Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo

Audrey Gadzekpo, Ph.D. is a Professor at the Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana. She has more than 25 years of experience in teaching, research and advocacy on media, gender and governance, and close to 30 years practical experience as a media practitioner. She obtained a doctorate degree in African Studies at the University of Birmingham, U.K., a Master of Arts in Communications from Brigham Young University, Utah, USA and a Bachelor of Arts  in English from the University of Ghana.

Her research interests and publications reflect the nexus between media and gender; media, politics and democratic governance; media and developmental imperatives and media and conflict.

She teaches courses in Print Journalism, Media, Culture and Society, Gender and Communication, Policy Communication, Communicating Climate, Qualitative Research Methods, Media Ethics and History of Media in Africa.

Her latest publications include:  ‘

Haider N., Osman A.Y., Gadzekpo A., Akpede G. et. al. (2020).  Lockdown measures in response to COVID-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: A rapid study of nine countries. BMJ Global Health, 5 (10) http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003319

Gadzekpo, A. and Smith, M.  Gender and Media. (2020) in Naples, N. (ed), Companion to Women’s and Gender Studies. Oxford: Wiley Blackwell

Gadzekpo, A. Gardner P., Steeves, H. L.  (2020). Emerging Gender, Media and Technology Scholarship in Africa -Opportunities and Conundrums: African Women’s Navigating Digital Media, Ada 16  https://fembotcollective.manifoldapp.org/projects/ada-16-05ea0df0-6162-4...

Gadzekpo, A. Yeboah-Banin, A and Akrofi-Quarcoo, S. (2020). ‘A case of double standards? Audience attitudes to professional norms on local and English language radio news programmes in Ghana’, Journal of African Media Studies, 12:1, pp. 3–22  https://doi.org/10.1386/jams_00008_1

Gadzekpo, A. (2018) Glocalising Radio during Empire,  Obsidian vol. 44 (2). pp.164-181.

Gadzekpo A, Tietaah G. &  Segtub, M. (2018) Mediating the Climate Change Message: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) of Media Practitioners in Ghana, African Journalism Studies, DOI: 10.1080/23743670.2018.1467838

Patterson, C., Gadzekpo A. & Wasserman, H. (2018). Journalism and Foreign Aid in Africa, African Journalism Studies, 39:2, 1-8, DOI: 10.1080/23743670.2018.1474121

Selected recent Publications include

Gadzekpo, A. (2014). Journalism in Ghana’s Democratic Governance: An Appraisal in Ansu-Kyeremeh, K., Gadzekpo A. and Amoakohene, M. (eds.) A Critical Appraisal of Communication Theory and Practice in Ghana. University of Ghana Reader Series. Accra: Digibooks

Gadzekpo, A and Akrofi Quarcoo, S. (2014). Establishing the Presence of Women in Ghanaian Media History in Ansu-Kyeremeh, K., Gadzekpo A. and Amoakohene, M. (eds.), A Critical Appraisal of Communication Theory and Practice in Ghana. University of Ghana Reader Series. Accra: Digibooks

Ghana: Women in Decision Making, New Opportunities, Old Story (2013) in Byerly, C. (ed.) International Handbook on Women in Journalism. Palgrave

Gadzekpo, A. (2011) “Battling Old Ghosts in Gender and African Media Research”. African Communication Research, Vol. 4. No 3. 399-410).

Gadzekpo, A. (2011) Glorifying the Huntress: Writing Women into Ghanaian History in Lauer, H. and Anyidoho K. (eds.), Reclaiming the Human Sciences and Humanity Through African Perspectives, Volume 1. Ghana: Sub-Saharan Press

Gadzekpo, A. (2010) “Global Warning or Global Warming? The Framing of Climate Change Discourses in Ghanaian newspapers,” Ghana Social Science Journal. Vol. 7. No.1

Fair, J. and Gadzekpo, A.  (2010). “Reconciling a nation: Ghanaian journalists and the reporting of human rights.” In B. Musa and J. Domatob (eds.), Communication, Culture, and Human Rights in Africa. University Press of America, pp. 51-68.

