The myth of representations of Africa: A comprehensive scoping review of the literature

Scott, Martin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6744-443X (2017) The myth of representations of Africa: A comprehensive scoping review of the literature. Journalism Studies, 18 (2). pp. 191-210. ISSN 1469-9699

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Abstract

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive scoping review of all empirical research into US and UK media representations of Africa published between 1990 and 2014. The results show that existing research has a remarkably narrow focus on a specific number of countries, events, media and texts. Research into representations of North Africa, Francophone Africa, non-news genres, non-elite media and radio content, is particularly scarce. This, I contend, provides an insufficient basis for reaching any firm, generalizable conclusions about the nature of media coverage of Africa. In short, the widespread belief that we know how Africa is represented in the US and UK media is shown to be a myth. This paper also discusses how this myth has been maintained through misinterpretations of evidence and certain citation practices as well as the implications of these findings for the many corporations, governments, NGOs and researchers whose activities depend upon, or have helped to preserve, this myth.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	africa,media representations,scoping review,afro-pessimism,3* ,/dk/atira/pure/researchoutput/REFrank/3_
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Global Development (formerly School of International Development)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Groups > The State, Governance and Conflict Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Cultural Politics, Communications & Media
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2015 22:38
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 09:30
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/53631
DOI:	10.1080/1461670X.2015.1044557

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