Africa is besieged for generations with negative media coverage. In my country, Kenya, we have had two pivotal events bringing the work of the media into sharp attention. The first was the presidential elections of 2007. By the time the presidential results were announced, the nation was in disarray and people took weapons to hack one another.

Neighbors who had lived together for years suddenly became sworn enemies, killing each other mercilessly. Hundreds of thousands fled their homes to create what we call internally displaced persons and over 1000 people lost their lives in the mayhem. We cannot comprehensively aggregate the property lost, the lives shattered, the destruction that followed in the wake of those events.

The Media Criticized

Retrospectively, many observers of the events at the time say the media had a strong role to play in fuelling false expectations or in fuelling ethnic animosity. Indeed, it comes as no surprise that one of the indicted at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the post-election violence is a radio presenter of a radio station broadcasting in local lingua.

In the next election held earlier this year, 2013, the media was very careful about predictions, and preempting the results of the election. They largely kept silent and interestingly, they still came under heavy criticism for this silence.

In the same season, Kenyans on social media were very vocal stating that they had no tolerance for international journalists in the country. The general thread being foreign journalists, specifically those from Western countries come with negative eye goggles to report on African events.

The cry was against generally presenting an Africa of highly malnourished babies, and one of nothing except greed, genocide, bad governance, and wanton crimes against humanity. There resentment towards that type of journalism is growing with many feeling fatigued of being portrayed as a continent filled with rot and decay.

Can Africa Create Her Own Voice?

Obviously, Africa's image has a greater challenge than just media and professional journalism. It is a well known fact that he who pays the piper calls or dictates the tune. There is nowhere this is more starkly clear than in media management in Africa.

A recent incident in Uganda brings this out very well. Government operatives protesting a story seen as anti the establishment raided a major media house. Obviously, there is more to this account than appears on the pages of the newspapers and TV screens.

In its most simplistic presentation, if we assume the owner of the media house is in media as a business meant to generate profit, the company can ill afford such raids. Subsequently the journalists will tend to turn a blind eye to malpractices. Following closely behind the silence of the media is gross acts of impunity. Thus the really untidy and unpleasant can only increase. A media house bent on profit also has little time for features and documentaries to paint a positive picture if such reporting will not pay the bills.

In its more complex form, Africa still depends a lot on the West for financial resources. If I was to write an account of my village town and go to all the successful women in business, youth in small-scale industry who are thriving at their level, is there any chance of ever getting funding to that village?

Which brings me to my question, what then is the role of media in Africa? To maintain the ugly picture for economic expediency, or to shine a torch on the negatives and keep us looking very bad to any observer? In either case the writer and the national economy stands to gain. Therefore, does the media have any place in changing the perception of wide-spread rot in Africa? Can they paint a new picture?

An important question raised.  I think when Africans take it upon themselves as some fellows in Cokoye here do (by replies on some posts here http://cokoye.com/society-discussions-forums/) to educate foreigners about Africa in media then can the right perception of Africa's continent by foreigners be seen. Judging by what I have read these foreigners are writing, it seems that many foreigners that write or talk about Africa thought Africa is a country not knowing is a continent. That is why War in sierra leon means Africa is in war, famine in Niger means Africa is in famine.

Quote from: Christian Okoye on 2013-06-03 21:53
An important question raised.  I think when Africans take it upon themselves as some fellows in Cokoye here do ... to educate foreigners about 'Africa' in media then can the right perception of Africa's continent by foreigners be seen. Judging by what I have read these foreigners are writing, it seems that many foreigners that write or talk about Africa thought Africa is a country not knowing is a continent. That is why War in sierra leon means Africa is in war, famine in Niger means Africa is in famine.

Interesting observation. So does the media in Africa even have any idea about their power to educate or mis-educate (pardon the created word) or are they too busy following after politicians to realize that they are the face of all the events in 'Africa' the continent, and 'Africa' the individual countries with all their diversity?

An important thing to know about media is that good or positive news don't sale, news has to be negative for it to sell or attract attention, and unfortunately Africa is easily pick for such news. For example if you observe Cokoye when member start positive thread it won't be given much attention, but when negative one is started whether against gender or town or country a lot of users will like to have their say, before you know it, it will become most view topic of the day.
I think this is how human nature is weird. 

Quote from: Christian Okoye on 2013-06-26 11:58
An important thing to know about media is that good or positive news don't sale, news has to be negative for it to sell or attract attention, and unfortunately Africa is easily pick for such news. I think this is how human nature is weird [sic]. 

Africa! Is is true that in Africa if there are ululations for a new born no one will go to welcome the new baby and when there are screams because a man and wife are fighting physically we will rush to see? In my knowledge, as Africans we are happier to go to the place of jubilation particularly because there is the potential of a feast. Africa loves a feast and a celebration.

The idea of pooling together when there is tragedy is very foreign. That is why there are very few large charity groups in Africa, but charity is BIG business in the West. They love tragedy, and pain, and agony, and disaster. Africa once only loved a feast, a party, a celebration, a good harvest. Oh how we have lost the ability to be happy. Tragedy was shared in whispers or not at all.

However, as you rightly say, good news as we are taught in Journalism 101 is not news. News is when trouble happens. That is a definition that was once foreign to Africa, but we are now embracing and trying to make it our own. 

Quote from: Aptword on 2013-06-26 15:37
....In my knowledge, as Africans we are happier to go to the place of jubilation particularly because there is the potential of a feast. Africa loves a feast and a celebration.

The idea of pooling together when there is tragedy is very foreign. That is why there are very few large charity groups in Africa, but charity is BIG business in the West. They love tragedy, and pain, and agony, and disaster. Africa once only loved a feast, a party, a celebration, a good harvest. Oh how we have lost the ability to be happy. Tragedy was shared in whispers or not at all....

You raised an important issue that foreigners should note about Africa.
I agree with you that bad news celebration is alien to Africa, is borrowed culture. Our fore fathers always had good news and stories to share, all positive and uplifting of African people.

These days many African folks after studying/schooling outside Africa tend to bring so many unpleasant cultures and attitudes that don't fit into Africans culture, unfortunately people embrace them and call it civilization.