"[...] This thesis contributes to the emerging academic literature on media development and its role in statebuilding. It does so by investigating media development in the new state of South Sudan. Ethnographic observations, a social survey, and unstructured interviews have been applied during a fie
...
ldwork spell in Juba, which lasted from November 2014 to August 2015. The application of three methods allowed for an in-depth investigation of the South Sudanese understanding of media, which differed significantly from the aims of western media experts implementing media development projects. Furthermore, the thesis compares the strengths and weaknesses, and the results delivered, by each utilised research method, and thus investigates how these methods perform in a country of the global South. I argue that the various understandings of media in South Sudan differ significantly from the thinking and practices of western media practitioners. In South Sudan, this resulted in a deteriorating relationship between the country’s government and its international donors and led to problems for the newly trained journalists. Furthermore, my results show the limitations of using just one method in a country of the global South; and they provide an argument for bricolage, a research approach that combines perspectives, theories, and methods, when researching policy-relevant questions in environments where the researcher is not a cultural native." (Abstract)
more
"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.
...
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)
more
"The top six roles, all with means above 4.3 and standard deviations below 1, for Tanzanian journalists, were a mix of those aligned with a liberal press (e.g. promote tolerance and cultural diversity) and those relevant to development journalism (e.g. support national development). “Provide the k
...
ind of news that attracts the largest audience” (mean=4.58) and “Promote tolerance and cultural diversity” (mean=4.56) were the top two roles for these journalists (see Table 1) with 97.8 percent and 98.5 percent of the journalists respectively saying that they considered these roles “extremely” or “very” important. As the low standard deviations indicate, the journalists showed high agreement on the importance of these roles. The least important roles, both with means well below the midpoint of three, were “Be an adversary of government” (mean=1.98) and “Support government policy” (mean=1.99)." (Journalistic roles, page 1)
more
"This report explores the socio-economic impact of connectivity for refugees in a large, rural camp setting in Tanzania. Nyarugusu is one of three large refugee camps in the Kigoma region. Established in 1996, it now hosts more than 136,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Bu
...
rundi. In 2016, Vodacom installed a 3G tower in Nyarugusu camp for the first time, providing an opportunity to assess the impact of mobile connectivity on refugees. Today, Airtel, Halotel and Tigo also provide connectivity to refugees in the camp. Nyarugusu remains the only camp in the Kigoma region with access to 3G. The purpose of this report is to provide robust evidence of the current use, value and impact of connectivity, and the barriers and challenges that refugees face in accessing and using mobile devices. This research provides mobile network operators (MNOs) and humanitarian agencies with key insights on the opportunities and barriers to enhancing the provision of mobile services to refugees." (Executive summary, page 2)
more
"The paper summarizes evidence on food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa and strategies to provide information on innovative agricultural practices to smallholder farmers. The research in this paper is then discussed within the context of research on information and communication technologies (ICTS)
...
for development. Next, the paper presents the ICT-enhanced participatory radio campaign approach and ICT innovations introduced by Farm Radio International, a Canadian nongovernmental organization. The paper analyzes two participatory radio campaigns that use both listening groups and ICTs to engage African farmers. Research on these radio campaigns in six African countries is reported to examine how the participatory approach impacted listenership, knowledge and initial adoption of agricultural techniques and practices presented in the radio campaigns. The authors conclude that the findings of research on these projects could be highly relevant for increasing awareness and adoption of agricultural practices in Sub-Saharan Africa." (Abstract)
more
"Alarmingly, the research reveals that fake news is a pervasive problem surrounding the Kenyan elections with 90% of respondents having seen false or inaccurate information and 87% viewing this information as being deliberately false. Why does this matter? An informed citizenry is vital to Kenya’s
...
democracy and the findings have serious implications for the media and society at large. With a third of Kenyans unable to access accurate information about the election, fake news is limiting the public’s ability to make informed decisions. This is of course extremely relevant to the business and political communities alike. For the mainstream media, the survey findings will come as good news, with most Kenyans trusting traditional media sources such as TV, which has a trust level of 76%. With 67% of Kenyans actively wanting comprehensive and detailed information and 78% wanting factual and accurate information, Kenya’s media establishment should be encouraged to invest in better journalism." (In conclusion, page 14)
more
"Cette série de six articles, tous focalisés sur l’Afrique francophone, traite chacun à leur manière du thème principal de l’usage de l’Internet par des groupes religieux sur le continent africain. Cinq de ces contributions explorent l’usage religieux des médias numériques en Afrique
...
