Health Crises and Media Discourses in Sub-Saharan Africa
Cham: Springer (2022), 283 pp.
ISBN 978-3-030-95099-6 (print); 978-3-030-95100-9 (ebook)
CC BY
"The chapters here explore the impact, especially of Covid-19, on the media while unpacking the complexities, intersections and dynamics surrounding technological, political and economic developments and trends. Similarly, media discourses on journalism practice, audience narratives and news discourses are taken up. The contributors revisit and offer critical insights on a broad range of theories and debates, including political economy of the media, constructive journalism, the Fourth Estate, securitization and journalist safety. As such, we obtain a deeper understanding of the changes and continuities surrounding discourses on news frames, trends, actors and agendas in the context of health crises. Also, the important role for public health communication and the notion of ‘information’ as a ‘public good’, especially during health crises, i.e. Covid-19, are invaluable areas of discussion. Lastly, the volume contributes to new insights on media discourses around regulation, representation and marginalization in the context of health crises. We learn, for instance, how several governments under the guise of ‘national safety’ continue to impinge on human rights and freedom of expression for both producers and consumers. This occurs through loopholes in existing regulation but also because of non-existent policy like on social media and citizen journalism and affordances of impunity." (Preface, page xii)
PART I: DIGITAL AND POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE MEDIA
The Sustainability and Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Media Houses in Uganda and Ethiopia / Gerald Walulya, Mulatu Alemayehu Moges, 3
Political Economy of COVID-19 and the Implication on Media Management and Sustainability in Nigeria / Toyosi Olugbenga Samson Owolabi, Nkiruka Favour Opene-Nwantah, 19
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Digitalization of the Namibian Media / William Heuva, 37-51
Media Viability, Covid-19 and the 'Darwinian' Experience in Southern Africa: Glimpses from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe / Carol Azungi Dralega, 53
PART II: JOURNALISM PRACTICE, AUDIENCES AND NEWS DISCOURSES
Critical Journalism and Media Convergence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Representation of Corruption in Zimbabwean Online News Wishes / Tendayi Mututwa, Akpojivi Ufuoma, 75
Constructive Journalism and COVID-19 Safe Nation Narratives in The Herald Newspaper: Implications for Journalism Ethics in Zimbabwe / Thulani Tshabangu, Abiodun Salawu, 95
Endangered Voices: Nigerian Journalists' Safety amid the COVID-19 Pandemic / Moyosore Omowonuola Alade, Bernice Oluwalanu Sanusi, 109
Framing Poverty in Nigerian Online Media Reports on the Inaugural Neglected Tropical Diseases Day / Omotayo Modupeola Omitola, 127
Face-to Face with COVID-19: Experiences of Ghanaian Frontline Journalists Infected with the Virus / Kodwo Jonas Anson Boateng, Redeemer Buatsi, 147
A Comparative Discourse Analysis of African Newspaper Reports on Global Epidemics: A Case Study of Ebola and Coronavirus / Sisanda Nkoala, 163
Citizen Journalism and Health Communication in Pandemics' Prevention and Control / Gregory Obinna Ugbo, Chinonye Faith Chinedu-Okeke, Jude Nwakpoke Ogbodo, 183
'This Is a Punishment to America' Framing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe's Mainstream Media / Allen Munoriyarwa, Albert Chibuwe, 201
PART III: REGULATION, REPRESENTATION AND MARGINALISATION
Cybercrimes Law and Citizen Journalism Clampdown During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Tanzania / Eva Solomon, 219
Framing the AIDS Discourse: A Critic of Journalistic Source Norms in Uganda's HIV and AIDS Print News / Angella Napakol, 237
'Weapons of Oppressors': COVID-19 Regulatory Framework and its Impact on Journalism Practices in Southern Africa / Tshuma Lungile Augustine, Trust Matsilele, Mbongeni Jonny Msimanga, 253
Media Discourses on Gender in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe / Bhekizulu Bethaphi Tshuma, Lungile Augustine Tshuma, Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, 267
The Sustainability and Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Media Houses in Uganda and Ethiopia / Gerald Walulya, Mulatu Alemayehu Moges, 3
Political Economy of COVID-19 and the Implication on Media Management and Sustainability in Nigeria / Toyosi Olugbenga Samson Owolabi, Nkiruka Favour Opene-Nwantah, 19
The Impact of COVID-19 on the Digitalization of the Namibian Media / William Heuva, 37-51
Media Viability, Covid-19 and the 'Darwinian' Experience in Southern Africa: Glimpses from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe / Carol Azungi Dralega, 53
PART II: JOURNALISM PRACTICE, AUDIENCES AND NEWS DISCOURSES
Critical Journalism and Media Convergence During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Representation of Corruption in Zimbabwean Online News Wishes / Tendayi Mututwa, Akpojivi Ufuoma, 75
Constructive Journalism and COVID-19 Safe Nation Narratives in The Herald Newspaper: Implications for Journalism Ethics in Zimbabwe / Thulani Tshabangu, Abiodun Salawu, 95
Endangered Voices: Nigerian Journalists' Safety amid the COVID-19 Pandemic / Moyosore Omowonuola Alade, Bernice Oluwalanu Sanusi, 109
Framing Poverty in Nigerian Online Media Reports on the Inaugural Neglected Tropical Diseases Day / Omotayo Modupeola Omitola, 127
Face-to Face with COVID-19: Experiences of Ghanaian Frontline Journalists Infected with the Virus / Kodwo Jonas Anson Boateng, Redeemer Buatsi, 147
A Comparative Discourse Analysis of African Newspaper Reports on Global Epidemics: A Case Study of Ebola and Coronavirus / Sisanda Nkoala, 163
Citizen Journalism and Health Communication in Pandemics' Prevention and Control / Gregory Obinna Ugbo, Chinonye Faith Chinedu-Okeke, Jude Nwakpoke Ogbodo, 183
'This Is a Punishment to America' Framing the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe's Mainstream Media / Allen Munoriyarwa, Albert Chibuwe, 201
PART III: REGULATION, REPRESENTATION AND MARGINALISATION
Cybercrimes Law and Citizen Journalism Clampdown During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Tanzania / Eva Solomon, 219
Framing the AIDS Discourse: A Critic of Journalistic Source Norms in Uganda's HIV and AIDS Print News / Angella Napakol, 237
'Weapons of Oppressors': COVID-19 Regulatory Framework and its Impact on Journalism Practices in Southern Africa / Tshuma Lungile Augustine, Trust Matsilele, Mbongeni Jonny Msimanga, 253
Media Discourses on Gender in the Time of COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe / Bhekizulu Bethaphi Tshuma, Lungile Augustine Tshuma, Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, 267
