About accountants and translators: reshaping community engagement in South African psychology

Abstract

In this article, we review four key historical processes that shape community engagement and that open up spaces for its further development: The long history of tensions and cooperation between those within and outside the ‘ivory tower’, the continuing corporatisation of academic and professional life, the drive for free access to academic publications, and the drive towards decoloniality. We position community engagement as potentially disruptive to the epistemological and political status quo and present ‘four aphorisms’ for critical community engagement: Charity begins at home; it is (not) all about the money; it is all about knowledge; and you need a translator more than an accountant.

Analyzing Discursive Constructions of Community in Newspaper Articles

“…However, news media should not be considered as a monolithic entity and can, at times, accommodate appeals for justice as part of their advertising revenue. In South Africa, as is the case elsewhere, this is typically referred to as "corporate social responsibility" and often includes a community-engagement component (Fourie & Terre Blanche, 2018). Furthermore, various philanthropic groups and organizations that are not aligned with the government frequently use mainstream news media platforms to mobilize public funds toward-and social support for-various community concerns (Seedat, 1999).…”