In his new book, The Ethics of Engagement (Oxford University Press), Herman Wasserman explores the ethics of the media in conflicts that arise during transitions to democracy in Africa. He examines the roles, responsibilities, and obligations of media in contexts of high socioeconomic inequality. In doing so, he looks at ethnic and racial polarization in the histories of colonialism, post-colonial authoritarianism, and hybrid regimes. Herman Wasserman is a professor of media studies and director of the Centre for Film and Media Studies, University of Cape Town. A former journalist, Wasserman has published widely on media, democracy, and ethics in Africa. He is editor-in-chief of the journal African Journalism Studies.