Michael Markovitz

Fact that Trump & his enablers are spinning Minneapolis shooting as self-defence, despite definitive video to the contrary of someone being murdered by ICE in cold blood, means its time to re-up this quote from Hannah Arendt, Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), which describes Trump's base perfectly

Fact that Trump & his enablers are spinning Minneapolis shooting as self-defence, despite definitive video to the contrary of someone being murdered by ICE in cold blood, means its time to re-up this quote from Hannah Arendt, Origins of Totalitarianism (1951), which describes Trump's base perfectly

Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.

Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.

Regulating platform power now seen as hostile act US sanctions, democratic sovereignty, and the necessity of standing together

My last article of 2025 - Recent U.S. sanctions against European regulators & activists recast platform accountability as geopolitical aggression & “extraterritorial censorship”. What this moment demands is not performative solidarity but practical coordination to protect democratic infrastructure

Regulating platform power now seen as hostile act US sanctions, democratic sovereignty, and the necessity of standing together

My last article of 2025 - Recent U.S. sanctions against European regulators & activists recast platform accountability as geopolitical aggression & “extraterritorial censorship”. What this moment demands is not performative solidarity but practical coordination to protect democratic infrastructure

A Pragmatic Win, Not a Structural Fix, in South Africa’s Deal with Big Tech | TechPolicy.Press Michael Markovitz details South Africa’s Competition Commission deal with global platforms to support the country's media.

Very pleased to share my article in @techpolicypress.bsky.social, where I unpack the South African Competition Commission’s final Media & Digital Platforms Market Inquiry report – the key compromises, the progress made & deep structural challenges that persist. www.techpolicy.press/a-pragmatic-...

A Pragmatic Win, Not a Structural Fix, in South Africa’s Deal with Big Tech | TechPolicy.Press Michael Markovitz details South Africa’s Competition Commission deal with global platforms to support the country's media.

Very pleased to share my article in @techpolicypress.bsky.social, where I unpack the South African Competition Commission’s final Media & Digital Platforms Market Inquiry report – the key compromises, the progress made & deep structural challenges that persist. www.techpolicy.press/a-pragmatic-...

Finding our People at CTRL+J Africa A Johannesburg gathering that confronted narratives, sovereignty, and the hard questions for journalism’s future

Reflections on our #ctrljafrica event, where African regulators, global digital platforms, civil society, media publishers, journalists, govt, content creators & ‘newsfluencers’ met. We had 121 participants from 23 countries, with 41 out 47 speakers from Africa & strong rep rom Brazil & Indonesia.

CTRL+J Africa YouTube video by GIBS Business School

Co-hosted by our Media Leadership Think Tank & International Fund for Public Interest Media, CTRL+J Africa convenes publishers, govts, regulators, funders & civil society to discuss who controls future of journalism. Live streaming from 9:00 AM (SAST) on 4 Sept: www.youtube.com/live/eVxDRtp...

Gibs announces first cohort of Executive Programme in Media Leadership - Gordon Institute of Business Science The Gordon Institute of Business Science (Gibs) is proud to announce the first cohort of its new Executive Programme in Media Leadership, an intensive four-month initiative...

We have just completed Block 1 of the inaugural Executive Programme in Media Leadership at GIBS & what an energising start it’s been! As lead faculty for the programme, huge thanks to this fantastic pan-African group for your insight, curiosity & commitment. Look forward to seeing you again!

When the axe came into the forest, the trees said: the handle is one of us A reckoning with journalism’s internal compromises, and a path to resilience

It’s a line with deep roots and various origin stories, often regarded as a Turkish proverb. Whatever the source, the proverb speaks to a reality journalism must confront: the forces that weaken it are not always external. Sometimes, consequential decisions come from within.

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...

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...

What's really at stake in the Canal+, MultiChoice merger - TechCentral What the Canal+ takeover of MultiChoice could mean for competition in South Africa’s media ecosystem.

Just in case you’re wondering, today @techcentral.co.za published my take on Africa’s biggest media deal - @canalplusat.bsky.social’s takeover of MultiChoice - now that the deal has been recommended for approval by South Africa’s Competition Commission. techcentral.co.za/really-at-st...

What's really at stake in the Canal+, MultiChoice merger - TechCentral What the Canal+ takeover of MultiChoice could mean for competition in South Africa’s media ecosystem.

Opinion | Michael Markovitz @michaelmarkovitz.bsky.social on what the Canal+ takeover of MultiChoice could mean for competition in South Africa’s media ecosystem.

Why defending information integrity should be a global priority for South Africa M20 programme to elevate media issues on regional and international agendas

SA has experienced how disinfo can be weaponised to damage its sovereignty, economy & credibility...The case vs Israel always triggered threats of retaliation & now the ‘white genocide’ lie is being amplified as geopolitical retribution. My piece: michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/why-defend...

