Elections and the Media in Post-conflict Africa

Over the past ten years, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville and Rwanda all organized pluralist elections in a post conflict context, having exp... Les mer

Elections and the Media in Post-conflict Africa

Over the past ten years, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Chad, Central African Republic, Congo Brazzaville and Rwanda all organized pluralist elections in a post conflict context, having experienced an armed conflict which either interrupted or prevented democratization processes. These polls were organized with the support of the international community, which viewed them as a crucial step in the peace-building process. The local media's role throughout has been to ensure that an electoral process is actually 'free and fair' - a role that becomes even more crucial in countries where the media have previously being perceived as warmongers or peace-builders in the conflicts. Giving a voice to African journalists and analysing the work they have been publishing or broadcasting during these elections, African media specialist Marie-Soleil Frere explores if and how the local media fulfilled their duties. In doing so, the book reveals journalists' professionalism at a time when much is expected from the media, as well as the intense political pressure faced that can make their work particularly difficult. Insightful and comprehensive, Elections and the Media in Post-Conflict Africa underlines both the importance and the fragility of the role of the media in a democratic system.

Introduction - New Votes and New Voices The Media's Role in Elections Pluralist Elections and Free Media in Africa Elections and the Media in Post-Conflict Countries Chapter 1 - Elections and the Media in Central Africa: Stakes and Challenges Burundi: Elections and Media for Peace Central African Republic: The Ballot and the Media in a Stateless Country Republic of the Congo: Elections Marred by Violence Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Colossal Political and Media Challenge Rwanda: A Slowly Emerging Pluralism Chad: The Impossible Democratic Changeover Chapter 2 - The Preparatory Phase: The Media's pre-electoral Commitments Informing Voters Presenting and Analysing the Electoral System and Process The Census and the Establishment of Electoral Registers The Authorities in Charge of Monitoring the Elections Regulating the Media: Regulation and Regulatory Frameworks Donors' Interventions: Anticipating or Reacting to the First Symptoms Chapter 3 - The Media during the Electoral Campaign Presenting the Campaign's Stakes and Actors The Fair Allocation of Print Space and Airtime The Risks of Going Off Tracks Informal Media Campaigns Provincial Media on the Campaign Trail Journalists' Difficulties in Following the Campaign Chapter 4 - From Polling day to the Results Covering Voting Operations Direct Intervention in the Unfolding of the Elections Working With, Besides or Against Independent Observers From the Polls to the Results: Covering Uncertainty Accepting or Challenging the Results Epilogue: Covering What Comes Next Conclusion The Problems of Electoral Coverage in Post Conflict Countries Opportunities in the Twenty-First Century Bibliography

Marie-Soleil Frere is Research Associate at the National Fund for Scientific Research and teaches Journalism at the University of Brussels where she is also the Director of the Research Centre in Information and Communication (ReSIC). Her work explores the relationship between media and politics in Sub-Saharan Africa. She worked previously as a teaching assistant at the University of Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso), and as a Program Officer supervising media support projects at the International Organization of the Francophonie in Paris. She has published The Media and Conflicts in Central Africa, Presse et democratie en Afrique francophone and Medias et Communications sociales au Burkina Faso. She is also an Associate Expert at the Panos Institute in Paris, for which she supervises the publication of training manuals and studies for media practitioners in Africa. Lukk