Africa: Media. Politics. Technology

As I prepare to step back from frontline reporting, I wanted to share this conversation I had with my friend Frenny Jowi about journalism and why I believe the media on the continent should default to a crisis mode.

The Africa Journalism and Media Summit is an annual congregation of stakeholders from the media, academia, government, civil society and business organized by the Zimbabwe Centre for Media and Information Literacy (ZCMIL) with support from the Konrad Adenuer Stiftung. The summit is inclusive, collaborative and interactive and enables participants from Zimbabwe and Africa in general, to exchange knowledge and ideas about the role journalism and media plays in shaping democracy while they map out strategies for building strong and resilient media institutions that foster a vibrant civil society. This year's hybrid edition of the Africa Journalism and Media Summit will be held under the theme “Journalism and Democracy in a ‘Post-News' World: Promises and Perils” and will take place from 31 Aug. - 2 Sept. 2022 in BULAWAYO, ZIMBABWE https://www.facebook.com/events/d41d8cd9/africa-journalism-media-summit-2022/1096768577715761/

The state of Media Viability and Innovation in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, a research by Media Innovation Centre at the Aga Kahn University in Nairobi in collaboration with the DW Akademie. Featuring: Carol Beyanga (UGANDA) – Head of Mentorships, Partnerships and Monetization at Nation Media Group Henry Maina (KENYA) – Lecturer University of Nairobi, Media Complaints Commissioner, former Regional Director of Article 19 Tony Kirita (TANZANIA) – Founder, The Chanzo Initiative (online news platform)

The state of Media Viability and Innovation in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, a research by Media Innovation Centre at the Aga Kahn University in Nairobi in collaboration with the DW Akademie. Featuring: Rose Kimani (KENYA) – Project Manager, DW Akademie oseph Elunya (UGANDA) – Director, Centre for Investigative Journalism, Uganda

The state of Media Viability and Innovation in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, a research by Media Innovation Centre at the Aga Kahn University in Nairobi in collaboration with the DW Akademie. Featuring: Hesbon Hansen Ochieng Owilla (KENYA) – Research Associate, AKU-GSMC Philip Mwaniki (KENYA) – Head of Digital, Royal Media Services (RMS) Tony Kirita (TANZANIA) – Founder, The Chanzo Initiative (online news platform)

The state of Media Viability and Innovation in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, a research by Media Innovation Centre at the Aga Kahn University in Nairobi in collaboration with the DW Akademie. Featuring: Njoki Chege (KENYA) – Director, Media Innovation Centre, Nairobi Hesbon Hansen Ochieng Owilla (KENYA) – Research Associate, Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU-GSMC)

The latest report by Africa No Filter investigates news and content about business in Africa and the impact of perceptions about Africa as a business and investment destination. It also identifies information and news gaps that offer alternative framing for business in Africa. The report shows another ‘scramble for Africa' by foreign powers is underway in international media and that keywords, stories, frames, and narratives associated with business on the continent are dangerously distorted. There is an overemphasis on the role of governments, foreign powers, and larger African states alongside an under appreciation of the role of young people, women, entrepreneurs, creative businesses, smaller successful African states, and Africa's future potential. https://africanofilter.org/the-business-in-africa-narrative-report

Dube Divine CEO is the CEO of The Citizen Bulletin He's an alumnus of the JSK Fellowship at Stanford University. Relevant links: https://www.thecitizenbulletin.com/ https://medium.com/@divine_dube

Sipho Kings is the Editorial Director at The Continent Twitter:@SiphoKings @thecontinent_

Democracy & Media series. Episode 8: Laura Miti - Executive Director Alliance for Community Action by Dickens Olewe

Odanga Madung is a Mozilla Fellow, he is the co-founder of Odipo Dev, a data Consultancy in Nairobi. He researches the impact the internet in having in societies in Africa. Twitter: @Odangaring Relevant links: In Kenya, Influencers Are Hired to Spread Disinformation https://www.wired.com/story/opinion-in-kenya-influencers-are-hired-to-spread-disinformation/

Editor of The Gambia's Standard newspaper Relevant links: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-45917294

Moudwe Daga is researching Recognition Theory/Frantz Fanon & Race in IR Theory/Statehood in Central Africa/Chad at SOAS University of London

