Paper short abstract:

This paper reflects upon the methodological and ethical challenges of the project "Africa's Voices" aimed at surveying public opinion through SMS and interactive radio. The discussion will be framed on the wider question of how ICTs are promoting new forms of political participation in Africa.

Paper long abstract:

In several African countries, radio stations communicate with their audiences online or through mobile phones during talk shows or for audience research. These technologies can also be used to gather audiences' opinions on social and governance issues using polls. In this context, SMS offer an easy and accessible way to collect opinions in a short period of time. Large numbers of SMS can be stored and managed using software (e.g., FrontlineSMS) installed in stations computers connected to a modem. The potential of these technical innovations to create spaces for public consultation and debate between journalists, citizens and other political actors is explored in "Africa's Voices". This one year pilot is guided by a quasi-experimental approach to develop a tailored methodology for opinion polling in radio stations in Africa. The first insights of the project lead to fundamental questions related to perceptions and effects of ICT based polls on stations and communties. How stations interact with new M4D tools to create spaces for community participation? In which formats audiences tend to express their opinions using SMS and why? How important is confidentiality and anonymity to African audiences? What kind of topics generate more engagement from the audiences and journalists? Are existing social cleaveages being reinforced by "Africa's Voices"? The project offers a basis to discuss these questions and reflect on how debates generated by "Africa's Voices" can shape social representations and identities and empower citizens by giving them a "voice" that may spread to other forms of political participation.