Ouagadougou: The President of Joseph Ki-Zerbo University, Professor Jean-François Kobiané, inaugurated a significant three-day conference in Ouagadougou on Thursday, focusing on “Information and communication practices in a changing society.” This event aims to bring together academics and practitioners to discuss the profound developments affecting information dissemination and access.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the conference, chaired by Professor Kobiané, is a pivotal scientific gathering aimed at analyzing contemporary challenges related to misinformation. Prof. Kobiané emphasized the critical role of information and communication in addressing these challenges, especially in the current climate of Burkina Faso. He highlighted the need for a multidisciplinary approach involving researchers in information and communication sciences, legal experts, and NTIC specialists to propose solutions to societal issues.
The conference is organized by the Media and Organizational Communication Laborator
y (LAMCO) at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University’s Doctoral School of Letters, Human Sciences and Communication (ED-LESCHO). Professor Gabin Korbeogo, the director of ED-LESCHO, noted the conference’s importance in fostering reflection and contributing to societal development through research.
Dr. Firmin Gouba, head of the LAMCO laboratory and president of the organizing committee, outlined the conference’s structure, which includes four key areas of discussion. These focus on new forms of information production and consumption, citizen expression, corporate governance challenges posed by digital networks, and the need to reinvent communication professions in crisis contexts.
The event features multiple presentations from speakers representing eight countries across Africa and beyond. The inaugural conference session, delivered by Professor Serge Théophile Balima, explored the necessity of reinventing communication professions in response to technological and societal changes, while maintaining enduring principles.