Media Pluralism, Democratic Discourses and Political Accountability in Africa

This 27-page document is part of the publication of papers for a conference on “The Role of the News Media in the Governance Reform Agenda", which was co-sponsored by the World Bank Communication for Governance and Accountability Program (CommGAP) and the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Boston, United States (US). Its purpose is to describe the media landscape of the previous two decades on the African continent: "the media landscape in Africa over this period has shown significant shifts, with tremendous expansion in the number of media outlets as democratic transformations make inroads into what used to be largely dictatorial political environments."

The author describes the positive and negative views of these media developments as follows:

1) "Various analysts contend that there is a positive relationship between expanded access to information, political pluralism and demands for more accountable government."
2)"...pessimists ... argue that these relationships, which are expected to flow mainly from media privatization, do not necessarily yield the expected dividends but rather reinforce the influence, and protect the interests, of powerful elements in society to the neglect of the less powerful. In order to avoid this consequence, Kuper and Kuper argue that the media have to operate in ways that allow them to achieve critical independence, democratic constructiveness and commercial viability."

The document explores the extent to which Africa’s media have been able to achieve this critical balance, including strategies on what could be done to enhance the media’s ability to influence the public sphere as a progressive force and to contribute to accountability on the part of various actors in society. For example:

• In response to concerns about "elite and commercial capture" of media such that opinions represented are only their own, the document states, "it is necessary that alternative media which champion the cause of the marginalised, and provide disinterested diverse perspectives on national and local issues are supported."
• As stated here regarding journalist self-censorship, a balance between de-stabilising news reporting and representing the government version of the news exclusively must be aligned with the truth about the reality that people are living. Media failure to "verify, authenticate, or challenge state officials’ rendition of reality might rob the public of the critical conversation need to develop appropriate policy interventions and correct erroneous impressions that can have dangerous consequences".
• As stated by the author, "cyberspace has encouraged the development of a civic culture and an active citizenry that integrates the local and the global, and compels the state to be responsive to a public sphere that is external to it and over which it does not exercise complete, if any, sovereign control."
• "One of the ways that African media can be supported to perform their critical function as facilitators of critical discourse in the public sphere is through solidarity [including mobilisation in support of media freedom when it comes under attack] among various stakeholders in civil society working together to demonstrate their commitment to a multi-vocal public sphere and standing up to support diversity in the media whenever that comes under attack."
• "...the legislature... should ensure that the media are not hamstrung by laws that are inimical to a vibrant and pluralistic public sphere and... degrade their ability to hold various actors accountable to the citizenry. The judiciary also needs to interpret laws in ways that are not dictated by loyalty to persons in government but to the cause of democracy, civil liberties, and political freedoms."
• "...the general public should continue advocating and lobbying for... Freedom of Information and Whistleblower legislation..."

The document concludes that "...the media themselves have a role in sustaining their place as vessels for democratic expression, accountability, and democratic consolidation."