Africa's Media Image in the 21st Century: From the "Heart of Darkness" to "Africa Rising" (Communication and Society)

" Africa s Media Image in the 21st Century "is the first book in over twenty years to examine the international media s coverage of Sub-Saharan Africa. It brings together leading researchers and prominent journalists to explore representation of the continent, and the production of that image, especially by international news media. The book highlights factors that have transformed the global media system, changing whose perspectives are told and the forms of media that empower new voices. Case studies consider questions such as: how has new media changed whose views are represented? Does Chinese or diaspora media offer alternative perspectives for viewing the continent? How do foreign correspondents interact with their audiences in a social media age? What is the contemporary role of charity groups and PR firms in shaping news content? They also examine how recent high profile events and issues been covered by the international media, from the Ebola crisis, and Boko Haram to debates surrounding the "Africa Rising" narrative and neo-imperialism. The book makes a substantial contribution by moving the academic discussion beyond the traditional critiques of journalistic stereotyping, Afro-pessimism, and darkest Africa news coverage. It explores the news outlets, international power dynamics, and technologies that shape and reshape the contemporary image of Africa and Africans in journalism and global culture." Africa’s Media Image in the 21st Century - Front Cover 1 Africa’s Media Image in the 21st Century 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 List of figures 10 List of tables 11 Notes on contributors 12 Foreword by Beverly Hawk 17 Introduction: a new Africa’s Media Image? 20 Africa’s changing media image 20 The power of the image 21 A changing narrative 22 New image makers 23 Africa and geo-politics 25 Note 29 Bibliography 29 PART I: Framing Africa 34 Chapter 1: The international news coverage of Africa: beyond the “single story” 36 Methods 37 Results: topics in news agency reporting 39 Results: tone of newspaper articles 42 Conclusion 45 Notes 46 References 46 Appendix: Subjects for coding 48 Chapter 2: Media perspectives: in defence of Western journalists in Africa 49 Note 51 References 51 Chapter 3: Reporting and writing Africa in a world of unequal encounters 52 References 56 Chapter 4: Media perspectives: how does Africa get reported? A letter of concern to 60 Minutes 57 Notes 58 Chapter 5: How not to write about writing about Africa 59 What do we really know about representations of Africa? 59 Maintaining the myth of representations of Africa 64 Counter-productive claims 67 Conclusion 69 Note 69 References 69 Chapter 6: Bringing Africa home: reflections on discursive practices of domestication in international news reporting on Africa by Belgian television 71 Methodology 72 Findings 73 Concluding remarks 78 References 79 Chapter 7: The image of Africa from the perspectives of the African diasporic press in the UK 80 Introduction 80 Mainstream media coverage of Africa 80 Frames in African coverage 82 Research design 83 Conclusion 88 References 88 PART II: The image makers 90 Chapter 8: Mediating the distant Other for the distant audience: how do Western correspondents in East and Southern Africa perceive their audience? 92 The grandma, the tourist, the businessman, the political elite... 93 ...and the digitally connected Other 97 Conclusion 100 References 100 Chapter 9: Media perspectives: television reporting of Africa: 30 years on 102 Cultural chauvinism and imperial stereotypes 102 Changing news agendas 103 International reporting and local sensitivities 104 References 104 Chapter 10: Foreign correspondents in sub-Saharan Africa: their socio-demographics and professional culture 105 Who is reporting across sub-Saharan Africa? 105 How is international news reporters’ culture defined? 107 News work: what constraints limit reporters’ practices? 109 Discussion 112 Notes 113 References 113 Chapter 11: Media perspectives: reflecting on my father’s legacy in reporting Africa 115 Chapter 12: Media perspectives: We’re missing the story: the media’s retreat from foreign reporting 118 Note 120 Chapter 13: Instagram as a potential platform for alternative Visual Culture in South Africa 121 National identity and access to Visual Culture 121 Digital divide 122 Instagram: multiple narratives 123 Aesthetics and the social 124 Collective culture 128 Potential versus reality 129 References 130 Chapter 14: Media perspectives: social media and new narratives: Kenyans tweet back 132 Technology and storytelling in Kenya 132 The importance of national narratives 133 Note 134 Reference 134 Chapter 15: A “New Ghana” in “Rising Africa”? 