Prof Phillip Santos

Phillip Santos teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Journalism and Media Technology at the Namibia University of Science and Technology. He also served as Research Associate in the Department of Strategic Communication, University of Johannesburg and has previously taught in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at the National University of Science and Technology in Zimbabwe. Phillip worked in radio and television production for 8 years in Zimbabwe. He holds a PhD from Rhodes University in South Africa and has published articles in accredited peer reviewed journals, book chapters and has co-edited two books: Reading Justice Claims on Social Media: Perspectives from the Global South as well as Global Pandemics in the Media: An African Perspective. He is the current Head of Department for Journalism and Media Technology at NUST.

Research Focus

• Political Communication

• The Mediation of Social Memory, Gender, Justice and Political Struggle

• The Socio-Cultural and Policy Implications of Transformations in Mediation

• Mediated Argumentation, Rhetoric and Political Discourse

• Mediation, Sociality, Belonging/Identity and Democratic Politics 

• Power, Populism and the Modern Imaginary

   

Community Development Activities

Reference Group – Namibian Media Ombudsman Election Reporting Media Monitoring, 2024

Publications

Edited Books

Mpofu, N., Santos, P., Ellis, H. and Mare, A.  (Eds.). 2024. Global Pandemics in the Media: An African Perspective. CODESRIA. 

Santos, P. and Muneri, C. (Eds.) 2024. Reading Justice Claims on Social Media. Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-53850-6  

Journal Articles

Santos, P. 2024. Journalism and Elections in Sub-Saharan Africa: Locating the Democratic Deficit. Fesmedia Africa. https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/africa-media/21374.pdf 

Santos, P. and Ndlovu, K. 2022. Towards a Journalism for Justice: A Normative Overture. African Journalism Studies http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2021.2009533. 

Santos, P. and Mare, A. 2021. The Reconfiguration of News Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Africa. Digital Journalism, https://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2021.1974914

Santos, P. and Ndhlovu, M. P. 2021. The Democratic Deficit in Reporting Political Crises: The Case of Zimbabwe’s 2018 Elections. Journalism https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849211012928

Ndhlovu, M. P. and Santos, P. 2021. Political Corruption in Zimbabwe: News Media, Audiences and Deliberative Democracy. Crime, Media, Culture. https://doi.org/10.1177/17416590211022416

Santos, P. 2020. Framing Robert Mugabe’s Death: A Decolonial Analysis. African Journalism Studies  https://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2020.1837898

Santos, P. 2018. Agonistic Dysfunction on Facebook in Zimbabwe: A Discourse Ethics Perspective. African Journalism Studies, 39(4): 3-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2018.1530127

Santos, P. and Ndlovu, K. 2015. ‘Democratic Unfreedom’ on Facebook in Zimbabwe. African Journalism Studies, 36(4): 145 – 163. https://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2015.1119496

Book Chapters

Links, F. and Santos, P. 2025. The Democratic Subsidy in Namibia’s Intelligence Oversight Mechanisms. In Duncan, J. and Munoriyarwa, A. (Eds.). Democratising Spy-watching. Scottish Universities Press. https://www.sup.ac.uk/forthcoming-books 

Ndlovu, K. and Santos, P. 2024. Critical Realism’s Relevance to Journalism: An Illustrative Exposition. In Santos, P. and Muneri, C. (Eds.). Reading Justice Claims on Social Media. Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-53850-6_12 

Muneri, C. T. and Santos, P. 2024. Introduction: The Challenge of Social Justice in Contemporary Society. In Santos, P. and Muneri, C. (Eds.) Reading Justice Claims on Social Media. Palgrave Macmillan. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-53850-6_1 

Santos, P. and Mare, A. 2024. Reporting and Communicating Public Health Crises in Africa: Continuities and Ruptures. In Mpofu, N., Santos, P., Ellis, H. and Mare, A. (Eds.) Global Pandemics in the Media: An African Perspective. CODESRIA. 

