Africa's Media Image in the 21st Century
From the "Heart of Darkness" to "Africa Rising"
Chris Paterson editor Mel Bunce editor Suzanne Franks editor
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Published:12th Jul '16
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£135.00(9781138962316)
This book examines the international media's portrayal of sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting changes in representation, the impact of new media, and the influence of various social and political factors on coverage.
Africa's Media Image in the 21st Century is a significant work that revisits the portrayal of sub-Saharan Africa in international media, marking the first comprehensive examination of this topic in over two decades. The book features contributions from leading researchers and journalists who delve into the nuances of how the continent is represented and the mechanisms behind these representations, particularly focusing on the role of international news outlets. It emphasizes the transformative factors in the global media landscape that have altered whose stories are told and which voices are amplified.
The book includes various case studies that address critical questions regarding media representation. It investigates the impact of new media on the visibility of different perspectives, considering whether Chinese or diaspora media provide alternative narratives about Africa. Additionally, it explores how foreign correspondents engage with audiences in the age of social media and the influence of charity organizations and public relations firms on news content. The authors also analyze the coverage of significant events and issues, such as the Ebola outbreak, Boko Haram, and the discussions surrounding the Africa Rising narrative, as well as the implications of neo-imperialism.
By moving beyond traditional critiques of media stereotypes and negative portrayals, this book makes a valuable contribution to the academic discourse on Africa's image. It investigates the interplay of news outlets, international power structures, and emerging technologies that continually shape the representation of Africa and its people in contemporary journalism and global culture.
"Mel Bunce, Suzanne Franks and Chris Paterson have assembled the single most important collection of analyses of African media and image in at least a quarter of a century. In practically all respects this volume goes beyond previous, mainly 20th century, northern-centered ways of framing and thinking about Africa's media image and, in their place, carries us well into the 21st century. This is a post-'Africa pessimism' century of African and international narratives of Africa. These are told through an astonishing variety of perspectives, technologies and media platforms. Their audience includes a robust, continent-wide and technology-empowered middle-class. Processes of imperialism and neo-imperialism have not disappeared. But the agents, trajectories and meanings of imperialism are opened to re-assessment."
Oliver Boyd-Barrett, Professor Emeritus, Bowling Green State University, Ohio and California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
"This is an excellent book which fills a crucial gap in existing literature. It has a wide range of contributors offering key insights and analysis - a must read for students and academics in development studies as well as those in media and international journalism."
Gregory Philo, Professor of Communications and Social Change, University of Glasgow
ISBN: 9781138962323
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 398g
240 pages