African media during democratization: tracing media policy in Ghana and Zimbabwe

Abstract

In Huntington's (1991) study of democratization, the press, or information media are barely mentioned, and the focus is on authoritarian control of the media, or how outside media influence a state's transition to democracy. Using a contingency model, and an understanding of the place of the media and media freedom from Mill and Habermas, this study will examine the media policies and legal instruments of two African states: Ghana and Zimbabwe. Examining current media policy (legal instruments, guarantees and state regulatory bodies) in Ghana and Zimbabwe offer interesting contrasts in their current attitudes towards the press and the kinds of press environments they are creating and how those affect democratization. Ghana has moved very aggressively to open media space which has created an environment of broad support for democracy. While in Zimbabwe, the Mugabe government has systematically targeted the independent media leading to a general reduction of the democratic impulse.