Michael Markovitz
@michaelmarkovitz.bsky.social
Media viability, public service media & competition in the African digital economy. My views only.
https://michaelmarkovitz.substack.com
https://michaelmarkovitz.substack.com
Excellent faculty confirmed for our EP in Media Leadership; from leading GIBS faculty in strategy, leadership, innovation & entrepreneurship to globally recognised experts in media sustainability, public interest journalism, digital transformation & emerging tech. www.gibs.co.za/programmes/e...
June 4, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Excellent faculty confirmed for our EP in Media Leadership; from leading GIBS faculty in strategy, leadership, innovation & entrepreneurship to globally recognised experts in media sustainability, public interest journalism, digital transformation & emerging tech. www.gibs.co.za/programmes/e...
Broken promises.
michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/a-broken-p...
michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/a-broken-p...
March 5, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Broken promises.
michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/a-broken-p...
michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/a-broken-p...
My Substack piece was re-published by @dailymaverick.co.za today 🙏
www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
#digitalsovereignty #publicinterest #competitionlaw #BigTech #AI #journalism #executiveorder
www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
#digitalsovereignty #publicinterest #competitionlaw #BigTech #AI #journalism #executiveorder
February 14, 2025 at 7:14 PM
My Substack piece was re-published by @dailymaverick.co.za today 🙏
www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
#digitalsovereignty #publicinterest #competitionlaw #BigTech #AI #journalism #executiveorder
www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/...
#digitalsovereignty #publicinterest #competitionlaw #BigTech #AI #journalism #executiveorder
Looking & feeling like the dog that caught the car, hey Kallie? But really no need to send another AfriForum delegation to Washington, you've done enough damage already. Unless of course your delegation is about claiming refugee status & its therefore a one way trip. #ExecutiveDisorder #SouthAfrica
February 8, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Looking & feeling like the dog that caught the car, hey Kallie? But really no need to send another AfriForum delegation to Washington, you've done enough damage already. Unless of course your delegation is about claiming refugee status & its therefore a one way trip. #ExecutiveDisorder #SouthAfrica
Dripping with irony & Trump-style transactionalism, TikTok’s messaging to US users reaches a new level of groveling. I'm no expert but surely authority to delay implementation of a law already enacted by POTUS rests exclusively with Congress or the judiciary as dictated by the separation of powers?
January 20, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Dripping with irony & Trump-style transactionalism, TikTok’s messaging to US users reaches a new level of groveling. I'm no expert but surely authority to delay implementation of a law already enacted by POTUS rests exclusively with Congress or the judiciary as dictated by the separation of powers?
Nails it. Republished this week by @techpolicypress.bsky.social
January 12, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Nails it. Republished this week by @techpolicypress.bsky.social
It's worth remembering: It’s not platform oligarchs & social media influencers fighting for South Africans' right to know. It’s legacy media like Financial Mail & investigative group
amabhungane, who win critical cases on access to info, like PwC's Steinhoff report. #publicinterest
amabhungane, who win critical cases on access to info, like PwC's Steinhoff report. #publicinterest
December 24, 2024 at 2:33 PM
It's worth remembering: It’s not platform oligarchs & social media influencers fighting for South Africans' right to know. It’s legacy media like Financial Mail & investigative group
amabhungane, who win critical cases on access to info, like PwC's Steinhoff report. #publicinterest
amabhungane, who win critical cases on access to info, like PwC's Steinhoff report. #publicinterest
Seriously @theguardian.com? If you’re going to use ‘remain’ please put it in quotes. If you had used the word ‘occupy’ you wouldn’t need quotes as it’s an objective fact. www.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...
November 30, 2024 at 7:56 AM
Seriously @theguardian.com? If you’re going to use ‘remain’ please put it in quotes. If you had used the word ‘occupy’ you wouldn’t need quotes as it’s an objective fact. www.theguardian.com/world/2024/n...