Sekou Owino is the Head of Legal & Training at Nation Media Group Limited in Kenya Relevant links: Judiciary and informed citizenry the vanguards of our constitution https://nation.africa/kenya/blogs-opinion/opinion/judiciary-and-informed-citizenry-the-vanguards-of-our-constitution-3526582

Joseph Asunka is the CEO of Afrobarometer, starting his term from April 2021. Twitter: @joeasunka Relevant links: Democracy in Africa: Demand, supply, and the ‘dissatisfied democrat' https://afrobarometer.org/publications/pp54-democracy-africa-demand-supply-and-dissatisfied-democrat

Dr. Roselyn Akombe is the Governance and Peacebuilding Regional Coordinator at UNDP's Regional Service Centre for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with additional offices in Dakar, Senegal and Nairobi, Kenya and serving 45 Country Offices. Twitter: @DrRoselynAkombe Relevant links: A renewed discourse on managing inclusive transitions in Africa https://www.accord.org.za/analysis/a-renewed-discourse-on-managing-inclusive-transitions-in-africa/

Moky Makura is the Executive Director of Africa No Filter. She was born in Nigeria, educated in England and has lived in London, Johannesburg and Lagos. Twitter:@mokymakura Relevant links:How not to write about an African election https://www.theafricareport.com/126182/how-not-to-write-about-an-african-election/ How African media covers Africa http://www.africanofilter.org/research-how-african-media-covers-africa

Chair, FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION, AFRICA

Dominant narratives about the contemporary problem of “fake news” and cyber-propaganda have focused on how its evolution and manifestation has been closely linked with the rise of populist politics, digital capitalism, the transformation of the public sphere and structural weaknesses of liberal and mainstream media. These narratives often use the Western gaze as an analytical and theoretical toolkit to understand a global phenomenon, thereby missing local specificities and nuances. Read the full article by Admire Mare and Hayes Mabweazara https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23743670.2020.1788295

'Travelling While Black' with Nanjala Nyabola. A conversation hosted by Housmans bookshop

The Covid-19 crisis has been the big story of 2020 but how has Africa handled the pandemic, and amid the serious set backs have there also been some digital and technical gains? What opportunities will the African Continental Free Trade Area bring after it comes into effect in January 2021? How can Africa take charge of its own climate change policies? And is the continent ready for the fourth Industrial Revolution? These are some of the questions that the guest panel of Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Rebecca Enonchong, Professor Ken Opalo and Professor Landry Signé address with presenter Dickens Olewe as they look back at the issues and trends in Africa over the past year, and discuss what 2021 might bring. This episode was first broadcast on the BBC Africa Today podcast

I was interviewed as part of Constructive Institute's 24-hours Future of Journalism Conference. Africa Rising? Africa Hopeless? No, Africa Being. https://constructiveinstitute.org/

Nelson is the Director of Programmes at #DefyHateNow. More about him here https://defyhatenow.org/our-team/#kenya

Akinyi Ochieng is a writer and marketer working in the tech and financial services industries. She is based in New York. More here www.akinyiochieng.com Towards An Anti-Racist Workplace: Tools and Strategies to Support Black Employees https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/towards-an-anti-racist-workplace-tools-and-strategies-to-support-black-employees-a83c4f38c9ef

Dr Richard Ayah: Public Health in times of Covid-19 by Dickens Olewe

Simon Allison - Mail & Guardian South Africa: Reporting Covid-19 & publishing on WhatsApp by Dickens Olewe

Verah Okeyo & Esther Nakkazi: Reporting Covid-19 in Kenya and Uganda by Dickens Olewe

"#Africa

Lydia Matata is a Kenyan filmmaker and independent journalist.

She’s a multimedia journalist and trainer who spent four years with the BBC and currently is a media consultant. She has been nominated for 3 Annual Journalism Excellence Awards in Kenya. She has worked in East African, England, and Malaysia. Frenny has been a producer, radio presenter and reporter who has covered a variety of specialities, including technology, the environment, arts and culture, business, and politics. She also is an expert in social media trends and strategy. More here: http://frennyjowi.com/

Odanga Madung - Data journalist at OdipoDev - Kenya by Dickens Olewe

Ambassador Wu recently sat down with BBC journalist Dickens Olewe for an interview at the embassy in Nairobi. During the interview, they discussed some of the most sensitive issues that confront the China-Kenya relationship today. Dickens joins Eric to provide a bit of background on how he was able to secure the interview and what he thought of Ambassador Wu’s responses to questions about transparency, racism and whether China is engaging in predatory lending in Africa.

