Find the Wifi, free the watchdog: Sub-Saharan African smartphone users’ attitudes about accountability journalism

This study explores the association of mobile media and citizens’ attitudes surrounding watchdog journalism in sub-Saharan Africa. Face-to-face survey interviews with 2,589 smartphone users were conducted in six sub-Saharan African nations that have seen rapid expansion of smartphone penetration in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNewspaper research journal Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 452 - 465
Main Author Martin, Jason A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.12.2023
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects
echnology/internet/new media
international communication
new media/technological advances
mobile news
Africa
watchdog journalism
mobile media
accountability journalism
online news
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Summary:This study explores the association of mobile media and citizens’ attitudes surrounding watchdog journalism in sub-Saharan Africa. Face-to-face survey interviews with 2,589 smartphone users were conducted in six sub-Saharan African nations that have seen rapid expansion of smartphone penetration in recent years. The use of mobile phones for news-seeking predicted positive attitudes about accountability journalism in democratic governance. Results contribute to more nuanced discussion about mobile media and news habits in an understudied region.
ISSN:0739-5329
2376-4791
DOI:10.1177/07395329231194014