How to Report on Africa Responsibly

Perceptions of Africa remain inaccurate due to the way the continent is portrayed within news coverage. These practices, irresponsible as they are, play a large role in reinforcing negative, stereotypical views about the many nations that comprise it. Stories about Africa often lazily depict it as a continent plagued by disease, poor leadership, and pervasive corruption. Western journalism is partly responsible, perpetuating a colonialist mindset by focusing solely on the negative aspects of Africa and leaving it at that. While exposing problems is a journalist's duty, failing to also highlight the less dire realities can ultimately do more harm than good.

Challenges and Changes in Covering Africa

Many of the countries in Africa continue to operate in highly restrictive legal environments, so journalists and small publishers covering Africa face the possibility of being targeted under defamation and sedition laws. A given government may also exert strong control over news production. Journalistic labor in Africa is often wrought with economic challenges too; jobs are unstable and often poorly paid. Therefore, those journalists usually plan to seek out supplemental income while covering the continent. Due to the existing economic challenges, they may be tempted by bribes in return for favorable coverage as well.

While radio remains the primary medium for delivering news in most of Africa, the rise of mobile internet and wireless digital technologies have drastically changed the continent’s media ecosystems. While radio remains the primary source of news in rural areas with lower literacy rates, technological advancements in wireless and digital media have broadened access to both domestic and international outlets in other regions. This shift has fostered a more participatory form of journalism. Mobile internet has also increased citizens’ participation in news reporting; crowdfunding is a common way for independent media outlets to gain traction.

The Global Media Index for Africa (GMA)

Launched by the University of Cape Town (UCT), the GMA tracks how 20 of the world’s most influential news publications report on news related to Africa with an emphasis on the trends and biases related to it. The initiative is in collaboration with Africa No Filter, a non-profit organization that strives to challenge and reshape harmful narratives about Africa. UCT is also partnering with The Africa Center in New York, which offers a gateway to connect with contemporary Africa. The GMA is a pioneering initiative that seeks to improve the way harmful narratives are spread, changing them into new and progressive narratives reported on the continent. Its objective is to help newsrooms produce more responsible coverage of Africa and get media outlets to acknowledge the significant influence their coverage can have on foreign investment and global policy related to the continent.

These are a few key highlights to take away from the GMA. 

Firstly, the study revealed that global news organizations continue to predominantly feature powerful men as the primary sources in their coverage of Africa. This shows that men very much continue to dominate news coverage around the content. The GMA also revealed that global media still largely treats Africa as a country, considering that most of the global media in the index merely covered a handful of African countries in depth in their reports. Additionally, the stories often lacked the perspectives of ordinary Africans, with reporting still heavily centered on the voices of powerful elites, both local and international.

Ordinary citizens and other traditionally marginalized voices such as women are also given very little attention. The main takeaway from the initiative is that there is a great need for more nuanced and responsible reporting that is more inclusive of diverse voices and perspectives. Shifting the focus to their voices and away from harmful narratives could encourage the media to recognize its impact on global perceptions, foreign investment, and policy related to Africa.