006: n.p). This study maps the development of media effect theories over the years and explores where it is today, drawing on key thinkers in the space of new media including Lister, Manovich and Castells. This is followed by a discussion of food insecurity globally, and then locally within a South African context, as well as through the lens of ecosocialism drawing on voices such as Kovel and Löwy. This will lead to a content analysis of the four selected applications exploring the discursive landscape around each, and what similarities and disparities emerge. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Language, Media and Communications, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
- Authors: De Raedt, Amy
- Date: 2022-04
- Subjects: Food security--South Africa , Ecosocialism--South Africa , Economic development--Moral and ethical aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Master'stheses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/55290 , vital:51448
- Description: Food insecurity is a prevailing problem and according to a report released in 2019 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 2 billion people in the world experience moderate or severe food insecurity (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO 2019: vii). Consequently, if we are to make a significant change in these statistics, the actions taken to “tackle these troubling trends will have to be bolder, not only in scale but also in terms of multisectoral collaboration” (2019: viii). It is against this backdrop that this study will explore the discursive landscape around four social media applications - OLIO, Too Good To Go (TGTG), KHULA and OneFarm Share - working to fight food waste, tackle food insecurity and reimagine the food system. This study is situated in the field of media studies and adopts a qualitative approach, with hermeneutics as the specific research strategy which “[seeks] understanding, rather than to offer explanation” (Kinsella 2006: n.p). This study maps the development of media effect theories over the years and explores where it is today, drawing on key thinkers in the space of new media including Lister, Manovich and Castells. This is followed by a discussion of food insecurity globally, and then locally within a South African context, as well as through the lens of ecosocialism drawing on voices such as Kovel and Löwy. This will lead to a content analysis of the four selected applications exploring the discursive landscape around each, and what similarities and disparities emerge. , Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Humanities, Language, Media and Communications, 2022
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2022-04
Factors affecting the well-being of the science faculty academic employees at a public university in the Eastern Cape Province
- Authors: Maqungo, Akhona
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Employees -- Psychological aspects , Universities and colleges -- Employee , Well-being
- Language: English
- Type: Master'stheses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51852 , vital:43378
- Description: Academia is faced with several challenges apart from attracting and retaining a high calibre of academics. As the main driving force in universities, academic employees are confronted with challenges such as increased workloads, emotional and physical exhaustion, bullying, job insecurity, violent and disruptive protest actions, uncompetitive salary scales, and poor working conditions. These aspects threaten the attractiveness of the academic profession as well as the well-being of academic employees. The ever-changing academic work environment requires universities to comprehend the impact of workplace aspects on employee’s well-being. Understanding the work aspects that affect the well-being of academics could help universities create a conducive working environment that enables employees to flourish, be resilient, manage everyday life stresses, and subsequently improve the well-being of its most valuable resource. An empirical study consisting of an online survey was conducted to gather and analyse data among 113 science faculty academic employees at the public university. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between work aspects such as employee recognition, job insecurity, working conditions, protest actions, workplace health and safety and well-being. Furthermore, this study determined the well-being needs and challenges experienced by the academic employees. The key findings indicated a significant relationship between the selected workplace aspects and well-being. The need for workplace conflict resolution strategies, financial management skills, improved employment relations, handling abuse of authority and bullying were found to be significant in improving the employees’ well-being. Workplace safety, lack of employee recognition, work overload, lack of management support, sexual misconduct, work-life balance, racial tensions, and a disregard for employee well-being were identified as some of the challenges experienced by the academic employees at the public university. Recommendations were made to enhance the well-being of the academics and pro-actively address the well-being needs and challenges of the science faculty academic employees. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2021-04
- Authors: Maqungo, Akhona
- Date: 2021-04
- Subjects: Employees -- Psychological aspects , Universities and colleges -- Employee , Well-being
- Language: English
- Type: Master'stheses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/51852 , vital:43378
- Description: Academia is faced with several challenges apart from attracting and retaining a high calibre of academics. As the main driving force in universities, academic employees are confronted with challenges such as increased workloads, emotional and physical exhaustion, bullying, job insecurity, violent and disruptive protest actions, uncompetitive salary scales, and poor working conditions. These aspects threaten the attractiveness of the academic profession as well as the well-being of academic employees. The ever-changing academic work environment requires universities to comprehend the impact of workplace aspects on employee’s well-being. Understanding the work aspects that affect the well-being of academics could help universities create a conducive working environment that enables employees to flourish, be resilient, manage everyday life stresses, and subsequently improve the well-being of its most valuable resource. An empirical study consisting of an online survey was conducted to gather and analyse data among 113 science faculty academic employees at the public university. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between work aspects such as employee recognition, job insecurity, working conditions, protest actions, workplace health and safety and well-being. Furthermore, this study determined the well-being needs and challenges experienced by the academic employees. The key findings indicated a significant relationship between the selected workplace aspects and well-being. The need for workplace conflict resolution strategies, financial management skills, improved employment relations, handling abuse of authority and bullying were found to be significant in improving the employees’ well-being. Workplace safety, lack of employee recognition, work overload, lack of management support, sexual misconduct, work-life balance, racial tensions, and a disregard for employee well-being were identified as some of the challenges experienced by the academic employees at the public university. Recommendations were made to enhance the well-being of the academics and pro-actively address the well-being needs and challenges of the science faculty academic employees. , Thesis (MBA) -- Faculty of Business and Economic Sciences, Business Administration, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-04
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