The actions of foreign media need to be scrutinized, one Ohio University professor says — and he has the input of more than 3,000 people to back up his claim.
Yusuf Kalyango Jr. will speak about his book, African Media and Democratization: Public Opinion, Ownership & Rule of Law, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. today in 319 Alden Library.
Kalyango is an assistant professor of journalism and director of OU’s Institute for International Journalism.
The lecture will focus on Kalyango’s book, which was released in August of this year, and his research on the media in eastern and southern African countries.
The book incorporates his firsthand accounts on the African government’s relation to its media and includes input from more than 3,000 citizens in eight countries. It describes the relationship between the government, media and people in African countries.
“It explains the status of African media, how they have failed, how they have succeeded, what their challenges are and what the future looks like in the midst of how they are being governed, how the governments rule, the policies in which the media operates and the type of laws,” Kalyango said.
Kalyango has spent more than 10 years as a radio, newspaper and television reporter in both the U.S. and Africa.
“Yusuf Kalyango is a very important of member of the African Studies department as well as Scripps,” said Steve Howard, director of African Studies. “He has done extensive research on African politics and African media for his book.”
Kalyango said the book educates the audience on topics in a geographic area that has been largely ignored in the past.
“The main reason why we actually study anything is to try to advance media, make media better and to challenge authoritarian rule,” Kalyango said.
es122709@ohiou.edu
