Democratisation, national elections and fake news in africa: issues and the way forward

There is a view that national elections are becoming a ritual, an event without much significance for democratic governance in many countries in the continent. The issues range from party/state captured institutions, corruption and outright lies to the electorate. In 2019 over a dozen African countries face presidential elections and at this crucial time when election processes are monitored for rigging and countries await results in fear of civilian unrest, journalism can mediate between candidates and voters.

This one-day symposium aims to bring together scholars and practitioners in the fields of journalism and politics to engage with the main issues of reporting the elections in an environment that presents critical challenges in terms of transparency.

The symposium will look in particular to answer these pressing questions:

• What does it mean to report the news at such crucial times?
• Are fast headlines and journalists on twitter endangering the democratic process?
• Is fake news a candidate’s best friend and a nation’s worst enemy?
• How has fake news influenced outcomes and how can the national press counter this emerging trend?
• Are these even the right questions to ask?

Speakers:

Peter Cunliffe-Jones, Founder Africa Check

Dr Winston Mano, Global Media Research Network’s Africa Media Series, CAMRI, University of Westminster

Fidelis Omozuapo, Managing Director Adeste Advisory Limited

Francine Mukwaya, Congolese Activist and Human Rights Campaigner

Moses Rono, Political Risk Analyst, BBC Monitoring

James Asante, former communications director of the National Democratic Congress -Ghana

Anna Lekas Miller, Media Diversity Institute

Rosemary Ajayi, Digital Africa Research Lab

Felicia Appenteng Chair, IE Africa Center IE University

13:30 – 15:00 First panel presentations and discussion with the audience

15:00 – 15:30 teas and coffee

15:30 – 16:00 Second panel presentations and discussion with the audience

17:00 – 19:00 Networking drinks reception