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

Abstract

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.

Keywords

Africa mobile media online news watchdog journalism accountability journalism

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