Digitisation, AI and Algorithms in African Journalism and Media Contexts: Practice, Policy and Critical Literacies

AI, robots, algorithms, and data/metrics are increasingly dictating and changing journalistic and newsroom practices, cultures, and norms in the media industry. Social media platforms have been at the core of this AI and algorithmic turn, offering real-time consumer analytics and newsfeeds. However, there is a shortage of scholarship on AI, algorithms, and data-driven journalism from the global South, particularly in Sub-Saharan African contexts. Digitisation, AI, and Algorithms in African Journalism and Media Contexts aims to address this knowledge gap and provide new insights into the implications of automation and data-driven media and journalism practice in post-truth, post-human, and post-Covid African contexts.

Format: Hardback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 14 December 2023
Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited

The media industry is being profoundly shaped by the pervasive presence of AI, robots, algorithms, and data/metrics, which are increasingly dictating and rapidly transforming journalistic and newsroom practices, cultures, and norms. From editorial agenda setting to news production processes, to audience and advertiser targeting, these technologies are playing a pivotal role in shaping the way news is produced and consumed.

One of the most significant aspects of the AI and algorithmic turn has been the rise of social media platforms. These platforms have become powerful news aggregators, offering real-time consumer analytics and newsfeeds to an insatiable and borderless digital citizenry. The algorithms within these platforms are capable of redirecting consumer habits and advertiser attention, making them essential in the journalism practice and media viability across the globe.

However, despite the significant impact of AI, algorithms, and data-driven journalism, there is a shortage of scholarship on these topics from the global South, particularly in Sub-Saharan African contexts. This is a significant knowledge gap that needs to be addressed.

Digitisation, AI, and Algorithms in African Journalism and Media Contexts seeks to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive examination of the current state of AI, algorithms, and data-driven journalism in African contexts. The book moves the focus from the West, addressing the significant knowledge gaps relating to the current state of AI, algorithms, and data-driven journalism, as well as the implications for political, social, cultural, market, media viability, and journalism education.

The book offers new knowledge on key issues surrounding automation and data-driven media and journalism practice in post-truth, post-human, and post-Covid African contexts. It is a vital resource for researchers, educators, media students, academics, advocacy groups, media practitioners, developers, and policy makers, both in African countries and internationally.

In conclusion, the AI, robots, algorithms, and data/metrics are transforming the media industry, and social media platforms are at the forefront of this transformation. While these technologies offer significant benefits, there is a need for more scholarship on AI, algorithms, and data-driven journalism from the global South, particularly in Sub-Saharan African contexts. Digitisation, AI, and Algorithms in African Journalism and Media Contexts is a timely collection that offers new knowledge on key issues surrounding automation and data-driven media and journalism practice in post-truth, post-human, and post-Covid African contexts. It is a vital resource for researchers, educators, media students, academics, advocacy groups, media practitioners, developers, and policy makers, both in African countries and internationally.

Weight: 471g
Dimension: 229 x 152 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781804551363