Featured Publications -April Edition
African Media and Communication: Foundational Conversations
Edited by Viola Milton & Winston Mano | Routledge, 2025
African Media and Communication: Foundational Conversations is a timely and compelling contribution to the field of media and communication studies. This volume stands out not just for its content, but for its method—drawing on biographical and life story interviews with foundational African scholars. The editors, Viola Milton and Winston Mano, skillfully curate a series of conversations that illuminate the intellectual journeys of some of the most influential thinkers in African media scholarship.
What makes this book particularly valuable is its focus on centering African perspectives in a field that has long been dominated by Western theories and models. Rather than presenting isolated academic achievements, the book contextualizes individual contributions within broader networks—locally grounded, yet globally relevant. Readers are offered a rare glimpse into the formative experiences, political moments, and collaborative efforts that have shaped African media and communication studies.
This book is not just a reflection on the past, but a blueprint for future scholarship. It challenges readers to reconsider whose voices are amplified in academic discourse and why it matters. For scholars, students, and practitioners working in or engaging with the Global South, this volume offers both historical depth and critical insight.
Access the book here: https://www.routledge.com/African-Media-and-Communication-Foundational-Conversations/milton-Mano/p/book/9781003133483
Delusive Speech in the Sharing Economy: Scam Inc.
By Julie Reid | Published by Routledge
What happens when the platforms we trust become tools for deception?
In her latest book, Delusive Speech in the Sharing Economy, Julie Reid uncovers the hidden dangers lurking behind popular online platforms like Airbnb, Uber, and Facebook. While marketed as convenient and community-driven, these services are increasingly being exploited by scammers, fraudsters, and even human traffickers.
Through the concept of delusive speech—a form of disinformation motivated by criminal intent—Reid shows how these platforms have become global communication channels for harm. Drawing from over 600 real-life cases, including chilling stories of Airbnb scams, the book highlights the serious consequences of platform inaction and questions the responsibility of Big Tech in protecting users.
Combining netnography with thematic analysis, this is a must-read for media scholars, tech critics, policy-makers, and anyone concerned with the ethics and accountability of the digital economy.
For details: https://www.juliereid.info/delusivespeech
Reconsidering the History of South African Journalism: The Ghost of the Slave Press
By Gawie Botma | Published by Routledge
What if the roots of press freedom were entangled with the legacy of slavery?
In this groundbreaking book, Reconsidering the History of South African Journalism, Gawie Botma confronts the lesser-known and uncomfortable truths about the early press at the Cape. Spanning the period between 1800 and 1838, the book explores how prominent early journalists and printers were themselves slave owners—using newspapers not only to report news but also to advertise enslaved people as property.
Focusing on the origins of colonial print media, including The Cape Town Gazette and African Advertiser, originally founded by British slave traders, Botma invites readers to critically examine the legacy of the so-called “free press” in post-apartheid South Africa. Rather than a straightforward story of progress, this is a nuanced exploration of how journalism intersected with colonial power, slavery, and systemic inequality.
A vital contribution to journalism and media history, this book encourages us to confront the “ghost of the slave press” and reconsider what freedom of the press truly means in a historical and contemporary context.
Essential reading for scholars, students, and anyone interested in media, colonial history, and the evolving narratives of South African journalism.
https://www.routledge.com/Reconsidering-the-History-of-South-African-Journalism-The-Ghost-of-the-Slave-Press/Botma/p/book/9781032954714?srsltid=AfmBOoocmKCKmmEuHYynJO-6S0GdgYVNygF60g57f5OK9JkeL3fuZ1nv
Perception and utilization of Artificial Intelligence for News gathering and dissemination by Journalists in Nigeria
By Ngozi Comfort Omojunikanbi Ph.D, Toluwanimi Grace Omojunikanbi, Clinton Chukwuebuka Mmezi The world is experiencing rapid changes in technology. There...