de l’Ouest alors que la dernière se concentre sur l’Afrique centrale. Nous en tirons une vue d’ensemble équilibrée sur diverses communautés religieuses telles le Hibut-Tarqiyyah du Sénégal, des églises chrétiennes de Ouagadougou, des chrétiens de la République démocratique du Congo, des fidèles camerounais du pasteur nigérian T. B. Joshua ou encore des musulmans ivoiriens hors ligne comme en ligne ainsi qu’une communauté mixte regroupant des chrétiens et des musulmans au Burkina Faso. Les thématiques dominantes abordées sont : la représentation en ligne; le numérique en tant qu’espace étendu d’apprentissage et de conversion religieuse; la religion et la sphère publique; et, pour terminer, les formes de religiosité en Afrique subsaharienne. Cette compilation d’articles constitue un complément utile à l’abondante littérature anglophone sur les mondes médiatiques africains et leurs enchevêtrements religieux (voir entre autres de Witte, 2011; Hackett et Soares, 2014; Graetz, 2014; Meyer, 2015; Pype, 2012; Schulz, 2011). Parmi les analyses fournies, voici les trois thèmes qui m’ont frappée par leur pertinence et leur forte connexion avec les recherches actuelles sur les communautés religieuses en ligne sur le continent africain et au-delà : (a) l’importance de « réseaux » religieux; (b) l’interaction entre le religieux et la politique; (c) les pratiques de foi en ligne et leur dialectique avec la politique de la religion (particulièrement en termes d’autorité, de distribution et de transmission de la connaissance religieuse)." (Page 135)
more
"En République démocratique du Congo (RDC), le Web constitue, depuis le dernier mandat constitutionnel du président Joseph Kabila au pouvoir depuis 2001, un espace d’affrontements politiques par le biais des discours religieux, ou par leaders religieux interposés. Alors que le président Kabil
...
a a épuisé son dernier mandat constitutionnel, les discours religieux sur Internet sont devenus un outil de mobilisation, si bien qu’ils permettent de distinguer les partisans de l’alternance ou du maintien du gouvernement en place. Les médias numériques ont démontré leur capacité à mobiliser la rue lors des manifestations contre le maintien au pouvoir du président Joseph Kabila entre 2015 et 2017. Les discours religieux sur le Web peuvent jouer, quant à eux, une fonction d’atténuation de la contestation." (Résumé)
more
"Le présent article traite de pratiques virtuelles néo-pentecôtistes au Cameroun. L’analyse des changements sociaux ne prend pas suffisamment en compte la place de la communication religieuse. « Nous changeons le monde… à partir d’ici », telle est l'affirmation du pasteur Dieunedort Kamd
...
em (Kanodi), fondateur de la Cathédrale de la Foi à Yaoundé. Dans ses pratiques de cultes à distance, Temitope Balogun Joshua déclare quant à lui sur Emmanuel TV, chaîne largement suivie au Cameroun : « just touch the screen and be in accord with us here ». Nous sommes donc dans un contexte où les figures religieuses ambitionnent de « changer » la société à partir des églises. Si l’analyse des changements sociaux ne prend pas suffisamment en compte la place de la communication religieuse, nous voudrions ici analyser ce changement de fréquence sur fond de medial turn comme une «modernité» impulsée par les pentecôtismes camerounais." (Résumé)
more
"La diffusion progressive d’Internet au Burkina Faso a entraîné récemment un foisonnement de l’utilisation des réseaux sociaux, principalement Facebook, par les Églises catholique et évangéliques. Cette utilisation est toutefois fortement conditionnée par un nombre restreint de gatekeepe
...
rs qui exercent un contrôle souvent strict sur l’utilisation des réseaux sociaux. S’en dégage ainsi une diffusion fortement uniformisée par laquelle les organisations néo-pentecôtistes et charismatiques urbains tirent le plus grand profit en faisant circuler des contenus susceptibles de favoriser les conversions ou de souder virtuellement la communauté des adhérents. Les hiérarchies des Églises tendent plutôt, quant à elles, à utiliser ces médias comme relais de leur communication officielle sans investir dans le potentiel interactif des médias sociaux. Cette dynamique favorise également l’insertion des chrétiens burkinabè dans les réseaux chrétiens transnationaux, surtout pour certains pasteurs évangéliques inscrits dans les réseaux francophones internationaux." (Résumé)
more
"Ce travail porte sur l’usage des médias numériques dans les pratiques religieuses des musulmans en Côte d’Ivoire, dans un contexte de visibilité accrue de l’islam dans l’espace public depuis l’avènement du pluralisme politique en 1990. Il étudie l’entrée des musulmans dans l’è
...
