HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Camara, M. S. Search for Related Content

Media, Civil Society, and Political Culture in West Africa

	Abstract

TOP Abstract References

 
From the premise that a free and democratic society is impossible without free and responsible media and an active civil society and that freedom and democracy must evolve from within a particular society in order to mature into a way of life for the society and its media, the present study examines the symbiotic role of the media and civil society in West Africa’s struggle for democratic governance. It addresses the question of the independence and accountability of West Africa’s media vis-à-vis foreign donors, local business, and political forces along with the effects on local audiences of giant Western/global media organizations competing in the region. The article concludes that West Africans must design their democratic model, that the West African media must be guided by normative ethics frameworks rooted in the values that inspire the region’s democratic aspirations, and that global media ethics principles should mainly serve as supplemental guidelines to those frameworks.

Keywords: Authoritarianism, civil society, Cold War, democratic governance, freedom of expression, global media ethics, human rights, liberalization, media freedom, non-state media, political culture, West Africa

	References

TOP Abstract References

 

Africa freedom of information centre launched. (2007). Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://www.mediarightsagenda.org/africafoicenter.html

Arenstein, J. (2000). Media activists launch pan-African information network. Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/30/index-jd.html

Dawson, R. & Prewitt, K. (1969). Political socialization . Boston: Little, Brown.

Dia, S. (2002). Radio broadcasting and new information and communication technologies: Uses, challenges and prospects . UNRISD Project Publication.

Edi, E. M. (2007). Globalization and politics in the economic community of West African states . Durham, NC: North Carolina Academic Press.

FAMCP (2007). Présentation de l’organisation. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from http://www.centresdepresseafrique.org/spip.php?rubrique1

Fatoyinbo, A. (2000). The evolution of mass media in Africa. Retrieved March 18, 2008, from http://www.adeanet.org/newsletter/Vol11No2/en_6.html

From Gifti Nadi, international women’s media foundation. (2000, March 12). Retrieved March 18, 2008, from http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/30/202.html

Hodgkin, T. (1956). Nationalism in colonial Africa . London: Frederick Muller.

Hyden, G. & Okigbo, C. (2002). The media and the two waves of democracy. In G. Hyden, M. Leslie & F. F. Ogundimu (Eds.), Media and democracy in Africa (pp. 29–53). New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.

Kafewo, S. (2006). Ghana: Research findings and conclusions. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/specials/1552_trust_amdi/page9.shtml

Kintz, L. F. (2007). Overview of current media practices and trends in West Africa. Retrieved July 15, 2008, from lass.calumet.purdue.edu/cca/gmj/sp07/grad-fork-kintz.htm

Lagos declaration of the right of access to information. (2006). Retrieved March 14, 2008, from http://www.foicoalition.org/Word%20Documents/Lagos%20Declaration%20at%20the%20Regional%20Workshop%20on%20FOI%20in%20Africa%20-%20Final.doc

Le Vine, V. T. (2004). Politics in francophone Africa . Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner.

Lopes, C. (1996). The Africanisation of democracy. African Journal of Political Science, 1(2), 139–153.

Lumumba-Kasongo, T. (2002). Reconceptualizing the state as the leading agent of development in the context of globalization in Africa. African Journal of Political Science, 7(1), 79–108.

Lupa-Lasaga, V. (1997). Journalists use internet to elude dictators . Retrieved March 16, 2008, from http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/30/171.html

MFWA. (2005). Media Alert [West Africa] 2004–2005. Retrieved July 6, 2008, from http://www.mediafound.org/images/stories/Documents

Ocitti, J. (1999). Media and democracy in Africa. Mutual political bedfellows or implacable arch-foes. Retrieved September 28, 2007, from Harvard University, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs Web site: www.wcfia.harvard.edu/fellows/1998–99/ocitti.pdf

Okwori, J. Z. & Adeyanju, A. M. (2006). Nigeria: Research findings and conclusions. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/specials/1552_trust_amdi/page9.shtml

Olukotun, A. (2000). The transition and the media. African Journal of Political Science, 5(2), 31–44.

Perret, T. (2005). Le temps des journalistes. L’invention de la presse en Afrique francophone . Paris: Karthala.

PIWA. (2004). Répertoire des médias en Afrique de l’Ouest [Catalogue of West African media]. Dakar: Institut Panos Afrique de l’Ouest.

Schmidt, M. (2007). New media: Expanding press freedom: International commitments guarantee media freedoms. Retrieved October 27, 2007, from http://www.wan-press.org/

Seck, I. (2006). Senegal: Research findings and conclusions. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/specials/1552_trust_amdi/page9.shtml

Tam-Baryoh, D. (2006). Sierra Leone: Research findings and conclusions. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/specials/1552_trust_amdi/page9.shtml

Wasserman, H. (2006). Have ethics, will travel: The globalization of media ethics from African perspectives. Retrieved July 21, 2008, from http://journalismethics.ca/feature_articles/have_ethics_will_travel.htm

This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Camara, M. S. Search for Related Content