South Africa & Brazil are the only BRICS countries who must arrest Netanyahu. Its revealing to list where the accused war criminal can still go without fear of arrest: The 3 other BRICS (Russia, China, India), USA, Cuba, Indonesia, Rwanda, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, eSwatini, UAE & 30+ others. 'Nuff said
November 22, 2024 at 7:20 PM
South Africa & Brazil are the only BRICS countries who must arrest Netanyahu. Its revealing to list where the accused war criminal can still go without fear of arrest: The 3 other BRICS (Russia, China, India), USA, Cuba, Indonesia, Rwanda, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, eSwatini, UAE & 30+ others. 'Nuff said
Leaving aside their false 'democracy' claim, the SA Zionist Federation's reference to Israel as a "Western democratic state" reveals how Zionists also see Israel as a Western settler project. Anyone with a basic grasp of geography knows Israel is not in "the West." www.sazf.org/current-issu...
November 22, 2024 at 1:06 PM
Leaving aside their false 'democracy' claim, the SA Zionist Federation's reference to Israel as a "Western democratic state" reveals how Zionists also see Israel as a Western settler project. Anyone with a basic grasp of geography knows Israel is not in "the West." www.sazf.org/current-issu...
Freshlyground live in Cape Town last night, after 4-5 years. 👏🙏 In her first time live performance with the band, singer Mbali Makhoba was fantastic👏👏
November 17, 2024 at 5:29 AM
Freshlyground live in Cape Town last night, after 4-5 years. 👏🙏 In her first time live performance with the band, singer Mbali Makhoba was fantastic👏👏
John Perlman interviewed me today on Radio 702 where we discussed Minister Solly Malatsi's withdrawal of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Bill, the implications for SABC & for crucial policy on public service media & audiovisual content services. www.primediaplus.com/minister-and...
November 11, 2024 at 8:26 PM
John Perlman interviewed me today on Radio 702 where we discussed Minister Solly Malatsi's withdrawal of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Bill, the implications for SABC & for crucial policy on public service media & audiovisual content services. www.primediaplus.com/minister-and...
Many fixated on Musk's $44bn purchase of Twitter as a failed commercial deal when it was just the acquisition of a vehicle to elect Trump & position Musk, Thiel & others into plutocracy-living, Tesla-riding, SpaceX-flying heaven. #POTUS is Musk's most significant acquisition yet.
(Image:Ideogram.ai)
(Image:Ideogram.ai)
November 7, 2024 at 7:11 AM
Many fixated on Musk's $44bn purchase of Twitter as a failed commercial deal when it was just the acquisition of a vehicle to elect Trump & position Musk, Thiel & others into plutocracy-living, Tesla-riding, SpaceX-flying heaven. #POTUS is Musk's most significant acquisition yet.
(Image:Ideogram.ai)
(Image:Ideogram.ai)
Pass the barf bag while I search “Bezos and govt contracts”.
November 6, 2024 at 10:21 PM
Pass the barf bag while I search “Bezos and govt contracts”.
“In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world the masses had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and that nothing was true".
- Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1951
- Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1951
November 1, 2024 at 10:19 PM
“In an ever-changing, incomprehensible world the masses had reached the point where they would, at the same time, believe everything and nothing, think that everything was possible and that nothing was true".
- Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1951
- Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 1951
This morning at #AIJC2024 in Joburg, Michaela Wrong tells chilling story of President Kagame’s wrath & his desperate smears after she’d written a book about a journalist’s murder in #Rwanda, “Do Not Disturb.” She says organisers should expect online smears that she’s a racist, holocaust denier etc.
October 31, 2024 at 7:37 AM
Michael Beschloss: “Certain American media organizations are trying to normalize fascism to get Donald Trump elected”. #NewYorkerFest
Live at Webster Hall
Live at Webster Hall
October 26, 2024 at 3:47 PM
Michael Beschloss: “Certain American media organizations are trying to normalize fascism to get Donald Trump elected”. #NewYorkerFest
Live at Webster Hall
Live at Webster Hall
The only surprise is some are surprised Netanyahu will not end the war after killing Hamas leader Sinwar.
They clearly haven't been paying attention.
This war has been about occupying & destroying Gaza & forcing 2m+ Palestinians into exile
SA's case at ICJ alleging genocide v Israel was prescient
They clearly haven't been paying attention.
