Overview

New technologies may have transformed human societies, but not much has been written on how they are impacting people in Africa and other developing regions, in terms of how they use technology to enhance their socioeconomic conditions in everyday life. This book critically examines these issues from theoretical, practical and policy perspectives.

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9781137389329

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This comprehensive, go-to book will be invaluable to field specialists and in upper-division and graduate courses in (international) communication. It focuses on developing societies' communication landscape from a 21st-century perspective: technology as a transformative force in every facet of those societies. It blends theories, models, and practices as it presents straightforwardly balanced contexts in which we can better understand-and appreciate-the use of communication technologies in developing countries. The downsides of their use are also clearly presented. - Cornelius B. Pratt, Temple University, USA This is a refreshingly well-substantiated endorsement of the practical implications for socio-economic, cultural and political development of the new media revolution in progress across Africa. It is a grounded study on the importance of information and communication technologies for human agency and resilience against the overwhelming structures of reproduction of global and local inequalities. - Francis Nyamnjoh, author of Africa's Media: Democracy and the Politics of Belonging, University of Cape Town, South Africa The book strikes a right balance between critical perspectives and optimism based on the rapid development of technology, services and innovation in Africa. Arguing that practice teaches us as much as theory, the book covers a wide range of topics from broadcasting to ehealth, and entertainment to education. The book is especially strong on its discussion of the public sphere, citizenship, and socio-economic development. This is a book that will be of great interest to researchers, policy makers and practitioners. - Greg Hearn, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

“The book clearly communicates multiple theoretical positions in the field, and summarises well several pertinent empirical studies. In particular, the predominant focus on contemporary African media dynamics provides a useful and welcome contribution to a field too often dominated by exclusively Western priorities.” (Thomas Owen, Communication Research and Practice, Vol. 2 (1), 2016)

The book clearly communicates multiple theoretical positions in the field, and summarises well several pertinent empirical studies. In particular, the predominant focus on contemporary African media dynamics provides a useful and welcome contribution to a field too often dominated by exclusively Western priorities. (Thomas Owen, Communication Research and Practice, Vol. 2 (1), 2016)

This comprehensive, go-to book will be invaluable to field specialists and in upper-division and graduate courses in (international) communication. It focuses on developing societies' communication landscape from a 21st-century perspective: technology as a transformative force in every facet of those societies. It blends theories, models, and practices as it presents straightforwardly balanced contexts in which we can better understand and appreciate the use of communication technologies in developing countries. The downsides of their use are also clearly presented. - Cornelius B. Pratt, Temple University, USA This is a refreshingly well-substantiated endorsement of the practical implications for socio-economic, cultural and political development of the new media revolution in progress across Africa. It is a grounded study on the importance of information and communication technologies for human agency and resilience against the overwhelming structures of reproduction of global and local inequalities. - Francis Nyamnjoh, author of Africa's Media: Democracy and the Politics of Belonging, University of Cape Town, South Africa The book strikes a right balance between critical perspectives and optimism based on the rapid development of technology, services and innovation in Africa. Arguing that practice teaches us as much as theory, the book covers a wide range of topics from broadcasting to ehealth, and entertainment to education. The book is especially strong on its discussion of the public sphere, citizenship, and socio-economic development. This is a book that will be of great interest to researchers, policy makers and practitioners. - Greg Hearn, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia

Author Information

Levi Obijiofor (PhD) is Senior Lecturer in Journalism at the School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. His research focuses on the impact of technologies on journalistic practices, foreign news reporting across cultures, journalism education, and the impact of technologies on developing countries. He teaches journalism and communication courses.

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