The Tsinghua-Epstein Memorial Lecture Series on Global Media and Communication opened on September 9th at Tsinghua University’s Omnicom Building with a lively discussion of “Shifting power in African communication: new media, new player, new paradigms.”

The guest speakers -- Dr. Iginio Gagliardone, a British Academy Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, and Mr. Adow Mohammed Aden, a senior reporter of Al-Jazeera Television -- delivered insightful speeches about China’s growing media role in Africa.

The lecture was chaired by Professor Shi Anbin, Associate Dean of the Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communication and Executive Director of Israel Epstein Center for Global Media and Communication. More than 100 teachers and students attended the lecture and interacted with the experts.

In his lecture, Dr. Gagliardone discussed the media of China and Africa in a multipolar world and the new role of journalists in a world of media innovation. He proposed a framework which aimed at letting China’s role in Africa emerge not simply as a counterpoint to the impression left by the West, but also for its original contributions to the African media sphere, understanding China’s potential to act as a partner, a prototype and a persuader.

Dr. Gagliardone’s research and publications focus on the role of the media in political change, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, and the adaptation of international norms of freedom of expression in authoritarian regimes. His current research, developed in collaboration with the Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy (PCMLP), University of Oxford, explores the role of emerging powers such as China in promoting alternative conceptions of the Internet in Africa.

Dr. Gagliardone is also a Research Associate at the Centre of Governance and Human Rights at the University of Cambridge and at the Center for Global Communication Studies (CGCS), Annenberg School of Communication, University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Adow Mohammed Aden made a speech on “Africa and the international media: Is Africa outgrowing foreign media?” He noted that six of the world’s 10 fastest-growing countries are African. Africa is also experiencing one of the fastest growths in technology, and this is dramatically changing the landscapes of its many cities. From Nairobi to Cape Town, he said, opportunities for trade and business exist informally despite economic and social challenges. From fashion and sound to cinema, African artists are capturing modern African lifestyles, he told the audience, and Africa continues to attract foreigners from around the world.

Mr. Aden is a senior journalist with Al-Jazeera Television, responsible for political news in East Africa. With almost 20 years working experiences in Africa, he has profound knowledge of, and original ideas about, topics on East Africa.

The two experts’ speeches triggered in-depth exchanges and passionate discussions about African communication, China-Africa relations, the development of China's media in Africa and so on.

(By LIU, Ying)

Mr. Iginio Gagliardone is doing his presentation.