This war has been about occupying & destroying Gaza & forcing 2m+ Palestinians into exile
SA's case at ICJ alleging genocide v Israel was prescient
October 18, 2024 at 4:06 AM
The only surprise is some are surprised Netanyahu will not end the war after killing Hamas leader Sinwar.
They clearly haven't been paying attention.
This war has been about occupying & destroying Gaza & forcing 2m+ Palestinians into exile
SA's case at ICJ alleging genocide v Israel was prescient
They clearly haven't been paying attention.
This war has been about occupying & destroying Gaza & forcing 2m+ Palestinians into exile
SA's case at ICJ alleging genocide v Israel was prescient
US presidents are not elected by national majority vote so why is this disclaimer buried after 20 paragraphs?
"(National) numbers are not necessarily an indication of the Electoral College outcome which will be determined by the battleground states..where polls have been exceedingly close."
"(National) numbers are not necessarily an indication of the Electoral College outcome which will be determined by the battleground states..where polls have been exceedingly close."
October 8, 2024 at 2:28 PM
US presidents are not elected by national majority vote so why is this disclaimer buried after 20 paragraphs?
"(National) numbers are not necessarily an indication of the Electoral College outcome which will be determined by the battleground states..where polls have been exceedingly close."
"(National) numbers are not necessarily an indication of the Electoral College outcome which will be determined by the battleground states..where polls have been exceedingly close."
Why do media reports on #USElection2024 repeatedly lead with national polling - for eg Harris at 50% & Tr**p at 48% - when votes are not counted nationally to elect the President?
We know Hillary Clinton lost despite getting approx 2.9m more votes nationally than Trump with 48.2% share to his 46.1%
We know Hillary Clinton lost despite getting approx 2.9m more votes nationally than Trump with 48.2% share to his 46.1%
October 4, 2024 at 9:59 PM
Why do media reports on #USElection2024 repeatedly lead with national polling - for eg Harris at 50% & Tr**p at 48% - when votes are not counted nationally to elect the President?
We know Hillary Clinton lost despite getting approx 2.9m more votes nationally than Trump with 48.2% share to his 46.1%
We know Hillary Clinton lost despite getting approx 2.9m more votes nationally than Trump with 48.2% share to his 46.1%
To evoke empathy, Israel tells U.S. to imagine all New York residents fleeing to bomb shelters before an airstrike. Yes, it may be terrifying but there are no bomb shelters in West Bank, Lebanon or in Gaza where approx 41,000 are dead & 96,000 injured. Not one Israeli was killed by Iranian missiles.
October 2, 2024 at 6:10 PM
To evoke empathy, Israel tells U.S. to imagine all New York residents fleeing to bomb shelters before an airstrike. Yes, it may be terrifying but there are no bomb shelters in West Bank, Lebanon or in Gaza where approx 41,000 are dead & 96,000 injured. Not one Israeli was killed by Iranian missiles.
“Israeli land operations in Lebanon”?? Seriously @theguardian-mwr.bsky.social? Those of us who believe in the true meaning of words know an invasion when we see one.
October 1, 2024 at 5:58 PM
“Israeli land operations in Lebanon”?? Seriously @theguardian-mwr.bsky.social? Those of us who believe in the true meaning of words know an invasion when we see one.
More of the same with mainstream South African media, with News24 using “incursions” used instead of “invasion” or “attacks”. I don’t remember News24 using the words “Russian incursions into Ukraine.” Different strokes for different folks?
October 1, 2024 at 3:20 PM
More of the same with mainstream South African media, with News24 using “incursions” used instead of “invasion” or “attacks”. I don’t remember News24 using the words “Russian incursions into Ukraine.” Different strokes for different folks?
Compare & contrast major Western media coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine with Israel's invasion of Lebanon. The NYT's headline got it right for once this morning although the opening para still softens what is actually happening with a more gentle "Israeli troops crossed the border".
October 1, 2024 at 8:46 AM
Compare & contrast major Western media coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine with Israel's invasion of Lebanon. The NYT's headline got it right for once this morning although the opening para still softens what is actually happening with a more gentle "Israeli troops crossed the border".