"This handbook enables media educators throughout Africa to raise awareness and impact the media ecology on a national and regional basis. National, regional and international media environments are crucial for the attainment of the sustainable development and the protection of human rights. This is ... because transparency and accountability are central to democracy and development. Educators in journalism, media studies, development studies, sociology, political science and similar disciplines will be able to create a new curriculum. Learners will gain a holistic understanding of the ecosystem in which democracy can thrive. The handbook will help participants understand and advocate for better media policy environments." (Short summary, page 9) more

"One-third of all African stories in news outlets on the continent are sourced from foreign news services. As a result, stories about Africa continue to be told through the same persistent and negative stereotypes and frames of poverty, disease, conflict, poor leadership and corruption. To understan ... d how the media in Africa covers Africa, we surveyed 38 African editors and analyzed content from 60 African news outlets in15 countries (Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, DRC, Egypt, Tunisia, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal) between September and October 2020. In addition, four facilitated focus groups were held with 25 editors of African media, editors of Pan African outlets and international correspondents. The results confirm challenges and experiences that are common knowledge within the industry: advertising revenue and newsrooms are shrinking, influencing the kind of news that Africans read and that news is largely negative and conflict-filled. Key findings from the report show that the sources for news gathering on African countries are problematic, the resulting content continues to feed old stereotypes, and often the quality of local journalism doesn't allow for nuanced and contextualized storytelling that is critical for telling stories about the 54 countries in Africa." (Publisher description) more