"The three essays in this issue of Communication Research Trends provide an update on the journalism of Asia and Africa. The journalistic practices they narrate describe a situation that has developed after the development journalism stage and, in some ways, challenges the existing journalism order.
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In each case, the relationship between the journalistic order and their respective governments has foundered upon the reef of the Internet, which has rewritten the rules of the game. Muhammad Izawan, Baharin Moniza Waheed, and Lea Hellmueller introduce a changed journalism in Malaysia, one that affects not only reporting but also the political alliances that have defined the country. The impact of digital media platforms appears clearly in the election results of the last several general elections. Robert White focuses on the continent of Africa, sketching how journalists in a number of countries across the region have challenged what White calls the “neo-patrimonial” state. His analysis frames this new approach to journalism in terms of specific themes: challenges to control, the rise of critical reporting, the support of protest movements, the support of human rights, and the freedom of information movements. Of all these countries, India has a more mature journalistic culture, though one that often supports the government. Aayush Soni describes how digital platforms have freed journalists to redefine political engagement, particularly for the rising middle class." (Editor's introduction, page 3)
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"It has become a pattern to find academics, professionals and students of journalism bragging with the scope, techniques and dilemmas of investigative journalism. But there is one gaping hole: nowhere was information collated about the heroic contributions, and often the sacrifices, that were made f
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or the profession by African investigative journalists across Africa. Writing a history or complete account of African investigative journalism is outside the scope of this article. But I am trying to offer here a series of contributions – some current, some historical – on the topic of safety of journalists, that will, hopefully, lay the foundations for further research, and also lay to rest decisively the myth that journalism which exposes social problems and criticizes the powerful is ‘un-African’." (Abstract)
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"There have been significant changes in journalistic practices in various countries over the years. Yet little is known about the nature of changes in journalism in transitional developing countries following military rule. Drawing on email surveys of journalists in Nigeria and Fiji, two countries w
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ith recent histories of military dictatorship that are rarely examined in the research literature, this comparative study investigates journalistic practices in the two countries. Results show that in Nigeria, the transition from military rule to democratic system of government in May 1999 and the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act in 2011 have ushered in significant changes in the way journalism is practised. However, there remains an adversarial relationship between the government and journalists. In Fiji, the 2006 coup, the fourth in the country’s history, led to a more restrictive environment for journalists, despite democratic elections in 2014. Under pressure, journalists are rethinking their roles, with some now considering ‘development journalism’ as a legitimate journalistic genre." (Abstract)
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"Combining ethnography, media analysis, moral and political theory this book examines the unravelling of professional journalism in Russia over the past twenty-five years, and its effects on society. It argues that, contrary to widespread assumptions, late Soviet-era journalists shared a cultural co
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ntract with their audiences, which ensured that their work was guided by a truth-telling ethic. Post-communist economic and political upheaval led not so much to greater press freedom as to the de-professionalization of journalism, as journalists found themselves having to monetize their truth-seeking skills. This has culminated in a perception of journalists as political prostitutes, or members of the 'second oldest profession', as they are commonly termed in Russia. Roudakova argues that this cultural shift has fundamentally eroded the value of truth-seeking and telling in Russian society." (Publisher description)
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"This book explores the role and purpose of journalism to spark and propagate change by investigating human rights journalism and its capacity to inform, educate and activate change. Downman and Ubayasiri maximize this approach by proposing a new paradigm of reporting through the use of human-focuss
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ed news values. This approach is a radical departure from the traditional style that typically builds on abstract concepts. The book will explore human rights journalism through the lens of complex issues such as human trafficking and people smuggling in the Asian context. This is not just a book for journalists, or journalism academics, but a book for activists, human rights advocates or anyone who believes in the power of journalism to change the world." (Publisher description)
