Africa Headlines

Whether you are hoping an expatriate in Africa, keep in touch with what is happening in your country of origin, tourism potential and hope to visit the best place, a student attempts the political understanding of research development in Africa, or simply patrons dedicated to unload some money to chip in aid to Africa, by translating the information you can read in valuable knowledge is an important task

As with any other continent has to offer Africa a variety of complex realities, the contradictory results for the individual, in addition, access to information that you need not always clear from the information and the information you find.

The following is a brief description of the criteria used in the reading or looking for news about Africa. Although the list is not complete and there may well be prolonged, I believe that this first day can help. Feel free to add or to check out other useful points.

First Consider the source of information

Africa is a complex and combines the world of many realities creates the gap between rich and poor in many places, two different societies, where the world collide only rarely. For this reason, new sources are often one group or another cut.

Understanding the source of information will help you to recognize the legitimacy of the information you have. For example, a source for new local or foreign? Foreign sources often have better access to political circles, because the government is more concerned with how it is presented to the outside world, but only rarely from foreign sources to bring you the real pulse of the nation. If the source is local, look for accreditation, interviews or firsthand testimony. In Africa, the official news often informally given, while the officer, a new front. This means that the sources that provide access to the government in the vicinity have more credible messages are to be supplied, as compared to non-accredited source to new generations is given. (More on that below)

Second Try to understand the perspective of information

In Africa, press freedom is a sacred duty, and as mentioned above, the new ones are not free and fair, obviously. As a result of the new often reflects the views of the source. The information you get is the perception of the source. In West Africa, is widely used primarily as a continent of war and disease, where the poor and the government is fighting hard to survive ravaged seen, and therefore their lives and their activities are help on the use of the global community and as directed can. As a result, the new most African countries from the West to deal with issues such as aid, sanctions, war and peace, and the discovery of oil. Human rights, rigged elections and corruption are often other issues dealt with in other words, the Western media tend to African efforts to “connect” or imitate Chronicle.

When it comes to the local media and news sources, the dilemma is different. Elite news sources and is well positioned, shows the political life of this country so that their messages mainly oriented accounts of the most important political activities, such as travel and presidential visits, complaints of the opposition, means foreign investment, visiting dignitaries, the Diaspora international news and events to involve the government. In short, present these sources for further tests, information in the perception of Africa in the world.

Finally, the perception of the local media is often directed against the local population, it provides information about the problem that the local population, the issues of energy and gas, employment matters, the government promises kept or not, education, political freedom, Cultural and social security, etc. ..

Third Recognize bias

In the U.S. it is often assumed that CNN is pro-democracy, and Fox News is a Republican arms, whether true or not, that the widespread perception in Africa, not a Republican or Democrat is, of course, but they play still a role shortly.

Since the days of colonization, the Western countries had provided strategic interests in Africa and the political propaganda that many people see certain internal politics in the West African countries, as useful or threatening to their way of living.

If your information is West African News source, always the position of your country with the countries of Africa you are looking for. Public opinion is crucial, and very few Western media say nice things about the government of Zimbabwe for example. Western news media is based on the national interests of their country of origin. They are rarely read the negative report on the Egyptian government has good relations with Washington, but this is not a model of democracy that is still in Zimbabwe, which in turn was torn down, demonized. This is not an attempt to justify the evil of some people, but it is interesting to note that the Western media to report information as they want to consult one country after.

If you want to avoid the release of the new western, you are better for new African news agencies in Africa to search. Again, there is often a tension between the pro and anti. Some news sources are sponsored by the government, while others are dedicated, not to discredit the government, regardless of the good deeds or not. In Africa, the contrast is usually very strong, full of new items as you son “official” that can let the government shamelessly, while others are virtually littered with insults, to be read. Very rare find source of news that are impartial, and it is usually very easy to distinguish the sources of political movements.

