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Editorial For The Special Issue On Africa and Social Media
Editorial For The Special Issue On Africa and Social Media
Introduction
For many people, Africa is associated with imagery of destitution put out
by charities to foster a sense of guilt in those they want to part with their
money. But this is not the Africa of today. Africa has some of the fastest
growing economies in the world, and all countries regardless of economic
might feel its problems, such as corruption and terrorism. This special issue
therefore seeks to provide a view of how social media has changed and
shaped the Africa that exists today.
Centre for Research into Online Communities and E-Learning Systems, Wales
see that the Arab Spring in Africa and elsewhere has effects that will last
longer that the revolutions that as predicted were blogged, but televised also.
Journalism in Africa
Journalists are not always flavour of the month, because their special role in
society is to scrutinise the powers that be and hold to account those who
misuse their power, such as out of prejudice and causing poverty. The abuse
of power by politicians and other public figures is not a problem Africa has
also, as even in the United Kingdom, legislation such as the Protection from
Harassment Act 1997 and the Defamation Acts are regularly used to gag
journalists and other free speakers from publishing articles relating to those
who have power and abuse it. That is why the papers in this special issue on
freedom of expression and citizen journalism are so relevant for the digital
age we are in.