[Commlist] Call for book chapters on Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms and Data-Driven Journalism in Africa

*Call for book chapters on Artificial Intelligence, Algorithms and 
Data-Driven Journalism in Africa*: Journalism Practice, Regulation and 
Education

**

Artificial intelligence (AI), algorithms and data or metrics-driven 
practices are increasingly infiltrating all sectors of societies across 
the world (Stalph 2020; Nadikattu 2016). In fact, algorithms are the 
current ‘power brokers’ governing what information people consume, 
produce, and what networks they engage with (Emmert-Streib 2021; Kitchen 
2017). The media industry is one of the sectors that is increasing 
embracing artificial intelligence, algorithms, and data to harness the 
ever-changing potential of information and communication technologies. 
The latest Reuters Institute report (2022) projects that algorithms, AI 
and data uptake within newsrooms will increase soon - perhaps 
considering the dramatic digital influx of consumers, advertisers, and 
media outlets that we saw with the onset of the Covid 19 pandemic 
(Dralega and Napakol 2022).

Already before the pandemic, AI, robots, algorithms, and data/metrics 
were pervasive in many newsrooms, increasingly dictating and rapidly 
changing journalistic and newsroom practices, cultures, and norms - from 
editorial agenda setting, to news production processes, to audience and 
advertiser targeting (Moyo et al 2019). Social media platforms have 
particularly been at the core of the AI and algorithmic turn offering 
real-time consumer analytics and newsfeeds for insatiable and borderless 
digital citizens. The algorithms within these platforms make them 
powerful news aggregators, redirecting consumer habits and advertisers, 
making them vital in the journalism practice and media viability across 
the globe (Ali and Hassoun 2019).

Nevertheless, the scholarship on AI, algorithms, and data-driven 
journalism from the global South especially in Sub-Saharan African 
contexts is sparse (Matsvairo, Bebawi and Borges-Rey 2020; Gondwe and 
White 2021). Most of the empirical studies are Western oriented. 
Moreover, there are knowledge gaps relating to the post-Covid state of 
AI, algorithms, and data-driven journalism as well as the implications 
for political, social, cultural, markets and media viability. As a 
social construct, technology appropriation often comes with 
repercussions – so what are the repercussions on the development and 
democratic agenda especially in reference to Universal declarations and 
SDGs/2030 Agenda for sustainable development? The unresolved 
consequences around issues on the digital divide and marginalization as 
well as notions of ‘information as a public good’ need to be brought to 
the research agenda. Insights are also sought on policy developments, 
media education and literacy fields (Kothari and Hickerson 2020), which 
are largely research deserts.

This edited book aims to generate new knowledge on all issues automation 
and data-driven journalism in post-truth and post-Covid African 
contexts. Highly rigorous theoretical and empirical chapters unveiling 
related media innovations and developments are welcome. Also, 
interdisciplinary perspectives, comparative, ethnographic studies along 
with multi-genre (i.e. Social media, Television, Newspapers, Radio, 
community/alternative media, etc.) perspectives and innovative 
methodologies are warmly welcome. The book will be a timely resource for 
researchers, media students, academics, advocacy groups, media 
practitioners and policy makers and not just in African countries.

Topics include but are not limited to the following:

**

*AI, algorithm and data-driven Journalism: Implications and opportunities *

Insights on current newsroom trends, cultures,  practices and as well as 
(infra)structures:

  * Data journalism organisation, practices, processes, norms and
    routines, skills-sets/employment patterns/generational issues as
    well as their impact on processes, production, and distribution of
    news. How are normative journalism roles negotiated? What are
    journalists’ attitudes to AI, Algorithms and data-driven journalists?
  * Media viability perspectives highlighting emerging market
    strategies, advertising, business innovations, etc.
  * Political discourse – (self) censorship, ‘information as public
    good’, elections, human rights, etc
  * Audience perspectives
  * Content discourse - Fake news and infodemic challenges and
    fact-checking routines, balance between AI, algorithmic and
    statistical journalism, etc
  * Historical trajectories and perspectives
  * Ethical dilemmas
  * Digital divides and the challenge of representation – gender
    concerns, rural and community media, youth, refugees etc
  * Thematic focus: Environmental Data Journalisms, climate change,
    elections, etc

*Governance - Policy and regulation frameworks*

Critical reviews of policy and regulatory developments (in-house, 
national and regional) exploring not just opportunities and barriers but 
also policy making processes, actors, interests and consequences.

**

*AI, Algorithms and Data-Journalism: Media Literacy and education*

  * Data Journalism training at Journalism Institutions and
    Universities: Curricular, assessment, research. In-house training
    and (re)skilling strategies.
  * Educational/training Institutional policy on AI and Data-driven
    Journalism, attitudes and norms.
  * Industry and Education synergies and partnerships (i.e. internships)

You are welcome to suggest relevant themes not mentioned here.

Note: No payments from authors will be required.

**

*Important dates:*

*Abstract submission:*                  30^th March 2022

*Response from Editor:*                15^th April 2022

*Full paper submission: *              15^th July 2022

We are aiming to be published by this year.

*Important information*

Abstract must be 200 words. Full chapters max. 7000 words.

Kindly follow /Emerald Publishers/ style guide (i.e. APA 6^th edition). 
We are in the pre-contract process with the publisher.

*Submissions and inquiries*: (carol.dralega /at/ nla.no) 
<mailto:(carol.dralega /at/ nla.no)>.

*About the Editor*

Carol Azungi Dralega (PhD) is an Associate Professor on the Global 
Journalism program and Head of Research - Department of Journalism, 
Media and Communication, NLA University College, Norway. Dralega has 
prior experience as a sub-editor and reporter at the New Vision 
Corporation and the Monitor Publication, Uganda’s leading dailies. In 
2019 she was editor and mentor for the Youth Newsroom (Youth Times) at 
the World Press Freedom Day celebrations at the African Union 
headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She is involved in several 
research projects including: Violence-inducing Behaviour Prevention in 
Social-Cyber Space of Local Communities funded by the Norwegian Research 
Council (2022-26). Preparing Media Practitioners for a Resilient Media 
in Eastern Africa, Funded by the Norwegian Development Agency with 20 
million Kr. (2021-2026). Beyond the gender paradox: Women's careers in 
technology-driven research and innovation in and outside of academe, 
funded by NORDFORSK (2017-2022). Building capacity for a changing media 
environment in Uganda funded by the Norwegian Development Agency 
(2014-2019). Dralega has most recently co-edited two books: Dralega, C. 
A and Napakol A. (Forthcoming 2022) Health Crises and media discourses 
in Sub-Saharan Africa. Springer Nature and Dralega, C. A and Napakol A. 
(Forthcoming 2022) Covid 19 and the media in Sub-Saharan Africa: Media 
Viability, Framing and Strategic Crisis Communication. Emerald 
Publishers. These are among several other research projects and 
publications.

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