Racism, Ethnicity and the Media in Africa

CALL FOR PAPERS

Racism, Ethnicity and the Media in Africa
CAMRI Africa Media Series: University of Westminster, London, UK

1st Call: Racism, Ethnicity and the Media in Africa Conference: 25 – 26 March 2010

Racism, Ethnicity and the Media in Africa are the topics of a 2-day interdisciplinary conference to be held at the University of Westminster from 25-26 March 2010. Not only are the concepts and practices of racism and ethnicity related and multifaceted – covering issues such as race, sex, colour, status and class – but they are also part of multi-staged pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial realities. The crisis in global capitalism, rising levels of poverty in Africa, together with political mismanagement, appear to be fuelling unprecedented levels of racial and ethnic conflict on the continent. This debate matters because racism and ethnicity have, to a large extent, undermined African efforts that aim to achieve national unity and development. The Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970, serves as a prominent example. More recent examples include Rwanda, where, in 1994, RTML radio played a leading role in the massacre of millions of
Rwandans. In December, 2007, Kenyan media reports and songs, during what many regarded as ethnic-divided elections, contributed to the violent clashes that killed 900 and displaced more than a quarter of a million people. The ethnic and racial killings in Darfur, the murder of albinos in Tanzania, the 2008 xenophobic attacks in South Africa and many other unreported conflicts in Africa raise many questions: How are the mass media implicated in the growing ethnic and racial conflicts and violence in Africa? In what ways are the media challenging, undermining or reinforcing issues relating to racism and ethnicity in Africa? How have African media and journalists covered racial and ethnic topics? Both old and new media have opened new spaces for debates that were formerly suppressed, but have they not also encouraged extremism? This interdisciplinary conference calls on academics, media practitioners, policy makers, journalists, Africa specialists, and
development practitioners to debate on the growing linkages between ‘racism, ethnicity and the media in Africa’. Papers may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
-          Theorising representation, racism and ethnicity in Africa
-          Contemporary and historical dimensions of minority media in Africa
-          Racism and the media in Africa
-          Ethnic languages and the media in Africa
-          Global, National, Local identities and the media in Africa
-          Human rights and the media in Africa
-          Identity politics and the media in Africa
-          Suppressed imaginations and mediation of suppressed histories
-          Memory and the media in Africa
-          Hate media in Africa
-          Reporting tribal, racial and factional politics in Africa
-          Capitalism, poverty and marginalisation in the African media
-          The politics of funding and regulating minority media in Africa
-          Old and New Media (e.g. Internet, Mobile phones) in a Polarised Africa
-          Peace journalism/intercultural communication/inclusive media practices in Africa

Please e-mail your 200-word abstract to Helen Cohen at: journalism@westminster.ac.uk. All submissions must include title of conference, topic, an abstract and should list the author’s full name, with contact information and affiliation. The deadline for the submission of abstracts is 15 November 2009 and those whose abstracts are accepted will be notified by 1 December 2009.

Conference Fees:
Unwaged/Students: £50                         Waged/Non-Students: £125
Fees cover registration, conference pack, lunch, coffee/tea and wine reception

Conference Team: Prof. Colin Sparks, Dr Peter Goodwin, Dr. Roza Tsagarousianou, Dr. Winston Mano, Dr  Tarik Sabry, Helen Cohen, Maria Way and Brilliant Mhlanga

Website:http://www.wmin.ac.uk/mad/page-2192

Freedom of the Press

The Freedom of the Press 2009 Report released on May 1st.

The Press Release is available HERE

Here you can download the ranking table: Iceland, Finland, Norway in the first positions; UK in 27th position; Italy at 73rd position, classified as “partly free”.

Freedom of the Press 2009

The Freedom of the Press is realized by The Freedom House, an authoritative US institution for the diffusion of democratic values. It presents itself with the following words:

“Freedom House is a clear voice for democracy and freedom around the world. Since its founding in 1941 by prominent Americans concerned with the mounting threats to peace and democracy, Freedom House has been a vigorous proponent of democratic values and a steadfast opponent of dictatorships of the far left and the far right.  Eleanor Roosevelt and Wendell Willkie served as Freedom House’s first honorary co-chairpersons.Throughout its history, Freedom House has opposed tyranny around the world, including dictatorships in Latin America, apartheid in South Africa, Soviet domination of Central and Eastern Europe, and religiously-based totalitarian regimes such as those governing Sudan, Iran and Saudi Arabia.  Freedom House has promoted the growth of freedom by encouraging U.S. policymakers, international institutions, and the governments of established democracies to adopt policies that advance human rights and democracy around the world.  At the same time, Freedom House provides support to individuals working in the world’s young democracies to overcome debilitating legacies of tyranny, dictatorship and political repression; as well as to activists working in repressive societies to bring about greater freedom and openness“.

University of Stirling wins Indian Media Award

Stirling wins Indian media award

The Department of Film, Media & Journalism at the University of Stirling has been awarded the 2009 Business Communication School of the Year (International) by the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI).

The award was presented to Matthew Hibberd (pictured right), Senior Lecturer and deputy head of the Department, by B.S. Yeddyurappa, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, a region of India with a population of 53 million. There were 108 nominations for the awards.

The PRCI is the national body of Communication, Media, Advertising and PR professionals, with 18 chapters spread across India. The PRCI also has strategic international tie-ups with similar organisations in the world.

Their annual national ‘Chanakya Awards’ recognise the contribution made by people in Communication, Innovation, Media, Cinema, PR, Advertising, Rural leadership, Corporate leadership, Social leadership and there is also a PR Hall of Fame.

Congratulations to Prof. Matthew Hibberd!

World Social Forum 2009

A communication network about World Social Forum 2009 (Belem, Brazil, Jan 27th – Feb 1st) is available clicking HERE.

Informations about alternative media and non-mainstream radio clicking HERE

Crisc-Cmcs at FilMobile Conference

Crisc-Cmcs will participate at FilMobile Conference, London, 4-5 April 2008.

The Centre will present the step 2 of its research about “Mobile Audiences” in Italy (Mobile Audiences between Access and Participation).

Futher details, here.