Bindura University of Science Education

Department of Social Sciences

Part 2: Bachelor of Science Degree in Peace and Governance-(B.Sc. PG)

Course Outline: PG 204: Media, Democracy and Governance

Semester 1 (Sept. –Dec) 2012

Lecturers:

Dodo O. (+263 772 910 482, [email protected])

Consultation: Offices at BUSE Town Campus (Bindura Haulage Premises) from 0800 to
1630hours Monday to Friday.

This course focuses on the linkage that is there between Media and democracy and
governance. Media plays a pivotal role in democracy and governance issues. The course
focuses on how media might impact on democracy and governance discourse in Africa. This
course will enable students to open the avenue for a different set of questions to be asked
about the intersection between democracy and governance, the role of the state in controlling
media and vice-vesa. The formalisms of procedural democracy have also concealed a much
more profound pattern of declining press freedom on the continent, as African governments,
under the guise of constitutional rule, have resorted to the enactment of ‘suppressive laws
against an increasingly critical media.’

In order to make the student more competitive in respect to her/his knowledge of

contemporary ‘media politics’, the course places emphasis on media activities in the post-
colonial period. However it is the duty of each student to make an individual effort to study,
compare and contrast with the pre-independence period.

Requirements of the course

a. Students are strongly encouraged to attend all lectures.

b. Students are to answer participate actively in group discussions.

c. Students are reminded that stern action will be taken against students who
absent themselves from lectures and tutorial sessions in which they will be expected
to present papers or to lead discussion.

Examination

a. Each student shall write and submit two essays of approximately five pages in
length and one in-class test.

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 b. The essays will constitute continuous assessment for the course and 30% of
the overall course mark. The examination shall account for the remaining 70%.

c. A student who fails the course work will not be allowed to seat for the exam.

Course Content

PERIOD HOURS TOPIC

Week 1 Lecture 1 Media: students are introduced to the media studies, role of the
(2hrs) media in society, conflict and peace processes. All major types of
media are discussed, their merits and demerits and their effects to the
Lecture 2 developing world.
(2hrs)
A deeper study of media theories is also done so that students are
exposed to the background of all the dynamics around media and
democracy.

Week 2 Lecture 1 The role of the public in the information society: the public and
information society are defined and contextualised. Information
society tools are also explored and discussed in relation to their use
Lecture 2 in communication and democratic dictates.

In the second lecture, students are introduced to the concept of civil

society models and their relationship to the media.

Week 3 Lecture 1 Pluralism, guidance and the new media: students are introduced to
the need for multi-players in the media sector, the merits and
demerits. Students are also introduced to the new forms of media that
have and are re-shaping the world in as far as communication and
governance are concerned.
Lecture 2
In the second lecture, students focus on selected cases in the
developing countries where media pluralism is in existence and
where ‘the new media’ has changed the landscape.

Week 4 Lecture 1 Media, Globalisation and ‘Other People’s Wars’: in this lecture,
the concept of globalisation is introduced and how globalisation has
Lecture 2 affected the media world vi-a-viz issues to do with democracy and
governance.

The second lecture focuses on case studies where the effects of

globalisation have led to media wars and or real wars.

Week 5 Lecture 1 Media and Democracy in Africa: students will be exposed to the
nexus between media and democracy. All facets of democracy will

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 be explored and defined in relation to the needs in Africa and
Zimbabwe in particular.
Lecture 2
Focus will be placed on selected countries where the media has
played some role in either the establishment or destruction of
democracy in Africa. Attention will be placed on how Zimbabwe has
attended to the issue of media and democracy post-independence.

Week 6 Lecture 1 Media Freedom In Africa: the media has been on the fore-front in
the campaign for democracy and freedom in general throughout
Africa. It is in this light that attempts be made at understanding how
the media has done it in Africa.

Lecture 2 Students will be asked to present cases of their choices in groups

specifically focussing on the role of the media in fostering
democracy.

Week 7 Lecture 1 Free Press: Democracy and Mass Media: students will be
introduced to media laws, operational requirements and the
Lecture 2 prevailing situations in selected cases in Africa.

Students will be required to research on selected cases determining

the level of ‘free press’ and democracy. These will be individual
presentations.

