Abstract
The vertical communication structure of the colonial era is gradually being replaced with a horizontal structure, as new media breed enlightened society thereby challenging both conventional media and governance. But how will African media develop and sustain the much needed people-centered philosophy of communication and media policies to downplay global hegemony and maximize the gains of globalization? Since societal transformation rides on the wings of vibrant media, this chapter will examine African philosophy of communication, questioning the foregrounding of media operations in Africa. Also, it will scrutinize impacts of recent media policies on relationships between elites and the grassroots, and how media policies in postcolonial Africa have helped bridge communication gaps.
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Omotoso, S.A. (2018). Media, Society, and the Postcolonial State. In: Shanguhyia, M., Falola, T. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of African Colonial and Postcolonial History. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-59426-6_51
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