Tabloid Journalism and Press Freedom in Africa

This book studies tabloid journalism newspapers within the broader context of press freedom in Africa. After defining tabloid journalism and professional practices within various political contexts, the book then proceeds to consider tabloids in Southern Africa and emerging cyberspace laws. Many factors of press freedom are considered, including the impact of public order and national security laws on tabloids in North Africa, the impact of defamation laws on tabloids in West Africa, the impact of the fake news laws on tabloids in East Africa, and the impact of sedition and treason laws on tabloids in Central Africa. Exploring tabloid journalism and press freedom in Arabic, Portuguese, and Francophone speaking countries across Africa, this book is a unique addition to this emerging field. The book concludes by providing a synthesis of the developing patterns from the cases analysed and by looking to the future to make recommendations and map the challenges and the successes.

“This book is a timely and useful contribution to the ever-changing state of press freedom in Africa. It gives a succinct account of the state of tabloid journalism and also provides valuable case studies that illustrate the detrimental effect of media laws on the works of journalists in Africa.” (Martin Ndlela, Associate Professor at Inland School of Business and Social Sciences, Norway)

“It is through Chama’s excellent research that many in Africa can still follow empirically and theoretically driven developments in journalism across the continent, continuing to chart the way forward for press freedom in Africa.” (Bruce Mutsvairo, Professor of Journalism, Auburn University, USA)

Brian Chama is Senior Lecturer at Sheridan Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning, Toronto, Canada. His research interests include tabloid journalism, class and culture, crime and race, and diaspora studies. He is Author of Anti-Corruption Tabloid Journalism in Africa (2019).