Mass Media in Sub-Saharan Africa

"Bourgault's work differs from previous treatments of African mass communications in that it covers all mass media in a representative cross section of sub-Saharan countries and draws on important ethnographic, historical, descriptive, and critical approaches. It is further enhanced by Bourgault's personal observations and accounts of experiences in at least 14 countries, vital discussions of African cultural traits that mix with communication patterns, and theoretical arguments on germane universal concerns (news flow, colonialism, dependency, media/cultural imperialism). The author (Northern Michigan Univ., Marquette) moves beyond outmoded Western concepts, adding numerous Asian and African experiences and theories. Occasional detailed case studies do not sacrifice more comprehensive and generalizable approaches. There are a few errors in this otherwise excellent volume: the author misspells Roy Thomson's name and confuses the Asian—conceived development journalism concept with development communication that emanated from Washington and Washington-financed academic think tanks. This volume is a significant contribution to the literature on Africa because of its intricate organization, up-to-date information, comprehensiveness, multicultural and multidisciplinary approaches, and story-like relating of both historical and contemporary phenomena. All collections."—J. A. Lent, Temple University , 1996feb CHOICE

"This volume is a significant contribution to the literature on Africa because of its intricate organization, up-to-date information, comprehensiveness, multicultural and multidisciplinary approaches, and story-like relating of both historical and contemporary phenomena."—Choice