Who's behind the news?
Who's behind the news?
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Newsjunkie.net is a resource guide for journalists. We show who's behind the news, and provide tools to help navigate the modern business of information.
Use of Data
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The Historical Papers Research Archive (HPRA) at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in Johannesburg, South Africa, is one of the leading archival repositories on the African continent and a primary resource for the study of South African social, political, and cultural history. The Archive is renowned internationally for its collections documenting the anti-apartheid struggle, civil society organizations, and the history of journalism and media in South Africa.
Historical Papers was established in the 1960s at the University of the Witwatersrand, with a mission to collect and preserve primary source materials relating to southern African history that might not be preserved by government archives—particularly records of organizations and individuals involved in political opposition, labor movements, and civil society. Over subsequent decades, it grew into one of the most significant archives on the continent.
The Archive holds over 4,000 collections, encompassing the personal papers of prominent individuals, the records of political organizations, labor unions, churches, non-governmental organizations, and businesses. Collections of international significance include the papers of anti-apartheid activists, the records of the African National Congress and other liberation movements, documentation of the Black Consciousness Movement, and the records of legal firms that defended political prisoners. The Archive also holds significant photographic collections, sound recordings, and audiovisual materials.
HPRA holds extensive materials documenting the history of journalism and the press under apartheid and in post-apartheid South Africa. Collections include the papers of prominent South African journalists, the records of media organizations and press freedom bodies, and documentation of censorship and press restrictions under the apartheid government. The Rand Daily Mail collection—records of one of South Africa's most significant liberal newspapers—is among the Archive's important journalism holdings. Materials related to community newspapers, the alternative press, and the role of journalism in the anti-apartheid struggle are particularly strong.
The Archive is open to researchers and the general public by appointment. An online catalog enables remote searching of finding aids. The Archive has undertaken significant digitization of high-priority collections, with many materials available online. HPRA also provides research support services and educational programs.