135 Who/what is New Ghana? 136 Branding the self, rebranding the continent 138 Who and what can be heard in the New Ghana? 140 Implications 141 Notes 142 References 142 PART III: Development and humanitarian stories 146 Chapter 16: Media perspectives: is Africa’s development story still stuck on aid? 148 Bibliography 150 Chapter 17: AIDS in Africa and the British media: shifting images of a pandemic 151 Methods 151 “Death is simply a fact of life” (1987–1997) 153 AIDS as a global crisis (2000–2003) 154 Towards a depoliticalisation of AIDS (2004–2008) 158 Conclusion 159 Notes 160 References 160 Chapter 18: Media perspectives: a means to an end? Creating a market for humanitarian news from Africa 162 References 165 Chapter 19: It was a “simple”, “positive” story of African self-help (manufactured for a Kenyan NGO by advertising multinationals) 166 Corporate social responsibility, promotional cultures, and expats 168 Selling representations of African “empowerment” 170 “Dramatising reality” 172 Conclusion 173 Notes 174 References 174 Chapter 20: Media perspectives: Africa for Norway: challenging stereotypes using humour 177 Using parody as a tool for change 177 Awarding the Goldies and shaming the Rusties 178 References 179 Chapter 21: Bloggers, celebrities, and economists: news coverage of the Millennium Villages Project 180 Background on the Millennium Villages Project 181 Our study 182 Findings 182 Discussion: constraints on reporting 187 Conclusion 188 Notes 191 Bibliography 191 PART IV: Politics in the representation of Africa 194 Chapter 22: Africa through Chinese eyes: new frames or the same old lens? African news in English from China Central Television, compared with the BBC 196 News for Africa made “more African” – Africa Live and Focus On Africa TV 196 CCTV: a new type of news for Africa? 197 Framing theory with a Chinese twist 198 Harmony and stability 198 Analysing the frames 200 CCTV Africa: a different but occluded perspective 204 Note 206 References 206 Chapter 23: Media perspectives: new media and African engagement with the global public sphere 209 Civil society voices 210 Note 211 Chapter 24: Shifting power relations, shifting images 212 China–Africa media relations 214 The implications for Africa’s media image 214 Conclusion 216 Note 216 References 216 Chapter 25: Communicating violence: the media strategies of Boko Haram 219 Methodology 220 Boko Haram background 221 Media strategies 222 Cassette radicalisation 222 Mainstream media relations 223 Guerrilla media strategy 223 Direct dropping strategy 224 The online drive 225 Conclusion 226 References 227 Chapter 26: Perceptions of Chinese media’s Africa coverage 230 Note 232 Chapter 27: New imperialisms, old stereotypes 233 Trends in reporting Africa 234 New imperialisms 235 The view from global online news 237 Conclusion 239 Note 239 References 239 Chapter 28: Nollywood news: African screen media at the intersections of the global and the local 242 References 249 Index 251 From the "Heart of Darkness" to "Africa Rising" Africa's Media Image In The 21st Century Is The First Book In Over Twenty Years To Examine The International Media's Coverage Of Sub-saharan Africa. It Brings Together Leading Researchers And Prominent Journalists To Explore Representation Of The Continent, And The Production Of That Image, Especially By International News Media. The Book Highlights Factors That Have Transformed The Global Media System, Changing Whose Perspectives Are Told And The Forms Of Media That Empower New Voices. Case Studies Consider Questions Such As: How Has New Media Changed Whose Views Are Represented? Does Chinese Or Diaspora Media Offer Alternative Perspectives For Viewing The Continent? How Do Foreign Correspondents Interact With Their Audiences In A Social Media Age? What Is The Contemporary Role Of Charity Groups And Pr Firms In Shaping News Content? They Also Examine How Recent High Profile Events And Issues Been Covered By The International Media, From The Ebola Crisis, And Boko Haram To Debates Surrounding The Africa Rising Narrative And Neo-imperialism. The Book Makes A Substantial Contribution By Moving The Academic Discussion Beyond The Traditional Critiques Of Journalistic Stereotyping, Afro-pessimism, And 'darkest Africa' News Coverage. It Explores The News Outlets, International Power Dynamics, And Technologies That Shape And Reshape The Contemporary