Why defending information integrity should be a global priority for South Africa M20 programme to elevate media issues on regional and international agendas

SA has experienced how disinfo can be weaponised to damage its sovereignty, economy & credibility...The case vs Israel always triggered threats of retaliation & now the ‘white genocide’ lie is being amplified as geopolitical retribution. My piece: michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/why-defend...

Trump orders money meant for sick and elderly be used to fund Afrikaner refugees | News24 The US government is expected to welcome the first batch of Afrikaner ‘refugees’ soon.

Vile disinformation operation delivers for these white refugees from democracy, proving that with enough money, privilege can be repackaged as victimhood. Meanwhile, the Trump regime’s cruelty toward its own vulnerable citizens continues to be fully exposed. (paywall) www.news24.com/citypress/ne...

Trump orders money meant for sick and elderly be used to fund Afrikaner refugees | News24 The US government is expected to welcome the first batch of Afrikaner ‘refugees’ soon.

Vile disinformation operation delivers for these white refugees from democracy, proving that with enough money, privilege can be repackaged as victimhood. Meanwhile, the Trump regime’s cruelty toward its own vulnerable citizens continues to be fully exposed. (paywall) www.news24.com/citypress/ne...

On World Press Freedom Day: Why Media Leadership Matters New executive programme is a direct response to market crisis in media and journalism

Press freedom without sustainability is like a voice without breath. It may exist in principle but can't be exercised in practice. We're responding not just through research & advocacy - but by equipping a new generation of leaders to meet this moment. michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/on-world-p...

On World Press Freedom Day: Why Media Leadership Matters New executive programme is a direct response to market crisis in media and journalism

Press freedom without sustainability is like a voice without breath. It may exist in principle but can't be exercised in practice. We're responding not just through research & advocacy - but by equipping a new generation of leaders to meet this moment. michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/on-world-p...

It’s time MPs investigated the Jewish Chronicle’s secret ownership Britain’s longest-standing Jewish newspaper has refused to run an advert criticising Benjamin Netanyahu. The case raises more questions about the pape...

The Jewish Chronicle is perhaps the only paper in British history where we are not allowed to know who owns it, or why. Its refusal to run an ad critical of Netanyahu makes this untenable, writes @arusbridger.bsky.social.
www.prospectmagazine...

A crisis at the Jewish Chronicle shows the toothlessness of the press watchdog The country’s longest-standing Jewish newspaper ran fabricated stories that have prompted a widespread inquiry in Israel. But at home, the press regul...

Great piece by @arusbridger.bsky.social on the editorial & regulatory failure behind the Jewish Chronicle scandal in the UK. Not so in SA where the Jewish Report was 1st ever member to be expelled from SA Press Council for refusing to obey rulings in 2022.
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...

Gibs in collaboration with Daily Maverick launches groundbreaking media executive programme Styli Charalambous and Michael Markovitz to take part in the virtual launch to address media’s sustainability crisis...

Looking forward to the virtual launch of our inaugural Executive Programme in Media Leadership at the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS), Joburg.

📅 Date: 15 April 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00-13:00 SAST (GMT+2)

Register for our webinar here!👉 lnkd.in/dRntcEeD

www.bizcommunity.com/article/gibs...

Update: Court Blocks Analogue Switch-Off — Again "ASO would deliver a killer punch to SABC" and cause "irreparable harm"

Here we are again. Another analogue switch off date has been suspended by a court, confirming decade long warnings from South African broadcasters and civil society groups.

My quick take on the judgement and the way forward: open.substack.com/pub/michaelm...

Monopoly+ Will the Canal+ takeover of MultiChoice sail through unchecked?

Here is my latest piece on the Canal+ planned takeover of the Multichoice Group where I argue that the concentration of sports and premium content rights across the continent could have potentially dire consequences for African public broadcasters and commercial competitors.

Broken promises.
michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/a-broken-p...

A Broken Promise: The Failure of South Africa’s Digital Migration Nine Years On, Digital Terrestrial Television Remains South Africa’s Smallest Broadcast Network

With e.tv's permission, you can watch The Switch Off on my substack, Media Explorations. Its an investigation by Karen Schoonbee & Annika Larsen into the repeated failure of SA's digital migration, including insights from experts, civil society & myself.
michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/a-broken-p...

A Broken Promise: The Failure of South Africa’s Digital Migration Nine Years On, Digital Terrestrial Television Remains South Africa’s Smallest Broadcast Network

With e.tv's permission, you can watch The Switch Off on my substack, Media Explorations. Its an investigation by Karen Schoonbee & Annika Larsen into the repeated failure of SA's digital migration, including insights from experts, civil society & myself.
michaelmarkovitz.substack.com/p/a-broken-p...

If you worked for 18F and got fired, Group together to start a consulting company.

It’s just a matter of time before DOGE needs you to fix the mess they inevitably create.

They will have to hire your company as a contractor to fix it. But on your terms.

I’m happy to invest and/or help