Qualifications:
PhD (UNISA), MA (NMU), BA (NMU) 

Dr Taryn Isaacs De Vega is a lecturer and researcher at Rhodes 新万博体育下载_万博体育app【投注官网】’s School of Journalism and Media Studies. Her research focuses on media accountability, journalistic ethics, and press freedom in Southern Africa, arguing that ethical journalism remains essential to sustaining media freedom, public trust, and democracy. Drawing on research with the Media Ombudsman of Namibia, the Press Council of South Africa, the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa, and the Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe, she investigates how self-regulatory bodies navigate the complexities of media freedom and responsibility. She also looks at how digitalisation and public participation affect accountability. As Curriculum Forum Coordinator, she contributes to strengthening journalism education and promotes media policy dialogues across the continent.

Address

Room 108 Africa Media Matrix

Upper Prince Alfred Street

Makhanda

Postal address

School of Journalism and Media Studies

Rhodes 新万博体育下载_万博体育app【投注官网】

PO Box 94

Makhanda 6140

 

Industry experience

Experience as a scholar, research assistant and PhD candidate, with a focus on the media and the study of media reportage, media policy and standards of reportage. Her study looks at media accountability and institutions like the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa and the Press Council South Africa. 

 

Courses

JMS1: Media Accountability and the Law

JMS2: Media Histories

JMS3: Media Ethics and the Law

Postgraduate Supervision (Postgraduate Diploma, Honours, MA, and PhD)

 

Professional involvement

Member of the (SACOMM) South African Communications Association.

Member and researcher for (SOS) SOS Support Public Broadcast Coalition.

Member and researcher for (AAAD) African Alliance for Access to Data.

 

Research areas

Media Ethics and Accountability

Media Policy

Media History

Curriculum Studies

 

Research projects

Research Assistant: Media Policy and Democracy Project 2014 – 2017

 

Research publications

Isaacs De Vega T. 2025. Media Accountability in Southern Africa: an analysis of media councils. In Akpojivi, U. & Chari, T. 2025. Media Accountability and Corruption in Africa: Contestations and Controversies. Bloomsbury Publishers.

 

Namibia Media Foundation. 2025. Media Accountability Mechanisms: A Namibian Case Study. https://www.nmt.africa/uploads/685ed2820bfd1/BriefingPaper-MediaAccountabilityStudy(online).pdf

 

Mann, D, Thladi, T, Isaacs De Vega, T, and Garman, A. 2025. Makers and Shapers. History of the School of Journalism and Media Studies. Jacana Press

 

Isaacs De Vega T. 2025. Jms50: A moment of reflection. In Mann, D, Thladi, T, Isaacs De Vega, T, and Garman, A. 2025. Makers and Shapers. History of the School of Journalism and Media Studies. Jacana Press

 

NESP. 2025. Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP). Department of Higher Education and Training.

 

Isaacs De Vega, T. 2024. Media accountability mechanisms in South Africa – a critical study of the regulatory bodies for print, broadcast and online media, and a model for regulation. UNISA. Doctoral Thesis.