Compiled by Elva Nziza, for AJENda and Afromedia.network.
We present a short selection of publications of interest to the African communications and media studies research community.
Authors: Nelso Costa Ribeiro and Barbie Zelizer
An innovative and engaging collection that argues that the concept of propaganda needs to be central to discussions about the contemporary media landscape and its informational ecosystems. This book explores how ‘propaganda’, a foundational concept within media and communication studies, has recently been replaced by alternative terms (disinformation, misinformation, and fake news) that fail to capture the continuities and disruptions of ongoing strategic attempts to (mis)guide public opinion. Edited by Nelson Ribeiro and Barbie Zelizer, the collection highlights how these concepts must be understood as part of a long legacy of propaganda, and not just as new phenomena that have emerged in the context of the digital media environment. Chapters explore the strategies and effects of propaganda through a variety of globally diverse case studies, featuring both democracies and autocratic regimes, and highlighting how only by understanding propagandistic forms and strategies can we fully begin to understand how public opinion is being molded today by those who resort to deception and falsehood to gain or keep hold of power. An important resource for students and scholars of media and communication studies, and those who are studying and/or researching media and propaganda, media and power, disinformation, fake news, and political communication”
Authors: Antoinette Fage-Butler, Loni Ledderer and Kristian H Nielsen
Science Communication and Trust is a thought-provoking volume that thoroughly explores ‘trust’ and ‘distrust’ in science in relation to science communication, and that will act as an important intervention into public and policy discussion of these topics. I look forward to using it in my teaching and beyond! Sarah R. Davies, Professor of Technosciences, Materiality, and Digital Cultures, University of Vienna Trust is a key concept for understanding science communication; yet, it is often the object of stereotypes and prejudices, particularly about (alleged) mistrust in science. The book edited by Fage-Butler, Ledderer and Nielsen is a much welcome contribution to clarify and articulate the multiple dimensions of this concept. Massimiano Bucchi, Professor of Science and Technology in Society, Director of Master SCICOMM, Università di Trento, Italy This timely, genuinely multidisciplinary, volume explores the neglected dynamics of trust in science communication. By highlighting the contextual factors that shape trust in science, the book offers fresh insights into how public trust can be fostered or, conversely, eroded and thus, deepens our understanding of the complex relationship between trust in science and the strategies for communicating its findings. Maria Baghramian, Professor of Philosophy, University College Dublin This open access book presents groundbreaking research with new empirical findings, diverse methods, and advanced theoretical perspectives on science communication and trust. Enhanced by international scholarship, its three thematic sections — trustworthy science communicators, contexts of science communication, and aspects of trust in science — offer invaluable insights.
News media play a crucial role in shaping a public understanding of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and influencing how society interacts with this technology, often contributing to AI hype. This is particularly significant in Africa, where unique socioeconomic dynamics and historical relationships with technology shape news discourse on AI. However, there is limited understanding of how African news media contribute to AI hype. To address this, this study analysed news reportage on AI in online publications (n = 724) from 26 Anglophone African countries published in national and regional outlets between 1 June 2022 and 31 December 2023. Using content analysis and drawing on the Burkean notion of language as symbolic action, we examine how these publications frame AI and contribute to its Our findings reveal a bias: Western authors dominate cover- age and consistently focus on AI’s technical and economic aspects, with AI-related articles predominantly appearing in technology (36%) and business (19%) sections. This emphasis on tools and solutions suggests a utilitarian view of AI, prioritising practical applications over broader societal implications. By employing a structured approach to analyse various elements of news articles, this study develops a framework for examining and understanding how African news media fuels AI hype in public discourse.