Gadzekpo, A. (2010), “Street News: The Role of Posters in Democratic Participation in Ghana,” in Wasserman, H. (ed.), Taking it to the Streets: Popular Media, Democracy and Development in Africa. Routledge, pp. 105-122    .

Gadzekpo, A. (2009), “She Made me Do It! Discursive Frames and Representations of Spousal Murders in the Ghanaian Press.” in Cusack, K. and Manuh, T. (eds.). The Architecture for Violence Against Women in Ghana. Accra: Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre, pp 265-285.

Gadzekpo, A, (2009), “Invigorating Activism to End Gender Based Violence” in Cusack, K. and Manuh, T. (eds.) The Architecture for Violence Against Women in Ghana.  Accra: Gender Studies and Human Rights Documentation Centre, pp. 317-331.

MAJOR ONGOING RESEARCH

A Critical Assessment of Media Relations, Functionality and Impact in Interventions by Civil Society Organisations Working in Peacebuilding’ – Funded by the African Peace Network through the Social Science Research Council

‘Mapping Climate Change Communication: A Case Study of Information Education and Communication in Four Ghanaian Communities,’ with Gilbert Tieetah  - Funded through the B4C Project, University of Ghana

Work on an unpublished manuscript of Ghanaian broadcast history written by a pioneering broadcaster – expected output  to include  an annotated published manuscript and two scholarly papers.

‘From Framings to Pathways:  ‘Bats and the Construction of Risk in Ghana’  and ‘The Role of the Military in the Conservation of Bats in Ghana’,  a Project led by  Linda Waldman and Hayley McGregor, Institute of Development Studies (IDS), and  funded under the IDS ‘Steps Phase 2’ Project.

SPECIAL PROJECTS (Last five years)

Trainer, Policy Engaged Research Communication, Co-designed and conducted training commissioned by Partnership for African Social and Governance Research (PASGR).

Lead Research Consultant, Best Practice and Lessons from Climate Change Adaptation Interventions Rural Communities in Ghana, funded under the Capacity to Meet the Climate Change Challenge (B4C) Project,University of Ghana.

Governance Expert-Ghana, Mwananchi Action Learning Programme on strengthening citizen engagement with governments in seven African countries, Overseas Development Institute (ODI), UK, October 2010-2013. Provided advisory services and analysed the impact of 11 civil society organisations working to strengthen the ability of ordinary citizens to demand more accountability from local elected and appointed representatives, traditional authorities, and Parliament.

Consultant, Media Monitoring of Elections in Ghana, commissioned by the National Media Commission (NMC). Analysed data and wrote report on how national and local media covered the 2012 elections period in Ghana.

Consultant, Stakeholder Analysis on the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) Programme. Commissioned by the SADA , May-December, 2011. To identify, collate and analyse the views of various governmental, non-governmental, donor and citizen stakeholders on SADA initiatives.

Consultant, Thematic Lead-Communications, STAR-Ghana Programme, supported by DFID, December 2010-Present

Consultant, Media in Peace Support Operations Pilot Course, November, 2010, co-designed and taught two modules at Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Ghana

Consultant/Researcher, Media Reportage on Transparency & Accountability Study and Media Training, commissioned by Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition, July-August 2009

Research Team Member,  Media and Climate Change, Centre for Development and the Environment (SUM), University of Oslo, Ceres 21, Sustainability for the 21st century Project from July 2008-2013.

External Boards

·         Chairperson, Panos West Africa Board

·         Member, Solidaridad Regional Board

·         Member, Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana)

·         Member, Ghana Integrity Initiative (Transparency International Local Chapter)

·         Member, Steering Committee, E4A, maternal mortality advocacy group

·         Member, Women’s Manifesto Coalition (Ghana).

·         Member, Vodafone Foundation

·         Member, Ghacem Foundation

CONTACT DETAILS

EMAIL ADDRESS: agadzepko@ug.edu.gh