Archive for publications, 2021

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[Commlist] New publication announcement - Misinformation Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa

Tue Jun 08 11:52:54 GMT 2021




MISINFORMATION POLICY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: FROM LAWS AND REGULATION TO MEDIA LITERACY

Peter Cunliffe-Jones, Assane Diagne, Alan Finlay, Sahite Gaye, Wallace Gichunge, Chido Onumah, Cornia Pretorius and Anya Schiffrin

Misinformation Policy in Sub-Saharan Africa is a single volume containing two research reports by eight authors examining policy towards misinformation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The volume first examines the teaching of media literacy in state-run schools in seven Sub-Saharan African countries as of mid-2020, as relates to misinformation. It explains the limited elements of broad media and information literacy (MIL) included in the curricula in the seven countries studied and the elements of media literacy related specifically to misinformation taught in one province of South Africa since January 2020. The authors propose a theory of ‘misinformation literacy’ – six fields of specific knowledge and skills required to reduce students’ susceptibility to false and misleading claims. Identifying obstacles to the introduction and effective teaching of misinformation literacy, the authors make five recommendations for the promotion of misinformation literacy in schools, to reduce the harm misinformation causes.

The second report in the volume examines changes made to laws and regulations related to ‘false information’ in eleven countries across Sub-Saharan Africa 2016-2020 from Ethiopia to South Africa. By examining the terms of such laws against what is known of misinformation types, drivers and effects, it assesses the effects of punitive policies and those of more positive approaches that provide accountability in political debate by promoting access to accurate information and corrective speech. In contrast to the effects described for most recent regulations relating to misinformation, the report identifies ways in which legal and regulatory frameworks can be used to promote a healthier information environment.

Contents:

Part One: The State of Media Literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa 2020 and a Theory of Misinformation Literacy

Peter Cunliffe-Jones, Sahite Gaye, Wallace Gichunge, Chido Onumah, Cornia Pretorius and Anya Schiffrin

Part Two: Bad Law – Legal and Regulatory Responses to Misinformation in Sub-Saharan Africa 2016–2020

Peter Cunliffe-Jones, Assane Diagne, Alan Finlay and Anya Schiffrin

E-book, PDF free from www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/books/

PDF 978-1-914386-05-3

ePub 978-1-914386-06-0

Kindle 978-1-914386-07-7

Published June 2021

https://www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/books/m/10.16997/book53



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