Media Newsletter – 4 August

Take a deep dive into the stereotypical narrative of Africa, get a boost to turn your media start-up into a thriving business and find out how you can earn money to tell alternative stories of Africa.

1. Journalism Trends: There has never been a better time to tell stories that represent Africa better - audiences have bad news fatigue, and the Africans in communities and global stages are proving that there’s more than conflict, disease, poor leadership, poverty and corruption. But what does it mean to shift narratives through compelling storytelling, and how can journalists start reporting Africa beyond stereotypes? Our latest handbook, Why Change the Way We Write About Africa? A storyteller’s guide to reframing Africa hopes to close the gap between mainstream and alternative stories of Africa by deep diving into narrative. It defines narrative, why it matters and provides a historical context to stereotypical narratives of Africa, from political events to literature, music and film. It also includes a checklist of practical suggestions on how journalists can be their own watchdogs by consciously avoiding stereotypes in the words and images used to tell a story, and applying ethical storytelling principles.

2. Who’s funding? Are you a media start-up based in Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania? Applications are now open for the Aga Khan University and Media Innovation Centre’s Innovators-in-Residence program. The 12-month incubation and accelerator have a $20,000 fund and provides mentorship, training, and coaching. Deadline: 31 Aug. More info.

3. Training Opportunities: Learn about climate science and climate journalism including how to spot information and human-centered reporting, in a four-week course called How to Cover the Climate Crisis — and Fight Disinformation by the Knight Center. The online course will be held from August 8 – September 4. More info.

4. In the Spotlight: Investigative journalists Celina Runako and Henry Mhango’s exposé on how Chinese content creators encouraged and recorded Malawian children chanting racial slurs against Black people in Mandarin. Some people in the videos were told they were filmed for charitable organisations. The video that led to the arrest of one content creator was shot in February 2020, and part of many others that are reportedly circulating in China — filmed using African children and featuring content creators sharing their racist views. The report shows how poverty, social media, and language are used to exploit African children for social media content and profit as the videos were sold for $10 to $70. The BBC Eye on Africa report - a collaboration with a Chinese journalist - tracked the digital footprint of a content creator and used Google Earth to locate where the video was shot. Runako is the founder of Black Livity China. The organisation documents the experiences of people of African descent in China. Mhango is a freelance journalist who reports for the likes of the BBC and The Telegraph. Watch the report.

5. Stories that moved us: Dakar is going to be home to what will be one of the most important museums in Africa when the Bët-bi museum opens in 2025. It will house some of Africa’s most important contemporary and historic art and cultural relics. The museum will also be a piece of art as it’s being designed by Nigerien architect Mariam Issoufou Kamara, the award-winning global luminary known for work inspired by Africa’s rich architectural heritage. Read more.

Women’s voices are underrepresented in the media. We’re disrupting this status quo through the African Stories: A guide for journalists on how to tell better stories about Africa course. It’s a partnership with the Thomson Foundation. It’s digital and free. Complete and get paid to publish alternative stories about African women by African women on bird.