Muffled Drums: The News Media in Africa
Ames: Iowa State University Press (1971), xvii, 314 pp.
Contains tables, bibliogr. pp. 297-305, index
Reviewed in: Communicatio socialis, vol.5 (1972), 370-371
Signature commbox: 100:10-General 1971
"Examination of the news media - newspapers, radio, television, magazines - in contemporary Africa, focusing on them as institutions, and describing their establishment, their effectiveness, and their relations with the government. Emphasis is on news and public information rather than cultural and educational roles." (Eleanor Blum, Frances G. Wilhoit: Mass media bibliography. 3rd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1990 Nr. 164)
The chapters on "International Political Communication" and "Need for Technology and Training" reflect on US and Soviet media assistance: "Western and communist nations, seeking to curry political favor with the new African governments, have given considerable direct assistance to African news media by providing technical facilities and by training journalists. Such aid may be just one more facet of the Cold War, but the help itself was much needed" (Page 123).
I. OVERVIEW OF NEWS COMMUNICATION IN AFRICA
1 African Setting
2 News Media
3 Government Involvement in News Media
4 News Flow
5 Foregin Correspondents
6 International Political Communication [= Russia, USA], 95
7 Need for Technology and Training, 123
II. CASE STUDIES OF NEWS MEDIA SYSSTEMS
8 An African Press for Africans: Nigeria and Ghana
9 Lingering Influence of France: Ivory Coast and Senegal
10 From Settler Press to One-Party Media: Kenya and Zambia, 199
11 An Important Exception: South Africa, 234
12 Conclusion, 271
Appendix: Tables on Mass Media
1 African Setting
2 News Media
3 Government Involvement in News Media
4 News Flow
5 Foregin Correspondents
6 International Political Communication [= Russia, USA], 95
7 Need for Technology and Training, 123
II. CASE STUDIES OF NEWS MEDIA SYSSTEMS
8 An African Press for Africans: Nigeria and Ghana
9 Lingering Influence of France: Ivory Coast and Senegal
10 From Settler Press to One-Party Media: Kenya and Zambia, 199
11 An Important Exception: South Africa, 234
12 Conclusion, 271
Appendix: Tables on Mass Media