Image Of Africa And Africans In Journalism And Global Culture. -- Publisher's Description Introduction: A New Africa's Media Image? / Mel Bunce, Suzanne Franks And Chris Paterson -- Framing Africa. The International News Coverage Of Africa: Beyond The Single Story / Mel Bunce -- Media Perspectives: In Defence Of Western Journalists In Africa / Michela Wrong -- Reporting And Writing Africa In A World Of Unequal Encounters / Francis Nyamonjoh -- Media Perspectives: How Does Africa Get Reported? A Letter Of Concern To 60 Minutes / Howard French -- How Not To Write About Writing About Africa / Martin Scott -- Bringing Africa Home: Reflections On Discursive Practices Of Domestication In International News Reporting On Africa By Belgian Television / Stijn Joye -- The Image Of Africa From The Perspectives Of The African Diasporic Press In The Uk / Ola Ogunyemi -- The Image Makers. Mediating The Distant Other For The Distant Audience: How Do Western Correspondents In East And Southern Africa Perceive Their Audience? / Toussaint Nothias --^ Media Perspectives: Television Reporting Of Africa 30 Years On / Zeinab Badawi -- Foreign Correspondents In Sub-saharan Africa: Their Socio-demographics And Professional Culture -- Paulo Nuno Vicente -- Media Perspectives: Reflecting On My Father's Legacy In Reporting Africa / Salim Amin -- We're Missing The Story: The Media's Retreat From Foreign Reporting / Anjan Sundaram -- Instagram As A Potential Platform For Alternative Visual Culture In South Africa / Danielle Becker -- Media Perspectives: Social Media And New Narratives: Kenyans Tweet Back / H. Nanjala Nyabola -- A New Ghana In Rising Africa? / Rachel Flamenbaum -- Development And Humanitarian Stories. Media Perspectives: Is Africa's Development Story Still Stuck On Aid? / Eliza Anyangwe -- Aids In Africa And The British Media: Shifting Images Of A Pandemic / Ludek Stavinoha -- Media Perspectives: A Means To An End? Creating A Market For Humanitarian News From Africa / Heba Aly --^ It Was A Simple, Positive Story Of African Self-help (manufactured For A Kenyan Ngo By Advertising Multinationals) / Kate Wright -- Media Perspectives: Africa For Norway: Challenging Stereotypes Using Humour / Nikolas Poulsen Viki -- Bloggers, Celebrities, And Economists: News Coverage Of The Millennium Village Project / Audrey Arriss, Anya Schiffrin And Michelle Chahine -- Politics In The Representation Of Africa. Africa Through Chinese Eyes: New Frames Or The Same Old Lens? African News In English From China Central Television, Compared With The Bbc / Vivien Marsh -- Media Perspectives: New Media & African Engagement With The Global Public Sphere / Sean Jacobs -- Shifting Power Relations, Shifting Images Herman Wasserman -- Communicating Violence: The Media Strategies Of Boko Haram / Abdullahi Abubakar -- Media Perspectives: Chinese Media Perceptions On The Reporting Of Africa / James Wan -- New Imperialisms, Old Stereotypes / Chris Paterson --^ Nollywood News: African Screen Media At The Intersections Of The Global And The Local / Noah Tsika. Edited By Mel Bunce, Suzanne Franks, And Chris Paterson. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Africa's Media Image in the 21st Century is the first book in over twenty years to examine the international media's coverage of sub-Saharan Africa. It brings together leading researchers and prominent journalists to explore representation of the continent, and the production of that image, especially by international news media. The book highlights factors that have transformed the global media system, changing whose perspectives are told and the forms of media that empower new voices. Case studies consider questions such as: how has new media changed whose views are represented? Does Chinese or diaspora media offer alternative perspectives for viewing the continent? How do foreign correspondents interact with their audiences in a social media age? What is the contemporary role of charity groups and PR firms in shaping news content? They also examine how recent high profile events and issues been covered by the international media, from the Ebola crisis, and Boko Haram to debates surrounding the "Africa Rising" narrative and neo-imperialism. The book makes a substantial contribution by moving the academic discussion beyond the traditional critiques of journalistic stereotyping, Afro-pessimism, and 'darkest Africa' news coverage. It explores the news outlets, international power dynamics, and technologies that shape and reshape the contemporary image of Africa and Africans in journalism and global culture."--Page 4 de la couverture