Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

African Media and the Digital Public Sphere pp 239–253Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Conflict Coverage in a Digital Age: Challenges for African Media

  • Chapter

Abstract

In an increasingly networked and globalized—or globalizing—society, the recent emergence of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) in a fast-pluralized media ecology presents challenges for most of Africa’s hitherto state-dominated “big man” politics. We argue in this chapter that in situations of political-ethnic conflicts, new digital tools produce opportunities for propaganda, but at the same time they also offer new possibilities for counterpropaganda. Alternative information from blogs, e-mail lists, Web sites, especially through NGOs with Web sites and e-mail networks, have—in addition to cell phone text messaging—complicated recent political contests linked to socioeconomic tensions. This chapter not only analyzes the links between violence and electoral politics but also examines the contribution of new ICTs in exacerbating or ameliorating inter-“ethnic” and interparty violence—especially around national polls in selected African countries.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abdi, J. and J. Deane. 2008. The Kenyan 2007 Elections and their Aftermath: The Role of Media and Communication. London: BBC World Service

    Google Scholar 

  • Trust. Policy Briefing No. 1. http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/pdf/kenya_policy_briefing_08.pdf (accessed June 25, 2008).

    Google Scholar 

  • Berenger, R. 2006. “Media in the Middle East and North Africa.” In Global Communication: Theories, Stakeholders and Trends, ed. T. L. McPhail, 192–225. 2nd edn. Boston: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brinkerhoff, J. M. 2006. “Digital Diasporas and Conflict Prevention: The Case of Somalinet.com.” Review of International Studies 32: 25–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castells, M. 2002. The Internet Galaxy: Reflections on the Internet, Business and Society. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Clayes, L. 2006. Internet in Everyday Life: Boundary Conditions for Equal Opportunities in the Network Society. Paper Presented to the Digital Divide Group at the IAMCR 25th Conference, July 26–30, 2006, Cairo, Egypt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conway, M. 2008. “Terrorism and the Making of the ‘New Middle East’: New Media Strategies of Hizbollah and al Qaeda.” In New Media and the New Middle East, ed. Philip Seib, 235–258. New York and Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekecrantz, J. 2007. “Media and Communication Studies Going Global.” In Media Structures and Practices As Time Goes By, ed. U. Carlsson and K. Helland, 169–181. Gothenburg: Nordicom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eriksen, T. 2000. Globalization, Winners and Losers. Unpublished paper. Oslo: SEFIA-Høgskolen i Oslo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fengler, S. 2008. “Media, Journalism and the Power of Blogging Citizens.” In Media Accountability Today and Tomorrow, ed. T. von Krogh, 61–68. Gotenburgh: Nordicom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Figenschou, T. U. 2006. “Courting, Criticism, Censorship and Bombing: The Bush Administration’s Troubled Relations with Al-Jazeera Channel from September 11 to the War in Iraq.” Nordicom Review (1): 81–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galtung, J. 2002. “Peace Journalism—A Challenge.” In Journalism and the New World Order, Vol.2: Studying the War and the Media, ed. W. Kempf and H. Loustarinen, 259–272. Gothenburg: Nordicom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgiou, M. and R. Silverstone. 2007. “Diasporas and Contra-flows Beyond Nation-centrism.” In Media on the Move: Global Flow and Contra-flow, ed. D. K. Thussu. Milton Park: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, V. and E. Magpantay. 2004. “Overview of Global Trends.” In From the Digital Divide to Digital Opportunities, ed. G. Sciades. UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guazzini, F. 2001. “Riflessioni Sulle Identità di Guerra nel Cyberspazio: II Caso Eritreo-etiopico.” Africa LVI (4): 532–572.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guazzini, F. 2004. The Construction of Political Nationalism on the Web: Borders, Social Spaces and Identities in the Ethio-Eritrean Case Study. Paper Presented at the International Conference on States, Borders, and Nations: Negotiating Citizenship in Africa, May 19–20, Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hackett, R. A. and W. R. Carroll. 2006. Remaking Media: The Struggle to Democratize Public Communication. New York and London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamelink, C. J. 2008. “Urban Conflict and Communication.” International Communication Gazette 70(3-4): 291–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kimemia, N. 2008. Where Life is Nasty, Brutish and Short. Sunday Nation, May 20. www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=39&newsid=124032 (accessed May 25, 2008).

