How African online news media report on the continent
This Africa No Filter report sheds light on the reasons African news outlets need to elevate their coverage of other African countries
Through a quick scroll and a few clicks across various African and international digital publication, it is evident there seems to be very little coverage of African countries in African and international media. But actual data would be needed to back-up such a quick glance through various media.
In a new study by Africa No Filter (AFN)explored the coverage of African countries as it appeared in African media and interviewed several editors on their views on the coverage. The organisation is donor collaborative that supports the development of nuanced and contemporary stories that shift stereotypical and harmful narratives within and about Africa. Its newest research report aims to raise awareness among African media practitioners of the possibility of different, diverse coverage of Africa by Africans. The researchers hope that this study will drive a desire for a changed and more positive narrative about Africa in independent news media.
The report notes that the coverage of African countries in African media was very poor. Three key insights provide a backdrop on the need for more and better coverage of African countries in African media:
- Sources of news are an issue as 65% of the surveyed newsrooms did not have correspondents outside of their countries, while foreign news agencies accounted for majority of stories about African countries.
- The type of content published by African newsrooms feeds the stereotype as coverage was largely around hard news and it was political in nature. Politics, elections and conflict are the top topics seen in coverage.
- Quality of journalism is concerning as it gave little context, with a lack of diverse voices, especially of ordinary people.
The numbers
This research was done over a three-week period in September and October 2020. The report also included analysis of articles, an editor’s survey and focus groups. During the research’s monitoring period, the big stories were Covid-19 and the #ENDSARS protests in Nigeria, while five countries held elections during or just after the period.
A total of 56 “most influential media” from 15 countries and editors from these publications were interviewed. Surveyed countries included: Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The researchers selected and analysed content from digital publications which were previously print publications with the exception of Tunisian media, where broadcast media is the most influential. Editor’s and journalists from the surveyed publications were also were interviewed to get their perspectives on the content that appeared from their respective newsrooms.
Other interesting findings
- 45% of the editors interviewed said their publications had an Africa page as well as featured African stories on their world or international pages. About 11% said they had neither.
- Many editors acknowledged the coverage that they printed stereotypes about Africa despite the desire for good coverage.
- Western coverage on Africa is geared towards western audiences who want the ‘typical surface African story such as famine and crisis, which feeds into negative stereotypes that paint Africa as lacking agency.
- Audiences do not necessarily share an interest in stories about other African countries and broader African stories unless these stories directly affect their lives.
- Regarding regional coverage, Central Africa does not feature in any African publication/reporting. East Africa is covered the most by news outlets in Africa.
- African countries that receive the most coverage from African news outlets are Nigeria (12%), South Africa (9%) and Tanzania (7%).
- Stories that focused on African successes, innovations and technology were almost completely absent from many of the surveyed African news outlets.
Main challenges
There were a number of challenges contributing to the poor coverage of African countries in African media. Editors and journalists surveyed in the report noted that dwindling resources for independent media was the biggest challenge that hindered newsrooms from covering the continent more extensively. They said current funds only allow them to use stories published by western agencies, which often are in line with expectations of western audiences.
The data showed that agencies accounted for almost half (43%) of the stories about African countries, of which only 19% of those agency stories were from agencies based in Africa. The researchers concluded that this data shows that is it is non-Africans who set the agenda or offer perspectives on African affairs and events.
The suggested solution from the report are that African newsrooms need to make a commitment to cover better stories of Africa, that more investments need to be made in order to get diverse, nuanced coverage, and finally, networks of editors and journalist should work together to pool stories and multimedia for use in various publications.
Researchers also noted that the findings of the study cannot be examined outside the context of unequal distribution of media freedom across the continent. According to the 2020 World Press Freedom Index, Namibia, Ghana, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Botswana and Senegal ranks amongst the most free in the world, while Eritrea, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, Somalia, Burundi and Somalia are among the worst. The report states that a lack of media freedom may result in fewer resources for better media.
The good news and recommendations
The report notes that there is room for growth in the diversity of African news coverage by news outlets in Africa. Majority of the editors surveyed said they wanted more and better African content. And one of the best ways to encourage and elevate the standard of journalism is to award good and outstanding journalism in Africa.
Another way to support African storytelling would be the creation of repositories for stories and multimedia that can be freely distributed among journalists could help prevent negative stereotypes. But most importantly, good journalism requires investment and resources.
The report found great models telling nuanced, contextualised, diverse stories. These digital publications include; Nation.Africa (Kenya), Mail & Guardian (South Africa), Daily Maverick (South Africa) and The Elephant (Kenya). The report encourages collaboration between newsrooms in different countries to elevate the return on investment in outstanding journalism in Africa.
Read the full report here.
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