AFRICA-MEDIA: Alternative Agencies Can Play Key Role

BONN, Dic 29 (IPS) - Alternative news and feature agencies could help Africa overcome its marginalisation by the international media, according to a report just published.

"Press releases are a poor substitute for live action," said the report, authored by Michael Traber from the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC).

"If what you are doing and saying is meaningful and credible, at least the alternative news and feature agencies will cover your words and, even more so, your deeds," the report said.

Traber is doubtful that Africa will in the foreseeable future regain the geopolitical significance it had during some 40 years of the Cold War -- ended 1989 in the wake of the fall of the Berlin wall and subsequent dissolution of the east bloc.

Today, a new wall -- in the form of stringent immigration laws -- is being built across "Fortress Europe" in a determined bid to curb a flood of immigrants from the continent who are fleeing wars and poverty, or simply seeking greener pastures in western European countries.

"As poverty drives Africans from their continent (so far, mainly from North Africa and the Horn of Africa), European governments and the public will begin to panic," the report said.

It added: "One can only hope that Africa's potential 'threat' will prompt the media to give more attention to the continent."

At the same time, the report notes that part of the reasons for the marginalisation of Africa, are home-made.

For example, a single page of faxed material from Zimbabwe to Europe cost about 17 dollars. Also, some governments charge media representatives higher rates for telecommunications. Then there are others which regard foreign correspondents as a nuisance, an attitude they also have toward the local journalists.

Having taken note of all these factors, Traber nevertheless said there has been "a great deal of high quality reporting" on Africa in 1994, particularly the coverage of the dismantling of apartheid in South Africa.

The process began on Feb 6, 1990, when Nelson Mandela -- who earlier this year became South Africa's first black president -- was released from jail.

© Inter Press Service (2014) — All Rights Reserved. Original source: Inter Press Service