Rethinking Media Ownership and Democratic Governance in Malawi from 2002 to 2012

Abstract

Media ownership has often been assumed to have a profound impact on news content with regard to the consolidation of democracy and good governance, particularly in developing countries. This may not always be the case as evidenced in Malawi with the case of the Weekend Nation newspaper between 2002 and 2012. The newspaper was established by Malawi’s political elite in the advent of democracy in sub-Saharan Africa in the early 1990s to promote democracy and good governance. Between 2002–2012, Malawi was governed by three Presidents representing three different political parties and they all expressed distaste towards the Weekend Nation newspaper. During this period, it was found out that its political ownership had no direct bearing on the journalists’ political role to enhance democracy and good governance in Malawi. This calls for a rethink of the conventional view of the critical political economy of the media perspective which asserts that the news media’s role in democracy is influenced by those with political power or wealth. With specific reference to the Weekend Nation in Malawi, the news media are critical players in shaping and strengthening of the principles of democracy and good governance.