Introduction to the Politics and Interactive Media in Africa (PIMA) research project conducted by the Centre of Governance and Human Rights, University of Cambridge. Presentation given to a stakeholder forum in Lusaka, Zambia July 2013.

1. PiMA: Politics and Interactive Media in Africa
(November 2012 – April 2014)
Stakeholder Forum
Lusaka, July 2013
University
of Nairobi

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3. PiMA Research Question
To what extent is citizens’ participation in the
media through the use of new ICT impacting
mechanisms of politics (political
accountability, political control, inclusion of
marginalized people in politics)?

4. PiMA: Aim and Scope
To help critically appraise the potential for ICT to
enhance political accountability and democratic
politics for poor people in Africa and elsewhere in
the developing world.
> Focus on the expressions of 'public opinion' in
broadcast media via new ICT such as mobile phones.
> Comparative case study of Kenya and Zambia

5. “On the one hand, media can generate debate and
dialogue, be a voice for the voiceless, reveal
wrong-doing and contribute to deepening
democracy.
On the other hand, media is also capable of
fostering ethnic hatred and division, acting in the
interest of powerful political and economic elites,
and covering up and distorting the truth.”

6. PiMA: Research approach
• 3 sub-questions: audiences; media; politics
• 3 types of analysis: descriptive; evaluative; prescriptive
(policy/practice continually in focus)
• Station/programme case studies
– Zambia: MuviTV; Phoenix; BreezeFM; ?? (rural TBC)
(+ZNBC; Yatsani)
– Kenya: CitizenFM; CitizenTV; NamLolwe; KochFM
• Constituency case studies (2 in each country; urban
and rural): surveys; qual. research
• Selected events/phenomena