Pieter J. Fourie

Pieter J. Fourie is a lecturer, theorist and academic writer sepcialising in the field of Communication Science., and a part-time drama and film critic

He studied Drama and Communication Studies at the Potchefstroom University for CHE, obntaining a Bachelor of Arts (BA - 1971), BA Honours (Drama, 1972), BA Honours (Communication, 1976 - With Distinction) and MA (Communication - 1979, with Distinction)and then did a D.Litt et Phil (Communication), at the University of South Africa (1982).

His professional career included stints as a journalist and critic (1970-1971: South African Broadcasting Corporation; 1972-1975: Rapport) and lecturer (1976-1979: Junior lecturer/Lecturer in Communication PU for CHE; 1980- : University of South Africa: Senior Lecturer: 1980 - 1982; Associate professor: 1983; Professor: 1984 -) He is the author and editor of a number of key works in the field of South African media studies, including two of the first publications in South Africa in the field of visual communication and semiotics, Beeldkommunikasie: Kultuurkritiek, ideologiese kritiek, en ‘n inleiding tot die beeldsemiologie (McGraw-Hill, 1983), and Aspects of film and television communication (Juta, 1988.) He is a regular participant at national and international conferences on topics in his field of specialisation; has published close to fifty research articles in accredited journals; a number of books and chapters in books; supervised more that twenty research Master’s and doctoral students, and is undergraduate and external examiner at a number of universities. Fourie has been the editor of the accredited research journal Communicatio: South African Journal for Communication Theory and Research (published by Unisa Press and Routledge) for the past 23 years and sits on the editorial boards of a number of research journals in the field of communication and media studies, including Critical Arts and the South African Theatre Journal. He was also involved as an advisor in the founding of Kampustoneel. He was the president of the South African Communication Association for a number of years. In 2003 he was awarded the Stals Prize for his contribution to the development of communication science in South Africa by the South African Academy of Science and Arts (die Suid-Afrikaanse Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns). In 2007 he was elected fellow of the International Communicology Institute (USA). His most recent book publications are the edited 2nd editions of the four part Media Studies series (published by Juta, Cape Town), namely, Media Studies Volume 1: Media History, Media and Society (2007), Media Studies Volume 2: Policy, Management, and Media Representation (2008); and Volume 3: Media Content and Audiences, as well as Volume 4: Media Production Planning and Media Ethics to be published in 2009. Fourie is a National Research Foundation (NRF) rated researcher.