re des médias, particulièrement du numérique, marquée par une pluralité de canaux de communication dont Facebook, le réseau social comptant le plus grand nombre d’utilisateurs dans ce pays ouest-africain. Suivant une approche plus descriptive que théorique, cette étude analyse les activités en ligne des musulmans (rencontres, échanges, da’wa, etc.) à travers les multiples opportunités qu’offre la plateforme sociale Facebook." (Résumé)
more
"L’arrivée d’Internet provoque des évolutions dans le rapport aux médias des communautés religieuses. Il y a une volonté de visibilité externe grâce à l’usage d’Internet comme moyen de communication et comme mode de présence. À partir de l’exemple de l’Union fraternelle des cro
...
yants de Dori au Burkina Faso, cette contribution analyse l’appropriation d’Internet par des acteurs interreligieux pour sortir de leur isolement et de jouer le rôle d’agents religieux de paix dans le monde. Le cas de l’UFC montre que si les religieux se saisissent du web, l’interreligieux peut être mobilisé pour promouvoir des objectifs sociaux et politiques dans les sphères publiques africaines." (Résumé)
more
"The media play a key role in post-apartheid South Africa and is often positioned at the centre of debates around politics, identity and culture. Media, such as radio, are often said to also play a role in deepening democracy, while simultaneously holding the power to frame political events, shape p
...
ublic discourse and impact citizens' perceptions of reality. Broadcasting Democracy: Radio and Identity in South Africa provides an exciting look into the diverse world of South African radio, exploring how various radio formats and stations play a role in constructing post-apartheid identities. At the centre of the book is the argument that various types of radio stations represent autonomous systems of cultural activity, and are 'consumed' as such by listeners. In this sense, it argues that South African radio is 'broadcasting democracy." (Back cover)
more
"When Jennifer Bakody steps off the plane in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2004, she walks right into the hardest and most inspiring job an idealistic young journalist from Nova Scotia could ever imagine. Six years of war involving eight countries and several million deaths have just ended
...
in a ceasefire. A week later, Bakody finds herself two thousand kilometres up the Congo River in the heart of the jungle, managing a small UN-backed radio station. Welcome to Radio Okapi Kindu. Welcome, too, to its team of hard-working local reporters determined to cover the country's rapid march towards elections. One day rebel soldiers are walking out of the jungle and handing in their weapons; the next the station is airing comedy sketches and messages asking after missing people. When a public lynching is followed by an outbreak of violence, Bakody begins to realize how little she understands Congolese politics–and how little she has at stake compared to her colleagues, several of whom will die in the next decade. Maintaining the rigour of Radio Okapi's editorial line suddenly seems like a matter of life and death. Can one small station known as the "frequency of peace" stand the strain? Radio Okapi Kindu is a touching memoir of a young journalist's coming of age and a love song to a poor but astonishingly beautiful country recovering from six years of war." (Publisher description)
more
"The trade publishing sector in South Africa produces books primarily in English and Afrikaans, which is not representative of the spread of languages spoken in the country. In particular, there are very few books published for general readers in the local African languages. The Indigenous Language
...
Publishing Programme (ILPP) is a government-sponsored initiative that aims to improve this situation. This article assesses the impact and sustainability of the ILPP as an attempt to represent the official languages more equally in the publishing industry. Our study, based on an analysis of documents and interviews, found that the national language and book policies have not been well implemented, which is a failure in terms of reaching constitutional ideals. Moreover, despite the ILPP being an attempt at creating language equality, the initiative seems not to be sustainable because it is reliant on external funding. The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) is not willing to fund such a project on an ongoing basis, which puts the programme’s longevity at risk. As a result, the ILPP’s influence remains limited. The minority languages remain under-represented and this raises questions about whether there is in fact a viable market for books in all of the South African languages." (Abstract)
more