Carole Phiri-Chibbonta is an academic scholar and faculty member in the Department of Media and Communication Studies at the University of Zambia (UNZA) which she joined in 2003. Prior to joining UNZA, Carole trained as a print journalist and worked for the Zambia News Agency (ZANA), since merged with Zambia Information Services (ZIS) to form the current Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS).
In her current role as lecturer at UNZA, Carole teaches and mentors students pursuing degrees in journalism, public relations, advertising and mass communication.
Carole holds a Bachelor of Mass Communication degree from UNZA, a Master of Arts degree from the School of Journalism at Cardiff University, Wales and specializes in communication theory, media practices, and field research. She is a fellow of the Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSI) programme for scholars in journalism, technology and democracy. Her academic research focuses heavily on how media works in society and how educators adapt to new technologies. Her primary research interests include Community Media, Media Anthropology, Digital and Online Education, Power in Media and Public Health Communication.
Carole is a member of the Southern African Communication Association (SACOMM) and the International Association of Media and Communication Researchers (IAMCR).
Peer-Reviewed Journals
- Phiri-Chibbonta, C., Muchangwe, R., & Mambwe, E. (2025). Teaching journalism and mass communication during the COVID-19 pandemic: Zambian lecturers’ experiences of the transition to online instruction. Discover Education, 4(1), 198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-025-00624-1
- Hamusokwe, B. N., Ncube, L., Phiri-Chibbonta, C., Tembo, J., & Mambwe, E. (2024). The Reproduction of Power and Jargon in COVID-19 Coverage in Zambian Media: An Analysis of the Zambia Daily Mail and Mwebantu. Journalism Practice, 18(3), 642–657. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2022.2048204
- Chibbonta, C., Muchangwe, R., & Mambwe, E. (2022). Online Instruction of Journalism, Media and Communication in times of COVID-19: Examining Lecturers Experiences from Zambia. Reimagining Journalism Education in the Age of Change. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/364946762_Online_Instruction_of_Journalism_Media_and_Communication_in_times_of_COVID-19_Examining_Lecturers_Experiences_from_Zambia
- Reichman, B. L., Pradhan, A., El Bssawmai, S., Zaliznyak, Y., Phiri-Chibbonta, C., & Reader, B. (2015). Cultural Relativism and Community Journalism: Snapshots of the State of Community Journalism in Five Developing Nations. Grassroots Editor & Community Journalism, 56(1), 11-24. https://tccjtsu.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/cultural-relativism_0.pdf
- Community Media
- Media Anthropology
- Digital and Online Education
- Power in Media
- Public Health Communication