Media and Politics in Asia and Africa: Reading Between the Lines

Why do the same events look different in Chinese, Japanese, and Arab media? How do media shape the political agenda of entire regions? And how to avoid falling for fake news?In the course "Media and Politics in Asia and Africa," students don't just study theory—they read real media from different countries and learn to see what's hidden behind headlines and texts. This not only develops analytical thinking but also provides practical skills useful in journalism, international relations, PR, and even everyday life. What do those who have already taken the course think? We talked to 4th-year students Maksim Ustinov and Elizaveta Ugnivenko.

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• What did you think about media in Asia and Africa before the course, and what changed afterwards?

Elizaveta: Before the course, I wasn't very interested in media and didn't attribute any contextual importance to them. I never thought about how studying and immersing oneself in a country's media is crucial for better understanding its political narrative and social climate. But after taking the course, I clearly realized the role that different media play in the politics of Asian and African countries.

• Was there a moment when you suddenly saw politics where you previously saw just content?

Maksim: Yes! The course on media in Asia and Africa taught me that any content can carry a certain political connotation. It's important to understand and identify the context surrounding a post or message. For example, a post on X with a Quranic quote might refer either to general humanitarian Islamic values or to a specific political event from the past or present.

• What part of the course stood out to you the most?

Elizaveta: The most useful and memorable part of the course, in my opinion, were the seminar sessions. Particularly the class where we analyzed news from different countries about the same event right during the session. It was fascinating to dive into the texts we were given without prior preparation and discuss them from different angles with classmates, trying to uncover the real meaning and position hidden in the rhetoric.

• How has your attitude toward social media and news outlets as texts for analysis changed?

Maksim:I confirmed for myself that social media and news outlets are a valuable source of information for researchers studying contemporary social and political processes. They provide access to up-to-date information that, in turn, reflects what is happening in a country and its society.

• What would you say to someone who thinks: "Why should I analyze TikToks from Vietnam? How will this help me in my career and life?"

Elizaveta: We live in an increasingly digitalized world where social networks—including TikTok—have become one of the most important actors in the social and political life of states and societies. We shouldn't dismiss such resources superficially.

Maksim: Analyzing "TikToks from Vietnam," "Snapchat stories from Oman," or "surfing Reels from Morocco" allows you to immerse yourself in a country's or community's current trends. Often, media and news content helps you understand deep-seated motives and goals of a group, track development trends. In today's age of content overload, the ability to critically analyze media helps you identify the most valuable and applicable information, distinguish truth from distortions and manipulations, and uncover the underlying goals and motives of media corporations.