ABSTRACT
This chapter establishes an understanding of civic space and the importance of media (both traditional and social) in that space in order to enhance the work of CSOs in holding governments to account. The chapter draws on research that uses questionnaires and interviews with CSOs based in five African countries – Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa and Mozambique – to better understand how and why CSOs rely on the media in their contexts, how and why they are shifting more to using social media in their accountability work and whether social media is able to play an effective role in opening civic space. In contexts where public broadcasters have often been unofficial ‘state’ broadcasters and print journalists are often enticed to report on corruption and accountability only when remunerated, CSOs are harnessing the potential of social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter to continue holding public officials to account. This chapter explores the perspectives of CSOs on the way in which media is changing in their contexts, how they are adapting to changing civic spaces and the potential for social media to overcome restrictive regimes.
