Networking African journalism educators: bonding, bridging, and linking

Professional networking of African journalism educators is a complex matter for reasons related to the fragmentary identity and fragile resource base of this constituency. African journalism educators thus share many characteristics which ironically dilute the sense of a clear and common identity that could facilitate networking as a community. The prospects for building a social network amongst this constituency can be analysed in terms of theories of social capital and a review of various experiences. The results suggest that “bridging” to external constituencies with resources is the most fertile method of community creation, and this driver is central to building social capital via enhanced relationships in the African journalism education sector.