Presenting at the African Studies Association

This winter I had the opportunity to travel to Chicago Illinois and share my research at the African Studies Association Conference with Professor Dylan Groves and Francis Nyonzo. My presentation expanded on previous research by Professor Groves which analyzed the effects of watchdog journalism on government responsiveness in Tanzania. With his results showing the impact of government responsiveness, I presented a future research design scheduled for January 2025 examining how journalism makes an impact. To answer this question, we are exploring whether radio journalism changes citizens’ perceptions of government and assigning responsibility for bureaucratic shortcomings. In our presentation, Francis Nyonzo discussed the limitations and barriers to the supply of quality journalism. He explained the state of media in Tanzania, lamenting that journalists often go underpaid, are pressured by the government, and are often suppressed.

This trip also allowed me to explore other fields of study across Africa. I listened to presentations about “The Impact of Policy Framing on Public Support Toward a Closer US-African Engagement” by Yongzheng (Parker) Li, from the University of British Columbia. I was also able to discuss the future CRT and Gender Ideology in the face of a new Trump administration with Scott Burnett from Pennsylvania State University. The most interesting panel I attended was “Author Meets Critic: Joan Wicken and Her Lifelong Collaboration with Tanzania’s President Nyerere” which gave me an understanding of Tanzanian history through the perspective of Joan Wicken’s relationship with Tanzania’s first president, Julius Nyerere. It was interesting to hear scholars discuss the impacts of these historical characters and how they fit into the broader Tanzanian history. This panel inspired me to learn more about Tanzanian history as I continue my research project in the upcoming semester.