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"Auf die theoretischen Grundlagen qualitativer Medienforschung folgen in einem zweiten Teil die wichtigsten Fragen zum Forschungsdesign. Kern des Buches sind dabei die verschiedenen Erhebungsmethoden, wie Inhaltsanalyse, Interview, Gruppendiskussion, Beobachtung, Experiment oder szenisches Spiel. We
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itere Teile setzen sich mit der Aufzeichnung und Auswertung qualitativer Daten auseinander. In der völlig überarbeiteten und erweiterten Neuauflage wird auf aktuelle Entwicklungen eingegangen: So werden Methoden wie mobile Online-Befragungen und Analysen von Websites in ihrer forschungspraktischen Relevanz erläutert." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"In Burundi, a small landlocked post-conflict country in Central Africa, the independent broadcasting sector was severely undermined in May 2015, following a coup attempt against the regime of President Pierre Nkurunziza. More than 80 journalists, some of them accused of being accomplices to the put
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schists, were threatened and forced to leave the country. Their outlets were damaged and forbidden to operate. Shown as a model of ‘professionalism’, ‘independence’ and ‘pluralism’ until then, journalism in Burundi has subsequently faced huge challenges, both inside the country (where the space for free speech keeps shrinking despite a pluralist façade) and outside (where Burundian journalists in exile have established alternative media). This article identifies how the professional identity of the journalists has been affected by these two phenomena: the challenges of working from abroad as well as the growing control on free media faced by those still operating from within the country. Based on extensive interviews, the author shows the extent to which Burundian journalists have lost self-confidence and trust in their ability to perform their professional ethos and the role they believe they should play in society." (Abstract)
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"While the Kanaks’ pro-independence protests against French settlers have been extensively documented in the global media and academic literature, another protest – more subtle and diffused, but deeply embedded – is now taking place in New Caledonia (South Pacific) to decide whether to remain
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in the French Republic or become independent in a referendum between 2014 and 2019. This article suggests that there is a polarisation in the New Caledonian media sphere that deeply affects journalistic practices. Drawing on data collected from archival research, participant observation and interviews conducted at both the metropolitan daily newspaper, Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes, and the pro-independence radio station, Radio Djiido, this article demonstrates how local journalists problematically navigate and, often, contest diverse sociocultural values, practices and principles prevailing at different times and places/spaces, creating a deep division in the New Caledonian media sphere." (Abstract)
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"The EuroMaidan protests that shook Ukraine in late 2013 to early 2014 triggered a chain of events that brought numerous changes and challenges for the Ukrainian society. The Ukrainian media landscape has also been affected by the new challenges and impetus for democratization. The post-Maidan perio
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d saw both, improvements in the media environment and setbacks. While Ukrainian journalists can benefit from increased media freedom, new progressive legislation and reinvigoration of the democratic debate, many problems still shape the development of the media. Editorial dependence on owners, concentration of mainstream media in the hands of oligarchs, deteriorating quality of content and crisis of professional identity are distinctive features of the post-Maidan media landscape in Ukraine. This paper provides an overview of developments in the Ukrainian media system since the declaration of independence with a special focus on the situation after the EuroMaidan and discusses four major challenges that will impact the transformation of the Ukrainian journalism and media sphere." (Abstract)
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"Juliette Storr traces the history of news media, from its inception under British colonial rule to its development in the post-independence period, uncovering the political, economic, social, and technological factors driving current trends in Caribbean journalism. Interviews with journalists, edit
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ors, and media owners in English-speaking Caribbean countries provide unprecedented insight into the profession and practice of journalism in the region, highlighting the social and cultural contexts in which the media industry operates." (Back cover)
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"Este libro reúne, por primera vez en nuestro país, entrevistas a 27 profesionales a los que caracteriza el denominador común de ser innovadores. Son expertos que colaboran en distintos módulos del Máster de Innovación en Periodismo o han participado en las Jornadas Internacionales de Periodis
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mo en la Universidad Miguel Hernández. Las entrevistas ofrecen una visión práctica, pegada al terreno, sobre los procesos para innovar en los medios y emprender con éxito nuevos proyectos periodísticos. A todos ellos les agradecemos su inestimable colaboración." (Tapa posterior)
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