🚀 go-pugleaf

Your question is an interesting one, and I'm sure that there are plenty of
materials out there on the role of the media in development.   It's also an
important one because the radio is the primary means for reaching much of the
population in Africa.  With low literacy rates, not everyone can read a
newspaper, and few own televisions.  Radios, on the other hand, are much more
common.

It is my opinion that, since independence, African governments have sought to
dominate the airwaves, some more than others.  State-run broadcast companies
have presented only the governments' views and have stifled any criticism.
  Indepedent companies have not been given licenses to operate.   This has
changed since 1989, but sadly freedom of the press is not a reality in many
African countries.

Now for some suggestions for your independent study.  If your school library
(I assume you're in school) has a government publications division, see
what's there from the US Information Agency.  Also, check out the printed
braodcasts from the Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) .  Compiled
first on a regional and then on a country basis, FBIS has printed versions of
radio broadcasts in foreign countries.   They can be tedious to wade through,
but well worth the effort, especially if you're doing any case studies.
  Next is to go the reference room to see if they directories that have any
listings for organizations active in supporting the media in developing
countries.   I believe a recent issue of the "Journal of Opinion," published
by the African Studies Association,  was devoted entirely to the media in
Africa.
I'm not exactly sure on the title.

Hope this helps.  Good luck.

Kim