Prosper Kofi Senyo

Prosper Kofi Senyo is a Ph.D. candidate in Information and Media at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism. Prosper’s primary research examines the social structures that shape the public sphere. Based on insights from the interplay between liberal democracy and Chieftaincy values in Ghana, Prosper is developing a theoretical framework that explores how cultural pluralism and the concept of change, influences communication structures and phenomena across different media systems. Prosper’s research and scholarship is supported by fellowships from sources, including, the Alliance for African Partnership, YALI-Mandela Washington Fellows Program, the Institute for Ubuntu Thought and Practice, and the Michigan State University Dissertation Completion fund.

Prior to joining the doctoral program, Prosper earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies (First Class Honors) and a Master of Arts in Development Communication—both from the Ghana Institute of Journalism—where he was recognized as valedictorian. Prosper is also a recipient of the Lebanese Academic Merit Scholarship which honors exceptional scholars pursuing undergraduate studies in Ghana’s universities.

Professionally, Prosper served as Corporate Communication Executive for Universal Motors Limited and Nissan Auto Parts Limited, overseeing strategic media relations for global automotive brands in Ghana such as Volkswagen, Nissan and Porsche. He also held editorial and public affairs roles at the Institute of International Affairs, Ghana (GhIIA.org), where he engaged with African political discourse in a global context.

Prosper's research interests sit at the intersection of media and democracy. Specifically, he is concerned with the role of the public sphere, as a normative force for good governance in African democracies. He is interested in conceptualizing both the structural boundaries of the public spheres in African democracies and the specific communicative practices that take place within them, particularly, journalistic norms and news values. 

As an instructor and mentor, Prosper has taught a wide range of courses at Michigan State University and he is committed to fostering critical inquiry, ethical reasoning, and civic-minded media practice. His teaching and research are united by a deep investment in institutional reform, public trust, and the future of journalism education in the Global South.