Nanjira Sambuli is a Kenyan researcher, writer, policy analyst, advocacy strategist and musician. She is currently the Digital Equality Advocacy Manager at the World Wide Web Foundation.

So a couple of weeks ago I tried to bring together three of my favourite Kenyans for a special podcast episode. Well, I managed to get two - Ory Okolloh, a well known commentator on matters Kenya, and Nanjala Nyabola, writer and political analyst. We talked about activism, tech, politics, the media in Africa and much more. It's a really good listen. I also managed to speak to Nanjira Sambuli - my other favourite Kenyan - so watch out for that episode as well.

I reached out to Mutuma to discuss this article. Though they gang up against it, Kenyan media will thrive https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/Kenyan-media-will-thrive/440808-5324026-g3p0w8/index.html

Journalist, documentary filmmaker, speaker, and media innovator. Asha is the Special Projects Editor at Kenya's leading broadcaster; Citizen Television. More about her https://www.ashamwilu.com/

China is Kenya's biggest trading partner but the East African country has been borrowing a lot from the Asian giant to fund its infrastructure projects, this has created a lot of concern that Kenya is borrowing beyond its means. I asked China's Ambassador to Kenya, Wu Peng about the funding for the second phase of the Standard Gauge Railway - China's largest funded project in the country- whose viability is being questioned. The interview also covers debt trap diplomacy, funding for the Lamu coal power plant, trade imbalance and more.

Bonus Episode: Too Early For Birds -Tom Mboya Edition by Dickens Olewe

An expert discussion that addresses the importance of media and communication to development, the roots of the media crisis in developing countries and the impacts on media and society at a country level in the Global South. Chair: Julie Posetti - Senior Research Fellow, University of Oxford Speakers: Dickens Olewe, BBC journalist - JSK Journalism Fellow Stanford University Mira Milosevic, Director, Global Forum For Media Development Thomas Hughes, Executive Director, ARTICLE 19 Gwen Lister, Founding Editor, The Namibian

Loic Forget - La Sentinelle in Mauritius - Drone journalism, business model, press freedom by Dickens Olewe

Brenda Wambui -Otherwise Podcast - Podcasting in Kenya by Dickens Olewe

In November 2019 the East African Community will mark 20 years since the signing of a treaty to re-establish the organisation after it collapsed in 1977. The regional body has six members - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. To assess what the region has achieved, its challenges and what the future holds for it, I spoke with veteran journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo following his special series of articles about the East African Community.

In November 2019 the East African Community will mark 20 years since the signing of a treaty to re-establish the organisation after it collapsed in 1977. The regional body has six members - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. To assess what the region has achieved, its challenges and what the future holds for it, I spoke with veteran journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo following his special series of articles about the East African Community.

In November 2019 the East African Community will mark 20 years since the signing of a treaty to re-establish the organisation after it collapsed in 1977. The regional body has six members - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. To assess what the region has achieved, its challenges and what the future holds for it, I spoke with veteran journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo following his special series of articles about the East African Community.

In November 2019 the East African Community will mark 20 years since the signing of a treaty to re-establish the organisation after it collapsed in 1977. The regional body has six members - Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan. To assess what the region has achieved, its challenges and what the future holds for it, I spoke with veteran journalist Charles Onyango-Obbo following his special series of articles about the East African Community.

Verah Vashti Okeyo - Nation Media Group - Ethnographic Journalism by Dickens Olewe

Dr Kate Wright - Uni of Edinburgh - Who is Reporting Africa Now? by Dickens Olewe

Musikilu Mojeed - Editor Premium Times - Covering Nigeria elections by Dickens Olewe

John-Allan Namu - Co-founder Africa Uncensored - Reporting the Dusit terror attack by Dickens Olewe

Journalism Innovation in Africa.

Journalism Innovation in Africa.