Pavement radio, an expression first popularised by historian Stephen Ellis[1] in referring to the grassroots, informal communication networks that relay information, primarily in urban African settings.
Pavement radio is the literal English translation of the French phrase radio trottoir which in US English would usually be rendered sidewalk radio.
SignificanceEdit
Particularly interesting to Ellis is the blurred distinction between broadcaster and listener, and the essentially democratic nature of the system (in that a how long-lasting a story is, and how widespread it becomes, and the form it eventually takes, are down to the predominant preferences of the recounters of the story). Pavement radio is mistrusted by a number of academics, journalists and politicians, citing its anonymous nature, and the propensity of the genre to include tales of witchcraft and other ludicrous notions. Ellis, however, argues that pavement radio is a modern continuation of the African oral tradition, and that such ostensibly inconceivable stories are metaphors or are indicative of historic or cultural beliefs, and as such not to be confused with factual news.
Why it might in this way be regarded as distinct from say, Western cultural beliefs, urban legend, rumours and metaphors such as propagated by gossip, Internetsocial networking services or informal actuality media, Ellis omitted to express definitively, either in the 1995 book[1] or in later works.[2]
^ abBourgault, Louise Manon (1995). Mass Media in Sub-Saharan Africa. Indiana University Press. pp. 202–203. ISBN0-253-20938-2.
^Stephen Ellis; Gerrie ter Haar (2004). Worlds of Power: Religious Thought and Political Practice in Africa. OUP USA. ISBN978-0-19-522016-2.
August 31, 2023
pavement, radio, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, april, 200. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Pavement radio news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Pavement radio an expression first popularised by historian Stephen Ellis 1 in referring to the grassroots informal communication networks that relay information primarily in urban African settings Contents 1 Etymology 2 Significance 3 See also 4 ReferencesEtymology EditPavement radio is the literal English translation of the French phrase radio trottoir which in US English would usually be rendered sidewalk radio Significance EditParticularly interesting to Ellis is the blurred distinction between broadcaster and listener and the essentially democratic nature of the system in that a how long lasting a story is and how widespread it becomes and the form it eventually takes are down to the predominant preferences of the recounters of the story Pavement radio is mistrusted by a number of academics journalists and politicians citing its anonymous nature and the propensity of the genre to include tales of witchcraft and other ludicrous notions Ellis however argues that pavement radio is a modern continuation of the African oral tradition and that such ostensibly inconceivable stories are metaphors or are indicative of historic or cultural beliefs and as such not to be confused with factual news Why it might in this way be regarded as distinct from say Western cultural beliefs urban legend rumours and metaphors such as propagated by gossip Internet social networking services or informal actuality media Ellis omitted to express definitively either in the 1995 book 1 or in later works 2 See also EditChinese whispers Grapevine gossip References Edit a b Bourgault Louise Manon 1995 Mass Media in Sub Saharan Africa Indiana University Press pp 202 203 ISBN 0 253 20938 2 Stephen Ellis Gerrie ter Haar 2004 Worlds of Power Religious Thought and Political Practice in Africa OUP USA ISBN 978 0 19 522016 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Pavement radio amp oldid 1146935473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
