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- Description:
- The history of journalism in Nigeria has been influenced by the two major eras of British colonial rule (1895-1960) and indigenous military governments after independence on October 1, 1960. Both forms of governments enacted press laws at various periods in Nigeria's journalism history. This study compares and contrasts the variables that shaped the laws enacted by both the British colonial and the post-independence military governments, the intended overt and covert objectives of those laws and the reactions of the indigenous people.
- Date Issued:
- 1992-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- Africa Media Review
- Description:
- The writer In his paper seeks to discuss the concept of press freedom and the role of the media in Kenya. The paper attempts to critically analyse a number of factors that are seen as limiting the functional roles of the media. The writer argues that there Is a direct relationship between press freedom, the roles of the media, and the nature of the government in power. The paper discusses factors that may limit press freedom and the role of the media, and it proposes some solutions to these problems.
- Date Issued:
- 1993-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- Africa Media Review
- Description:
- This paper presents the government of Uganda's perspective of professionalization of journalism and the liberalisation of the media in the country. It is apologetic to the restrictions on the freedom of the press in Africa, for some unspecified conditions peculiar to African States. Some encouraging developments within the media industry, especially the liberalisation of the airwaves and the introduction of a degree course in journalism at the Makerere University, are discussed. However, the author mildly criticizes the suspect Media and Broadcast Councils whose composition are dominated by people handpicked by the Minister for Communications. The Media Council is empowered to license and discipline journalists and the media institutions. The question raised by many is whether the Councils are not merely a cathartic strategy by the government calculated to pacify an aggressive media that had started challenging the government's continued stronghold on the industry despite its claim that it's democratic. Whatever the case, as a watchdog in a democracy, the media's independence is critical. This is why the author is calling for a more comprehensive communication policy in Uganda. The paper raises questions over the wisdom of subjecting the Councils to the mercy of a government grant and some obscure "acceptable sources" for their cash, arguing that this will in the long run thoroughly compromise the independence of the two bodies. The paper raises the freedom of information provision, albeit with a grain of salt. It points out, for example, that the provision is contradicted by the Official Secrets Act, which make it difficult for government sources to divulge information to journalists. In conclusion, it ask the government to address the issue of media ownership in Uganda, using relevant statutes, with a view to making them accessible to the poor. To argue this case, the writer adopts the theoretical framework of the dependency theorists, who invites developing (periphery) countries to dissociate themselves culturally and economically from the developed (core) countries as the only means of achieving their true independence.
- Date Issued:
- 1997-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- Africa Media Review
- Description:
- It is a quarter of a century now since Zambia's vernacular provincial press was established by the government. In this pilot study, the researchers have looked at one of the newspapers and concluded that it is ineffective content-wide and circulation-wise. The authors recommend that the Zambian government should take a fresh look at the newspaper, and perhaps at the other five as well, to ensure that what is published is really about and for rural people and that copies of every issue are made available to them.
- Date Issued:
- 1990-01-01T00:00:00Z
- Data Provider:
- Michigan State University. Libraries
- Collection:
- Africa Media Review