Global broadcast media still relying on stereotypical narratives about Africa
Africa No Filter (2022), iii, 20 pp.
Series: Academic Fellows Report
"1. International broadcast media CNNI (CNN International) , CGTN (China Global Television Network) and AJE (Al-Jazeera English) – reinforced Afro-pessimism in their coverage of Ethiopia, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe: Politics, corruption, conflict, business and economic news dominated their broadcasts, and apart from a few isolated positive business stories, the chosen themes reflected the bad and the ugly, feeding into a negative narrative. Political news was dominated by gloom and doom, supported with images suggesting hopelessness.
2. Coverage of economic news and current affairs mostly presented economic progress as externally driven, with few economic success stories: Most economic news and current affairs stories highlighted growing unemployment, economic frustrations, business challenges and mismanagement associated with poor governance and suggestions of growing economic crisis. For example, despite economic growth in Ethiopia, CGTN news focused on Chinese investment that was fuelling infrastructure development in the four countries.
3. CGTN told more positive stories than CNNI or AJE: This more positive narrative of development journalism centred on successful projects between China and each of the four countries and highlighted economic gains for them. As such, coverage shone a light on economic progress based in cooperation. However, the narrative emphasised Chinese investment more than cooperative efforts in the four African countries.
4. CGTN and AJE had more diverse content than CNNI, covering sports, environment and conservation, art, fashion and music: Although minimal, the coverage shone a light on African sporting excellence and endogenous innovations to preserve the environment, and showcased talent in art forms and fashion.
5. CGTN and AJE also had more African anchors, journalists, correspondents and analysts than CNNI: The face of journalism – key sources, journalists and presenters – improved the public's perception of CGTN and AJE coverage. In addition, AJE gave voice to ordinary people, capturing and telling their experiences in its news and current affairs stories, through real time interactive social media participation during its broadcasts.
6. CNNI told fewer stories about the four countries, compared to CGTN and AJE: African countries remained marginal in CNNI, and when coverage was provided, it mainly focused on adverse political events." (Key insights, page iii)
2. Coverage of economic news and current affairs mostly presented economic progress as externally driven, with few economic success stories: Most economic news and current affairs stories highlighted growing unemployment, economic frustrations, business challenges and mismanagement associated with poor governance and suggestions of growing economic crisis. For example, despite economic growth in Ethiopia, CGTN news focused on Chinese investment that was fuelling infrastructure development in the four countries.
3. CGTN told more positive stories than CNNI or AJE: This more positive narrative of development journalism centred on successful projects between China and each of the four countries and highlighted economic gains for them. As such, coverage shone a light on economic progress based in cooperation. However, the narrative emphasised Chinese investment more than cooperative efforts in the four African countries.
4. CGTN and AJE had more diverse content than CNNI, covering sports, environment and conservation, art, fashion and music: Although minimal, the coverage shone a light on African sporting excellence and endogenous innovations to preserve the environment, and showcased talent in art forms and fashion.
5. CGTN and AJE also had more African anchors, journalists, correspondents and analysts than CNNI: The face of journalism – key sources, journalists and presenters – improved the public's perception of CGTN and AJE coverage. In addition, AJE gave voice to ordinary people, capturing and telling their experiences in its news and current affairs stories, through real time interactive social media participation during its broadcasts.
6. CNNI told fewer stories about the four countries, compared to CGTN and AJE: African countries remained marginal in CNNI, and when coverage was provided, it mainly focused on adverse political events." (Key insights, page iii)
