2. Global Journalism Practice

Understanding tabloid journalism in Africa requires insights on how global journalism practice operates, and how it should be viewed and critiqued. It is within this context that Brian Chama offers a much-needed summary of global journalism practice in order to situate and comprehend effectively the practice of tabloid journalism in Africa. Chama explores the scholarly debates by looking at the definition of the press, then the independent press, and the press freedom, before finally looking at the tabloid press. The chapter offers examples of tabloidisation in both print and broadcasting media including the digital technologies. It then explores the challenges within the context of law and the professional practice. Chama concludes that the practice of tabloid journalism in Africa can be seen as part of the imperatives that shape global tabloid journalism practice, and that, though it might be shocking, and not of everyone’s taste, there is a need for varieties of voices within democracy as all voices matter.