Week 8 Lecture 1 Media and Propaganda: students are introduced to the propaganda
concept, its definition, all forms, merits and demerits.
Lecture 2
How the media has been used in propaganda the world over, in
elections in selected countries and in political image tarnishing.

Week 9 Lecture 1 Democracy, foreign policy and authoritarianism: this lecture

looks at the nexus between democracy and foreign policy and
democracy and authoritarianism. The three areas will be
Lecture 2 appropriately defined.

Selected foreign policies will be analysed to see how they can

influence democracy in other countries and students will be asked to
analyse specific cases.

Week 10 Lecture 1 Revision: students will be taken through some of the areas that they
&2 feel would not have been adequately covered during the semester.

Week 11 Lecture 1 Media and the electoral process in Africa: the role played by the
media in an election is so important that most politicians would want
to have personal media reporters so that their daily political activities
are covered. In this light, students will have to study how the media

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 Lecture 2 is of use during an election. Selected cases from Africa will be
analysed.

Continued/.

Week 12 Lecture 1 Media and terrorism: terrorism has of late been one of the major
world threats to development and peace. A thorough study will be
Lecture 2 focussed on the relationship between the media and terrorism and
how they affect each other.

Students will be required to make individual presentations on how

media played a role in selected terrorist cases in Africa.

Bibliography

Andersen, F.W & Olsen, R.K, “Press freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe”, M.Phil.Thesis,
Department of Media and Communication, University of Oslo, 1996

Andersen, M.B, “The Janus face of television in small countries. The case of Zimbabwe”,
Critical Arts, 2, Durban, 1997

Amnesty International, “Eritrea: Arbitrary detention of government critics and journalists”,

18 September 2002. See http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/recent/AFR640082002!Open.

Amnesty International Press Release, “Gambia: Growing clampdown on freedom of

expression”, 7 August 2002. See http://web.amnesty.org/ai.nsf/Index/AFR270052002?Open
Document &of=REGIONS/AFRICA.

Article X1X and Index on Censorship, Who rules the Airwaves? Broadcasting in Africa,
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2002

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1963

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1935

Doob, L. W., Opinion and propaganda, Archon, Hamden, 1996

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Davenport, K. ‘Ivorian media suffers in silence’, BBC News, 24 September 2002. See
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Ellul, J., Propaganda: The formation of men’s attitudes, Vintage, New York, 1973

Eribo, F & W Jong Ebot. ‘Introduction’, in Eribo& W Jong Ebot (eds), Press Freedom and
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Kakande, J. ‘Anti-terrorist bill threat to journalists’, 29 April 2002. See

http://www.enteruganda.com/about/article_about.php?mainId=2&sectionCat=Our%20World

Kupe, T., “Voices of the voiceless: Popular magazines in a changing Zimbabwe 1990-1996”,
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Larson, C. “Chapter 13: The Techniques of Propaganda” in Persuasion: Reception and

Responsibility, Wadsworth, Belmont, 2001

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Johannesburg, 2003

Manhando, S., Broadcasting in a Deregulated Southern Africa: Zimbabwe’s Efforts to

Engage with Technological Changes in Electronic Media, Department of Media and
Communication, University of Oslo, 1997

M’Bayo, RT. ‘The African press: Prospects for freedom in the new millennium’, in M’Bayo
RT, Chuka O & RN Nwako (eds). Press and Politics in Africa, The Edwin Mellen Press,
Lewiston, NY, 2000

Mermin, J. Debating War and Peace, Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 1999

Street, J. Mass Media, Politics and Democracy, Palgrave, Hampshire, 2001

Ocitti, J. “Media and democracy in Africa: Mutual political bedfellows or implacable arch-
foes”, PhD, Weather Centre for International Affairs, Harvard University

Rozumilowicz, B. Democratic change: A theoretical perspective”, in Price ME,

Rozumilowiciz B & SG Verhulst (eds), Media Reform: Democratising the state, Routledge,
London, 2002

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Harare, 1990

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Sandbrook, R., “Transitions without consolidation: democratisation in six African cases,”
Third World Quartely, 17, 1, 1996

Sen, A. Development as Freedom, Anchor Books, New York, 2002

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By tasex marasta