The Role of Press in the Politics of Knowledge in Development: Challenges of Creating ‘Alternatives’ in Media

Abstract

Media is an integral part of any society. In modern societies where it has grown so much, it becomes very important to pay attention to the role of media in constructing the social. This article discusses how the role of press in establishing the hegemony of the modern-industrial west works through the politics of news, establishing the hierarchies in the politics of knowledge in general and therefore also in the project of development. It argues that in post-colonial societies, the latter includes a process of marginalization of already existing knowledge systems, for long and more commonly referred to as ‘traditional knowledges’. Exploring initiatives in creating counters to mainstream media, the article also invites a problematization of the category of ‘alternative media’ as a true alternative presenting peoples’ perspectives on development.