ANF in the Press

“We’ve always known that there’s a cost to the persistent stereotypical media narratives about Africa. Now we’re able to put an actual figure to it,” said Moky Makura, executive director of Africa No Filter. “The scale of these figures underscores the urgent need to challenge [these] negative stereotypes about Africa and promote a more balanced narrative.”

The narrative of elections in Africa is typically one of the negative stereotypes that portray the continent as chaotic and illegitimate. Africa No Filter and fraycollege conducted research on how the story of elections in Africa is told. Through focus groups with senior journalists and content analysis of over 800 online articles from different African countries, we found that the words most commonly used when reporting on elections were corruption, violence, ethnic tension, unengaged youths, and fraud. The report was covered by print and online platforms across Africa, including Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, and South Africa.

The study highlights the significant cost burden that biased media coverage imposes on African nations, particularly during electoral periods, ultimately deterring foreign direct investment (FDI) in a continent known for its low default rates and high returns in strategic sectors. The report was covered extensively across Africa, in Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, while noteworthy pick-ups include Africa.com, Bizcommunity, The Guardian UK, and Nation Nigeria.

In the next few weeks the global development world, eager to rub shoulders with the powerful, will gather for high-level meetings, private invite-only events, launches and cocktails parties, all in an attempt to improve the world. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is one of six organs of the UN and provides a platform for member states to deliberate on global issues and create the policies that should hold the world together. But with the world in turmoil one can only wonder what real impact this year’s 78th convening will have.

Africa No Filter and fraycollege conducted research on how the story of elections in Africa is told. Through focus groups with senior journalists and content analysis of over 800 online articles from different African countries, we found that the words most commonly used when reporting on elections were corruption, violence, ethnic tension, unengaged youths, and fraud.

Whether you are African or a foreigner, Africa has experiences that should be on your bucket list, according to Moky Makura, Executive Director at Africa No Filter, and a founder at bird story agency. As she points out, the continent is also pulling out the stops to make its tourism world-class.

Global news coverage today plays an influential role in perpetuating negative, stereotypical perceptions about Africa. Narratives around poverty, disease, conflict, poor leadership, and corruption, in particular, are to blame, noted Abimbola Ogundairo, advocacy and campaigns lead at Africa No Filter. “There are still lazy stereotypical stories about Africa floating around. These stories lead to narratives [that] impact people,” she said.

The Global Media Index for Africa assesses and ranks *online news stories of CNN, Deutsche Welle, Russia Today, Bloomberg, Xinhua, Le Monde, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, The Economist, New York Times, VOA News, AFP, Reuters, BBC, CGTN, Financial Times, RFI, and The Washington Post. The report was covered by outlets in countries that include Cameroon, Congo, DRC Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and on Pan-African news websites.