Read more
This book examines the effects of media interventions in the global South, and argues for a more adaptive and context-sensitive media development.
The work investigates media development as part of statebuilding and the effects that Western-led media has in, and on, a newly built state. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, including interviews, observations and social surveys, it analyses the effect media interventions has on global South countries, from the population's point of view. The findings show that in practice media development can be alien to the societies in which a free press is implemented, which can lead to unintended and negative consequences for social relations in a country. While the book uses South Sudan as a case study, it also presents different perspectives and shows that local views on the media are different from those of Western experts and policymakers. Therefore, the book advocates taking local views seriously and an adaptive media development that is sensitive to the context in which it is set up.
This book will be of much interest to students of statebuilding, media studies, development studies and international relations in general.
List of contents
Introduction 1. Media development: The ideas behind the concept 2. Leadership and the media 3. Access to the media and trust in the media 4. The audience: Wishes and expectations 5. The journalists: Views, wishes and challenges 6. The conflict and the media 7. The host country and the international community Conclusion
About the author
Kerstin Tomiak is Assistant Professor at the American University of Kurdistan, Iraq. She holds a PhD degree from Cardiff University and has worked as a media expert for NATO in Afghanistan.
Summary
This book examines the effects of media interventions in the global South, and argues for a more adaptive and context-sensitive media development.
The work investigates media development as part of statebuilding and the effects that Western-led media has in, and on, a newly built state. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, including interviews, observations and social surveys, it analyses the effect media interventions has on global South countries, from the population’s point of view. The findings show that in practice media development can be alien to the societies in which a free press is implemented, which can lead to unintended and negative consequences for social relations in a country. While the book uses South Sudan as a case study, it also presents different perspectives and shows that local views on the media are different from those of Western experts and policymakers. Therefore, the book advocates taking local views seriously and an adaptive media development that is sensitive to the context in which it is set up.
This book will be of much interest to students of statebuilding, media studies, development studies and international relations in general.
