The western media has long been criticised for oversimplifying Africa – a continent of more than a billion people. With a narrative dominated by poverty and famine, corruption and conflict, the complexity of modern Africa is often lost.
But resources are stretched and our correspondents are few, so what are the options for an international digital news organisation like the Guardian?
The Africa network, which launched in 2012, has attempted to take a different approach, partnering with specialist and local journalists, bloggers and news sites to report stories from the continent they know best.
How Does The Western Media Get Nigeria Wrong? invites journalists working in Lagos and from the larger online community to join our debate on what we should be doing to bridge the gap.
- Should we commission more local stories tailored to a Nigerian audience? Or focus on promoting the international stories we know our Nigerian readers are interested in, like sport and news?
- What should our content look like? Should we focus on mobile devices, producing stories that load quickly in low-bandwidth environments?
- Perhaps we should take the Guardian’s reporting to Nigeria’s most popular social media platforms, such as Facebook and Twitter?
Or does distance ultimately prevent international media from covering Nigeria adequately? Maybe we should leave it to national news organisations to cover their own beat?
The panelists were on fire at the event. See top tweets below;
Attending an interesting talk #nigeria#africa#SMWLagospic.twitter.com/5IkHTVlEHX
— Martin Patience (@martinpatience) February 22, 2016
I am not afraid of jail. I work around with a toothbrush in my pocket-Sowore, Publisher, @SaharaReporters. #SMWLagos pic.twitter.com/qKHn2s8GmU
— ABUJA FACTS (@Abuja_Facts) February 22, 2016
Technology and citizen journalism has made us a lot more honest – Ken Wiwa #SMWGuardianAfrica #SMWLagos — sabinews (@sabinewsnaija) February 22, 2016
Africans should tell their stories, negative or positive say participants@ #smwguardianafrica &Western media needs more reporters on ground
— Okey Equipment (@EromoEgbejule) February 22, 2016
@YeleSowore “When stories break early it sometimes seems unbelievable so maybe you may have a comprehension problem…” #SMWGuardianAfrica — Yemisi Adegoke (@briticoyemo) February 22, 2016
This #SMWGuardianAfrica panel is faya! ??? @MissWanaWana #SMWLagos
— Enajite (@jyte12) February 22, 2016
@SMWLagos,@kensarowiwa ,@obiasika very interesting session on the future of Nigeria.#smwGuardianafrica pic.twitter.com/47FAb7ZU4n — Amani (@AkorAmani) February 22, 2016
Can you take a brown envelope and still write something balanced? Ummmm nope. #SMWGuardianAfrica
— Yemisi Adegoke (@briticoyemo) February 22, 2016
It’s important for us to banish the impression that everything that’s best is western @YeleSowore #smwguardianafrica pic.twitter.com/p4mbkbQqyP — Stanbic IBTC (@StanbicIBTC) February 22, 2016
NTA cannot be presented as the face of Nigeria, we should form our own NTA – Sowore #SMWGuardianAfrica
— sabinews (@sabinewsnaija) February 22, 2016
@YeleSowore: “There is never too much information.” #SMWGuardianAfrica @Clinic4Journos @MissWanaWana @Nigerianreportr @STWKadaria — Pelu Awofeso (@PeluAwofeso) February 22, 2016
There is a very rich media ecosystem that is telling Nigerian stories. #SMWGuardianAfrica #SMWLagos
— sabinews (@sabinewsnaija) February 22, 2016
“Buhari’s first interview was with Western media who didn’t give him 2 stories before he became president” – @YeleSowore #SMWGuardianAfrica — Chioma Agwuegbo (@ChiomaChuka) February 22, 2016
Lol”@EromoEgbejule: In a country with poorly paid journalists, the brown envelop culture will continue…Man must wack #smwguardianafrica“
— Blessing Abeng (@Ms_Einsteinette) February 22, 2016
The Guardian has recognised the best story of Africa should be written by Africans. #SMWGuardianAfrica #Smwlagos — Stanbic IBTC (@StanbicIBTC) February 22, 2016
“The online currency is traffic; editors sometimes run certain stories cos they know what their readers want” – @iDOVA #SMWGuardianAfrica
— Chioma Agwuegbo (@ChiomaChuka) February 22, 2016
The perception of Africa is shaped by how western journalists portray it but that is changing. #SMWGuardianAfrica #SMWLagos — sabinews (@sabinewsnaija) February 22, 2016
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