PiMA: Politics and Interactive Media in Africa(November 2012 – April 2014)

Stakeholder Forum

Lusaka, July 2013

University of Nairobi

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PiMA Research Question

To what extent is citizens’ participation in the media through the use of new ICT impactingmechanisms of politics (political accountability, political control, inclusion of marginalized people in politics)?

PiMA: Aim and Scope

To help critically appraise the potential for ICT to enhance political accountability and democratic politics for poor people in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.

> Focus on the expressions of 'public opinion' in broadcast media via new ICT such as mobile phones.

> Comparative case study of Kenya and Zambia

“On the one hand, media can generate debate and dialogue, be a voice for the voiceless, reveal wrong-doing and contribute to deepening democracy.

On the other hand, media is also capable of fostering ethnic hatred and division, acting in the interest of powerful political and economic elites, and covering up and distorting the truth.”

PiMA: Research approach

• 3 sub-questions: audiences; media; politics• 3 types of analysis: descriptive; evaluative; prescriptive

(policy/practice continually in focus)

• Station/programme case studies– Zambia: MuviTV; Phoenix; BreezeFM; ?? (rural TBC)

(+ZNBC; Yatsani)– Kenya: CitizenFM; CitizenTV; NamLolwe; KochFM

• Constituency case studies (2 in each country; urban and rural): surveys; qual. research

• Selected events/phenomena