Given the polarity of the African societies, and the reality of international relations, we must not look for new pure disgust, but as a vibrant and actor in world politics; filling between the different tendencies can actually help uncover valuable information. But if it does not always reflect new independent …

4th Identify the agenda

If for some reason not on the official news sources, and supposedly professional filters, no use of independent news sources such as NGOs and think-tank. Because they are usually not part of a government, and their work is mainly based on empirical data and research, NGOs and think-tank on a remarkably educated and full of what is happening in Africa. Most of her works are extended to a wide range of topics that do not reflect a vision of the governmental activities, social realities and international implications.

When you receive your messages via NGOs and think-tanks, you are more likely to have access to solid data, according to the think tank, and evidence that the core of what is happening in the country you want.

The only problem presented by NGOs and think tanks is that they have an agenda. The robust nature of their work is influenced by the mission in general, or advice of a government against a problem they are motivated to act as important. Through this program, these organizations often emphasize a problem to the point where it overshadows the others, see it as an exaggeration.

For example, if an NGO is to reduce the agenda for arms trafficking in Africa, they can view information that provide the strong pulse of a country with credible evidence, but their extensive research on the impact of trade arm is more positive information to the point of the to create the impression that you buy to minimize Ak47 to a candy store. This is obviously not with the intent to deceive or to dramatize, but with the aim to use the data to convince world powers to act on the arms trade.

If you know how to retrieve your information from these sources, they are an excellent balance to local and international news.

5th Check the blogs

Africa sends millions of his brilliant son and daughters to study abroad, at universities, other professionals and loses millions of people looking for a better life. While the damage is significant in this brain drain to keep the commitment of all Africans of their homeland is a glimmer of hope.

Since they can not directly in official business in their home countries because of distance or political threats, a member of the African Diaspora voices of many opinions in blogs and personal sites are involved.

The advantage of blogs idiosyncratic that it is a personal note, and response to all the other messages you may have read, is offering.

Many are highly skilled at what they write, and it approaches a very professional manner. You are not restricted by editorial control and therefore are free, honest, educated opinion about what they read, heard or experienced in and from Africa to give.

If they do not, that knowledge of African affairs, many have families abroad to report the first observation of what happens can give.

Because they are so many blogs in relation to Africa, you can not just compare the information and messages, but also hire a writer and a better idea of ??where and how to tell them what they say.

For most people this is a valuable source as above, the general, political opinions, they can offer a personal decision, and give an overview of how and where people live their daily lives, not to mention where the hotspots are.

The disadvantage of blogs is that it can after all just personal opinions, personal opinions and be inspired or motivated by the perception of bias and / or agenda. It is not unusual for an opposition politician in exile abroad to assemble blogs tend to be easier to do something, so careful is recommended for this reason.

6th Search for new support

Every news agency is looking for a ball, and nobody wants to be left to important information.

If you come across some interesting information for your research, after identifying the source, make sure you are still looking, if this information is picked up by other news agencies.

When it comes to Africa, it is very common that new to generalize, but if you have learned to feel useful information, always, if you can find in other Western sources (if those in which your primary sources) and local sources in Africa. Check in blogs and social sites, where it is being discussed, or better, create a new discussion.

The fact of the matter is that if you are looking for information about Africa, the complexity of this condition is not conducive to information at face value, but to ensure that it is shared, discussed, and not held hostage to any perception of bias and will help you get a good grip on what is happening.

7th Use common sense

In politics as in everything happen for a reason, a coup, a social upheaval, political instability and international sanctions.

Africa is not another planet, we know nothing, and it does not appear without a past or history.

In everything you read or learn more about Africa, to consider the context and remember history. Hunger and poverty have not come suddenly, a spark plug all the wars, the poor countries should not be able to buy weapons they do not manufacture ourselves.

The context and the historical reality that now connects nearly every country on earth has the fertile ground as you receive the message, they like to welcome you.

Knowledge is a light that is called an error, the interest and common sense help you navigate the waves of disinformation to earth understanding of the theme is drawn to research.

As already mentioned, this is a list that can be expanded and improved, but also for all those who at one time or another, read the news from Africa and wanted to understand what is happening in Africa, I hope you short list will be useful the next time it happens.