Be more positive about Africa, journalists told

Dr Ben Nnamdi Emenyenu, a Nigerian media analyst, said Africa's media should show the positives of the continent without neglecting their responsibility to highlight problems. “This can be the starting point for the population to work hard to change situations that appear hopeless,” he said at the Pan African Journalists Conference held in Mombasa earlier this month.

He said many positive stories go unreported in Zimbabwe and other countries and instead Africa is depicted as a continent of wars, hunger… where human life cannot be enjoyed. He said African media should stop following the rule that “If it bleeds, it leads”.

English-speaking journalists from East Africa and representatives from South Africa, Nigeria, Switzerland, Sudan and Lithuania attended the conference.

Solomon Mugera, head of the BBC's Swahili service, said good coverage must be by Africans reporting from their localities. He said journalists must rise above prejudices and serve all society in its diverse structures.

Joseph Chittillappilly, the secretary-general of Geneva-based Ucip, stressed the need for integrity if journalists are to make a difference in peoples' lives and become masters of their profession.

Sudanese delegates called for training to ensure that a diverse region rich in resources and having undergone a long conflict, does not lose grip of efforts to maintain peace.

Ayub Mwangi, news editor of Baraka FM in Kenya, said interactivity has increased between producers and receivers of programs. However, some media, like www.radiokatwe.com, were criticised for abusing their freedom of speech through defamatory material.

Delegates lashed sourcing information by SMSs and email; they were criticised for their ability to kill interactivity between reporters and news sources, which could curtail growth of news sources and tips.