Elections and the Media in Post-Conflict Africa

Over the past ten years the Democratic Republic of Congo Burundi Chad Central African Republic Republic of Congo and Rwanda all organized pluralist elections in a post conflict context having experienced an armed conflict which either interrupted or prevented democratization processes. These polls were organized with the support of the international community which viewed them as a crucial step in the peace-building process. The local media's role throughout was supposed to be to ensure that an electoral process is actually 'free and fair' - a role that becomes even more crucial in countries where the media have previously being perceived as warmongers or peace-builders in the conflicts.<br/><br/>Giving a voice to African journalists and analysing the work they have been publishing or broadcasting during these elections African media specialist Marie-Soleil Frere explores if and how the local media fulfilled their duties. In doing so the book reveals journalists' professional challenges at a time when much is expected from the media as well as the intense political pressure faced that can make their work particularly difficult.<br/><br/>Insightful and comprehensive Elections and the Media in Post-Conflict Africa underlines both the importance and the fragility of the role of the media in a democratic system.