  • Loyn, D. 2007. “Good Journalism or Peace Journalism.” Conflict & Communication Online 6(2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, J. 2007. “Peace journalism and Its Discontents.” Conflict & Communication Online 6(2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Lynch, J. and A. McGoldrick. 2005. Peace journalism. Stroud: Hawthorn Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, T. 2007. Cultural Citizenship: Cosmopolitanism, Consumerism, and Television in a Neoliberal Age. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nohrstedt, S. A. and R. Ottosen. 2001. Journalism and the New World Order: Gulf War, National News Discourse and Globalization. Gothenburg: Nordicom.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nohrstedt, S. A. and R. Ottosen. 2007. War Journalism in Threat-Society: Peace Journalism as a Strategy to Challenge the Mediated Culture of Fear? Paper presented at the 20th Annual Conference ofthe German Peace Psychology Association, “Conflict, Communication and Intergroup Relations,” June 15–17, 2007. University of Konstanz, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Omaar, R. and A. de Waal. 1993. “Somalia: Adding ‘Humanitarian Intervention’ to the U.S. Arsenal.” Covert Action (44).

    Google Scholar 

  • Opondo, O. and O. Orlale. 2008. “Bill to Reign In Errant Phone Users.” Daily Nation, July 3, Politics section. Nairobi: Nation Media Group.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orgeret, K. A. 2006. Moments of Nationhood: The SABC News in English—The First Decade of Democracy. Series of Dissertations Submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of Oslo Nr. 267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Østerud, Ø. 2007. “Mild Imperialisme? Kan Vestlige Land Sivilisere Verden I Sitt Bilde? (Mild Imperialism? Can Western Countries Civilize the World in Its Picture),” Klassekampen, July 21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ottosen, R. 1995. “Enemy Images and the Journalistic Process.” Journal of Peace Research 32(1): 97–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ottosen, R. 2007. “Emphasis Images in Peace Journalism: Theory and Practice in the Case of Norway’s Biggest Newspaper.” Conflict & Communication Online 6(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, R. 1992. Globalization: Social Theory and Global Culture. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ronning, H. 2005. “African Journalism and the Struggle for Democratic Media.” In Making Journalists, ed. Hugo de Burgh, 157–181. London and New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sciades, G., ed. 2005. From the Digital Divide to Digital Opportunities: Measuring Infostates for Development. Paris: ITU/Orbicom-UNESCO. http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ict/publications/dd/summary.html.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seib, P. 2004. Beyond the Front Lines: How the News Media Cover a World Shaped by War. New York and Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, P. 2007. An Introduction to PSYOPS. Leeds: Institute of Communication Studies, University of Leeds.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teer-Tomaselli, R., H. Wasserman, and A. S. de Beer. 2007. “South Africa as Regional Media Power.” In Media on the Move. Global Flow and ContraFlow, ed. D. K. Thussu, 153–164. Milton Park: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thuku, W. 2008. Hate SMS suspect charged. The Standard, May 22, 2008. http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?mnu=details&id=1143987054&catid=4

  • Thussu, D. K. 2006. International Communication: Continuity and Change, 2nd edn. London: Arnold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thussu, D. K. 2007. Media on the Move. Global Flow and Contra-flow. Milton Park: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Washington, M. A. 2003. “Covering Global War on Terrorism through African and American Lenses.” The Perspective, April 24.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oslo University College, Norway

    Rune Ottosen (Professor in Journalism)

Authors
  1. Rune Ottosen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Okoth Fred Mudhai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Coventry University, UK

    Okoth Fred Mudhai (Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Global Media/Communication) (Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Global Media/Communication)

  2. University of Calgary, Canada

    Wisdom J. Tettey (Professor in the Faculty of Communication and Culture) (Professor in the Faculty of Communication and Culture)

  3. School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University, South Africa

    Fackson Banda (South African Breweries (SAB) LTD-UNESCO Chair of Media and Democracy) (South African Breweries (SAB) LTD-UNESCO Chair of Media and Democracy)

Copyright information

© 2009 Okoth Fred Mudhai, Wisdom J. Tettey, and Fackson Banda

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Ottosen, R., Mudhai, O.F. (2009). Conflict Coverage in a Digital Age: Challenges for African Media. In: Mudhai, O.F., Tettey, W.J., Banda, F. (eds) African Media and the Digital Public Sphere. Palgrave Macmillan Series in International Political Communication. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230621756_14

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation