Sub-Saharan African Media

With the collapse of the Soviet communist system after the Cold War, democratization was underway throughout Africa, as well as the rest of the world. Apartheid was slowly coming to an end in southern Africa, dramatically effecting events throughout the country, and contributing to the beginning of a democratized media and print system.

Government

Throughout the 1800s, Africa was under the colonial rule of the British, French, Dutch and Portuguese. "In general, however, South Africa stands out as an example of a country that went through a peaceful transition from an apartheid government to a full democracy after its 1994 general elections." (Global Journalism: Topical Issues and Media Systems, de Beer and Merrill, 4^th ed.) In the 1960s, movements toward self-government slowly began to occur in many countries as colonial rulers gave up on controlling idealistic citizens. As a result of lingering control, civil wars were common, especially in areas such as Congo, the Sudan (particularly the Darfur region), Angola and Rwanda. Dictators began to take control in several countries as with Idi Amin in Uganda and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe.

Economy

Economically, there are varying degrees of monetary freedom in Africa, but the majority of African countries have established socialist or controlled economies. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_South_Africa) Much of Africa is behind the rest of the world in terms of economic development. For example, the regions 1997 per-capita gross national product (GNP) of $552 exceeded only that of South Asia, at $452. (United Nations Development Program [UNDP] 1999, p. 183) Moreover, "Africa grew faster than any other developing region in 2001, reflecting better macroeconomic management, strong agricultural production, and the cessation of conflicts in several countries." (Economic Commission for Africa, 2002)

People, Culture and Language