Western media outlets are trying to fix their racist, stereotypical coverage of Africa. Is it time African media did the same?

--Comment by Siguru Wahutu, Professor of Media and Genocide, New York University, and David Cheruiyot, Assistant Professor of Journalism and Media Studies, University of Groningen--

There are some positive developments regarding how Africa is being reported internationally. But an ongoing cultural change is needed, mainly in the ways news is produced. This calls for rethinking journalism training and shifting to more community-oriented approaches of reporting.

And, in this rethink, should African media should not also be taking stock of their own damaging historical role in supporting colonial interests and global north perspectives?

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It’s critical for minority world countries to reckon with a dark history of colonisation, slavery, genocide or racial discrimination. But there is also the question of how – or even if – this is something that news organisations and professionals in Africa themselves need to reckon with.

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