Santos, P. and Mare, A. 2022. The Decolonial Problematic in Journalism Ethics. In Rodny-Gumede, Y., Chasi, C. T., Jaffer, Z. and Ponono, M. (Eds.), Decolonising Journalism in South Africa: Critical Perspectives. Pretoria: UNISA Press. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003393597-3/decolonial-problematic-journalism-ethics-phillip-santos-admire-mare   

Santos, P. 2022. Coronavirus Response Asymmetries in the Global North and Global South: New Challenges and Recommendations. In Pollock, J. C. & Kovach, D. A. (Eds.), COVID-19 in International Media: Global Pandemic Perspectives. New York: Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003181705-3/coronavirus-response-asymmetries-global-north-global-south-phillip-santos 

Santos, P. 2021. The Limits of Peace Journalism in Restricted Societies: Reporting the Gukurahundi Genocide in Zimbabwe. In A. Mare and Maweu, J. (Eds.), Media, Conflict and Peacebuilding in Africa: Conceptual and Empirical Considerations. London: Routledge. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429344862-5/limits-peace-journalism-restricted-societies-phillip-santos 

Santos, P. and Ndhlovu, M. P. 2016. Media as Political Actors in Times of Political Crisis. In L. L. Mukhongo and J. W. Macharia (Eds.), Political Influence of the Media in Developing Countries. Hershey: IGI Global. https://www.igi-global.com/chapter/media-as-political-actors-in-times-of-political-crisis/143937 

Conference Presentations

Links, F. & Santos, P. 2024. Unexamined and unchecked: The systemic failure of communication surveillance oversight of the Namibia Central Intelligence Service (NCIS). Paper presented at the conference proceedings titled “Watching the watchers: Strengthening public oversight of intelligence driven surveillance” held at the University of Cape Town, South Africa from the 31^st of October to the 1^st of November, 2024. 

Santos, P. 2020. Journalism for Justice: The Cases of New Frame and The Conversation Africa. Paper Presented at the Virtual Inaugural Humanities and Social Sciences Alumni Conference: Humanities and Social Sciences in the Era of a Pandemic, November 4 - 5, National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences, Johannesburg.

Santos, P. and Mare, A. 2021. Expanding the Frame of Thinking Journalists’ Safety in Southern Africa. Paper presented at the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day Academic Conference, April 29 – May 3, Windhoek.

Workshops/Panel Discussions/Fora Talks/Guest Lectures

Panelist in a discussion on the topic “African Structural Dynamics that Shape Journalism Practice: Integrating Decolonial Perspectives to Nurture Inclusive Narratives” during the conference “Building Resilient Information Ecosystems in Southern Africa: A Conference on the Future of Journalism Education, Free Expression Advocacy and Media and Information Literacy”. 1 – 3 October 2024. [Online] Windhoek, Namibia.

Panelist on a NAMPA TV discussion programme on the topic What Namibia’s 2024 elections mean for jobs and big investments broadcast on the 12^th of September by the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation TV. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-WjuCfjXAI 

Panelist on the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation’s discussion television programme Situation Kritikal on the topic “The Role of Politicians in Promoting Voting”, broadcast on the 4^th of September 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rawzAKXNs04 

Participated on a panel discussion during the Colloquium on Jazz and Digital Technology entitled Jazz: For Peace, Dialogue, Mutual Understanding and Freedom of Expression held on the 29^th of April 2024 at the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek, Namibia.

Santos, P. 2023. Visiting Lecturer at the University of Social and Media Culture in Torun, Poland through the Erasmus Plus Mobility for Teaching Programme. 23 - 28 July 2023.

Santos, P. 2023. Introduction to Access to Information. Presentation at Namibian Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Communications Officers Training Programme. Otjiwarongo 14 March 2023 and Oshakati 20 March 2023.

Santos, P. 2023. Access to Information Implementation: Challenges and Opportunities. Presentation at Namibian Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Communications Officers Training Programme. Otjiwarongo 14 March 2023 and Oshakati 20 March 2023.

Santos, P. 2023. Media and Information Literacy. Presentation at Namibian Ministry of Information and Communication Technology Communications Officers Training Programme. Otjiwarongo, 14 March 2023 and Oshakati, 20 March 2023.

Santos, P. 2023. Participant in the ongoing consultations on media viability in Namibia organised by the Editors’ Forum of Namibia, Namibia Media Trust (NMT), Global Forum for Media Development and UNESCO-IPDC. 

Santos, P. 2021. Science Journalism. Talk Presented at World Press Freedom Day 21 – The Sidelines: Journalists Training on Digital Rights and Safety Online, 27 – 28 May 2021, Windhoek, Namibia.

Santos, P. 2021. News Media and Body Autonomy and Integrity (BAI). Talk Presented at the ARASA Regional Learning and Reflection Lab on BAI for Media, 5-7 July, 2021, Windhoek, Namibia.   

