Toward a ‘Developed’ Media: The Values and Priorities of Media Development Projects in South Sudan

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session II
  In Interactive Paper Session: Global Communication and Social Change Interactive Paper Session

Abstract

The increasing attention on the media development sector and its potential inclusion in the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals raises questions of the objectives and motivations for involvement from developed nations. This research analyses this concept through a rhetorical analysis of literature concerning journalism training programmes conducted by international development organisations in South Sudan. The nine projects that met the criteria represent the work of seven organisations from Europe, North America and Asia. The literature produced in association with nine projects from Europe, North America and Asia were coded and analysed in order to find frequently recurring themes related to values or goals of the projects. The findings reveal a complicated and ill-defined division between media development and media for development; recurring use of development buzzwords without discussion on meaning or pertinence to the project; and subsequent contrasting interpretations of those buzzwords from various organisations.

Author

• Valerie Cooper, Hong Kong Baptist University