Dr. Fred Mudhai
My research section
My work shines a light on activities and initiatives facilitated by information and communication technologies that contribute to a more open and democratic society – especially in Africa. I pay attention to formal actors, with global links, as well as the more informal networks. Recent developments such as the WikiLeaks revelations and the ‘Arab Spring’ uprisings buttressed my main thesis that the use of new digital media especially by savvy non-state actors challenges the ruling elite in a manner that has hardly been witnessed before. My attendance at Geneva (2003) and Tunis (2005) World Summit on Information Society gave me impetus.
Biography
Dr Mudhai, on a 17-month (November 2012 to April 2014) research secondment to the University of Cambridge, is a Senior Lecturer in Journalism and Course Director, MA Specialist Journalism in the School of Media and Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Coventry University. He was part of the Information Technology (IT) and Civil Society Network, within IT and International Cooperation Program, at the US Social Science Research Council (2003-2005).
He was a category winner in the 1999 African Journalist Foundation Journalist of the Year Award, and his other awards include two at global level for his writing on information and communication technologies with a focus on Africa. His recent publications include a monograph (2013), and a co-edited book (2009) featuring authors based in various parts of the world – containing three solo/co-authored chapters. His other publications include journal articles and book chapters.
He was a full time journalist at The Standard Group (Nairobi) in the 1990s, also contributing to outlets in Africa, the UK and the USA. His academic qualifications are: PhD – International Relations (Nottingham Trent); MA – Communication Studies (Leeds); B.Ed – English and Literature (Egerton); PgDip – Mass Communication (Nairobi); PgCert – HE Learning-Teaching (Coventry).
Selected outputs
- Mudhai, O.F. (2013) Civic Engagement, Digital Networks and Political Reform in Africa. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Mudhai, O.F. (2011) 'Immediacy and openness in a digital Africa: Networked-convergent journalism in Kenya'. Journalism: Theory, Practice and Criticism 12 (6), 674-691.
- Mudhai, O.F. (2009) 'Implications for Africa of E-Gov Challenges for Giants South Africa and Nigeria'. In African Media and the Digital Public Sphere. Ed. by Mudhai, O.F., Tettey, W., and Banda, F. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 21-40.
- Mudhai, O.F. (2010) 'Survival of ‘radio culture’ in a converged networked new media environment'. In Popular Media, Democracy and Development in Africa. Ed. by Wasserman, H. London: Routledge, 253-268.
- Mudhai, O.F., Banda, F., and Tettey, W.J. (2009) 'Introduction: New Media and Democracy in Africa – A Critical Interjection'. In African Media and the Digital Public Sphere. Ed. by Mudhai, O.F., Tettey, W., and Banda, F. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 1-20.
- Mudhai, O.F., and Nyabuga, G. (2009) '‘Misclick’ on Democracy: New Media Use by Key Political Parties in Kenya’s Disputed December 2007 Presidential Election'. In African Media and the Digital Public Sphere. Ed. by Mudhai, O.F., Tettey, W., and Banda, F. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 41-56.
- Mudhai, O.F., and Ottosen, R. (2009) 'Conflict Coverage in a Digital Age: Challenges for African Media'. In African Media and the Digital Public Sphere. Ed. by Mudhai, O.F., Tettey, W., and Banda, F. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 239-253.
- Mudhai, O.F. (2013) 'Immediacy and Openness in a Digital Africa: Network Journalisms in Kenya'. In Online Journalism in Africa: Trends, Practices and Emerging Cultures. Ed. by Mabweazara, H., Mudhai, O.F., and Whittaker, J. London: Routledge, 188-217.
- Mudhai, O.F. (2006) 'Exploring the potential for more strategic use of mobile phones'. In Reformatting Politics: Information Technology and Global Society. Ed. by Dean, J., Anderson, J., and Geert, L. New York: Routledge.
- Mudhai, O.F. (2004) 'Researching the Impact of ICTs as Change Catalysts in Africa'. Ecquid Novi 25 (2), 313-335.
- Mudhai, O.F. (2002) 'The Internet: Triumphs and Trials for Kenyan Journalism'. In Beyond Boundaries: Cyberspace in Africa. Ed. by Robins, M.B., and Hilliard, R.L. New Hampshire: Heinemann, 89-104
- Chan, S., and Mudhai, O.F. (2001) 'Commonwealth Residualism and the Machinations of Power in a Turbulent Zimbabwe'. Commonwealth and Comparative Studies 39 (3), 51-74.
Selected projects
- Politics and Interactive Media in Africa : Seconded as Research Associate on collaborative project, at the University of Cambridge.
- African Capacity Building Foundation Media and Information Literacy: Workshop, handbook and edited collection
- ICT and Civic Engagement in Nigeria: Invited to participate at a collaborative event by Harvard University’s Berkman Centre for Internet and Society, sponsored by MacArthur.
- Africa/UK Journalism Education Initiative of UNESCO and Association of Journalism Education – UK: An exchange network to develop greater links between journalism schools in the UK and Africa, University of Bedfordshire hosting initial meeting April 2012.