Santos, P. 2021. The Will to Commune: Young People’s Digital Solutions to Social Atomisation during COVID-19 Restrictions. Talk Presented at the Youth Opportunity Forum, Wednesday, 28 April 2021, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek.

Santos, P. 2019. Journalism in Contemporary Society. Talk Presented at The Role of the Media in Contemporary Democratic Societies Media Panel Discussion, 6 August 2019, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek.

Mare, A. & Santos, P. 2021. The Reconfiguration of News-work during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Southern Africa. Guest Lecture Presented as part of the Global Journalism: News Systems, Organisations and Actors Across the World Lecture Series. Department of Communication, University of Munster, Germany. 

Analytical Papers

Santos, P. (2025). Mis- and Disinformation in the Run-Up to Namibia’s 2024 Elections. Media Ombudsman Namibia. https://www.nmt.africa/uploads/685d718d98626/Mis-andDisInformationin2024Elections.pdf 

Santos, P. 2022. 10 Years in Review: Thematic Trends in the African Media Barometer from 2011 to 2021. Fesmedia. https://fesmedia-africa.fes.de/media-and-publications/african-media-barometer-publications

Santos, P. 2021. Southern Africa Press Freedom Report 2019-2020: Namibia. MISA Zimbabwe. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377172 

Journalism Manuals

Tibinyane, N. H., Murangi, A., Santos, P. and Njuguna, W. (2025). Guidance Note: Election Reporting for Journalists. Media Ombudsman Namibia. https://www.nmt.africa/uploads/685ed1eae9349/GuidanceNote.pdf 

Santos, P. (2024). Toolkit for Reporting Indigenous Communities in Namibia. Namibia University of Science and Technology/UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000391721?posInSet=2&queryId=6b21b3fc-167c-428c-ab68-7642533392d1 

PhD and Master's Theses

Santos, P. 2017. A Political Discourse Analysis of Social Memory, Collective Identity and Nation Building in The Sunday Mail and The Standard of Zimbabwe between 1999 and 2013. Unpublished PhD Thesis, Rhodes University. https://files.core.ac.uk/download/145039088.pdf 

Santos, P. 2011. Representing Conflict: An Analysis of The Chronicle’s Coverage of the Gukurahundi Conflict in Zimbabwe Between 1983 and 1986. https://commons.ru.ac.za/vital/access/manager/Repository/vital:3481?site_name=Rhodes+University&view=null&f0=sm_ThesisAdvisor%253A%2522Steenveld%252C+Lynette%2522&sort=sort_ss_title+desc 

Newspaper/Newsletter Publications

Santos, P. 2022. Africa’s Development Conundrum. iSpeak Monthly – March 2022. https://ispeak.africa/africas-development-conundrum/ 

Santos, P. 2021. Southern Africa: The Journalism we Need in the COVID-19. The Accent, Issue 8: 12-13.

Santos, P. 2020. The Journalism that Matters. The Accent, Issue 6: 3-4.

Santos, P. 2020. The Political Uses of Pathos in the #ZimbabweanLivesMatter Iconography. The Accent, Issue 5: 14-15.

Santos, P. 2020. Visibility, Tragedy and Injustice in News Media. The Accent, Issue 4: 13-14.

Santos, P. 2020. A Future Hinged on High Quality Content. The Accent, Issue 3: 12-13.

Santos, P. 2020. Southern Africa: Identity, Behaviour Change Communication and COVID-19. The Standard, April 29 2020. https://bit.ly/3l7M0p6

Santos, P. 2020. COVID-19: A Message from the Future. The Standard, April 5 2020. https://bit.ly/2VfxVuU

Santos, P. & Mushava, S. 2018. MDC-T Moonlighting in Mugabe’s Library. The Standard, March 11 2018. https://bit.ly/3ybwUTa 

Participated in a number of discussions on the Access to Information Bill for Namibia on Desert FM.

Projects

Research team member of the multi-country research project entitled “Public Oversight of Digital Surveillance for Intelligence Purposes: A Comparative Case Study Analysis of Oversight Practices in Southern Africa” headed by Professor Jane Duncan of the University of Glasgow. 

UNESCO Excellence in Journalism Project (2023-2024): Nourishing the grassroots: Journalism Education and Inclusive Participation for Namibia’s Marginalised Communities. Namibia University of Science and Technology.