Journalism and Media Technologies

New Technologies, New Practices and the Renewal of Media Training in Africa
By James Achanyi-Fontem, Director of Publications
A five-day Conference holds from August 23 – 27 2009 at Pan-African University in Lagos, Nigeria. The institution of media as we know is being transformed virtually beyond recognition right before our eyes. The advent of the internet in the late nineteen nineties, leading to the near total dominance of new media technologies and the ICT in general, has engendered new journalism practices, well beyond the notion of technology as aid. As illustration, networked journalism, citizen journalism (including the I-Report on Cable News Network) and the frequent recourse of major news networks to such reports in major news bulletins; the rise of social networks as a means of self-presentation; the rise of blogs; the reliance of major newspapers, radio and television on their websites for indepth or further depth… all these point to what amounts to a paradigm shift in the global practice of journalism.
In Africa, the changes are less noticed. But the rise and rise of satellite television (Multichoice, Hi-tv; Daar Communications); the emergence of such dedicated networks as CNBC-Africa all show an alternative movement from the past. This movement, if not premised on technological difference, but on a shift away from public broadcasting or free to air, to pay per view is also changing media consumption practice.
These developments raise fundamental questions about how we think and practice and teach media in Africa. This conference is billed as a meeting point of industry and the academy in Africa, and between the public and private sectors. Besides the key thematic issue of the transforming role of ICT in journalism practices, we are concerned to bring to the fore sub-thematic problems of funding, capacity and inadequate infrastructure. No less germane, are questions of policy as governments struggle to come to terms with the aspirations of industry in virtually all African countries. From the point of view of the academy, inadequate training facilities conspire with inadequately prepared faculty and out of date curriculum to keep the continent playing catch up.
To address these and similar issues, 500-word abstracts are invited from scholars, industry practitioners and public officials. Industry practitioners may be journalists and media managers or from media technology equipment and service providers. Companies wishing to show case their products are also invited for the conference-long exhibition and workshops that will form an integral part of this event.
Conference Sub-themes
A.Conceptualizing and Theorizing the New Media
Convergence and Interactivity
One-to-many; many-to-many: corporations and new media
What is new about the new media?
B.New Journalism Practices
Networked journalism
Citizen journalism
Streaming in electronic media
C.New Media and Media Enterprise in Africa and Elsewhere
E-commerce
E-governance
Social networks
D.Curriculum and Training Regimes
Media enterprise
Restructuring media training
Role of ict in training delivery
Virtual classrooms: e-learning tools
E.Contexts and Environments of new media practices
Access issues
Political and social contexts
Policy issues
Economic and Financial issues
Business and enterprise management issues
Assistance to African Participants
Conference Organizers
1. Abstracts and academic issues: Anulika Agina ( aagina@smc.edu.ngThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
2. Exhibition issues: Tayo Akinyede ( takinyede@smc.edu.ngThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
3. Workshop and hospitality issues: Ijeoma Nwezeh ( inwezeh@smc.edu.ngThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it )
Conference Convener
Prof. Emevwo Biakolo
Dean, School of Media and Communication
Pan-African University
Lagos