"In this chapter, we explore the role of the media in the context of Africa's broader democratization trends through an examination of three main areas: the media as political actors in conflict; the challenge of looking beyond formal state structures to informal governance in order to better understand the structure of the media and its relationship to centres of power, including ethnic or religious allegiances; and [...] the attempts of Africa's leaders to offer an alternative 'theory' about the role of media in democratization in conflict and postconflict societies." (Page 290)