Res/onsib&e 0ourna&ism for Africa

The Role of Media in the Africa Business Reportage Introduction London Africa Media Network and EAECC For a long time the link between the media, business and capital investment has been ignored especially for the Africa Continent. Africa narrative in the west has certainly improved in the last decade, this has been as a result of migration and globalisation, technology development and certainly development in the Africa Media. (examples !he "##$ financial crisis that affected the western economy believe it or not has to some extent contributed to the changing narrative on the continent. As with all investment decisions, decisions about whether and where to invest in Africa need to be based on accurate information. %nvestors need accurate information to distinguish a basket case from a bread basket. !he media has a crucial role to play in this regard. &usiness 'ournalism plays a critical role towards investment flows in the continent. !he Africa rising story has suddenly replaced the headlines we were accustomed to some years back. %n "##(, Africa )ractice and *iageo commissioned a study to explore the link btwn Media +eporting and %nvestment into Africa. !he results showed that more and better business 'ournalism plays an important role in Africa,s %nvestment flows. %t also demonstrates that a more sophisticated private sector in Africa is resulting to enhanced business 'ournalism. Media and Africa Diaspora Entrepreneurs Mainstream media has had no time for the Africa *iaspora especially when it comes to business, but this trend is certainly changing with the development of Africa *iaspora Media outlets. Africa .overnments attempts to engage with its *iaspora has also certainly changed the way the media both local and international views Africa *iaspora entrepreneurs and &usiness /omen !he media 0s role is to inform, but for this to be effective, there need to be genuine engagement btwn media and Africa 1ntrepreneurs, particularly business media. !here is certainly been a vacuum which is slowly being filled by platforms like !he Africa +eport, Africa &usiness +eview, Arise !2, F!,s Africa publication. 3tilising the media to our advantage

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London Africa Media Network Ltd is registered in United Kingdom Registration Number: 05646426

Res/onsib&e 0ourna&ism for Africa

Reco endations!

Media is important in encouraging debate, educating individuals, connecting readers and listeners to larger social and economic changes (AM*% "##4 Africans in the *iaspora must certainly take advantage of the growing wave of the Africa rising headlines in the international headlines &e successful and %nnovative, it matters not where you are from and the media will not ignore you. !here are women and men that the media will always 'ump to profile 5 Christine 6egarde %MF, Angela Merkel and other successful women folk. Consume the media that represents you and Africa positively 5 1ditorial policies are defined by what we buy . !he *aily Mail for example is the only paper that has more women leaders than men. !here has to be sustained efforts to promote responsible and accurate business reporting especially on Africa, its diaspora and its women in business Challenge the stereotype of Africa &usiness /omen. %nvesting in Africa &usiness Media is another way to ensure ob'ective representation of the Africa /omen entrepreneur in the media. !raining to improve the financial acumen of Africa 'ournalists .overnments must make it easier to access reliable facts and figures 5 %nvestment promotion agencies should work closely with the press. 7ocial media platform, we must tell our story better 5 (" million people in Africa use facebook %t takes a senior woman to rise above 'ust being seen as a pretty face. !he onus is on us Africans in the *%A7)8+A to tell our story better, but also on the media to report accurately the real change taking place in the continent and the positive contribution by the Africa *iaspora.

"ACT# /omen in 9ournalism study showed :$; of front page articles in &ritish <ational newspapers are written by men . $(; of those =uoted or mentioned are male. "(; of <ews stories globally are about women (media and gender monitor "#>> $( ; of those mentioned or =uoted in lead places were male - Men wrote ? =uarters of all front page articles 5 /omen in 9ournalism report.

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London Africa Media Network Ltd is registered in United Kingdom Registration Number: 05646426

Res/onsib&e 0ourna&ism for Africa

+eport by 6ord 6eveson showed that several pages of newspapers will appear without any reference to a woman at all - the impression that women make no contribution to the broader society. Most @eros in prime time programming are menA )owerful women are often absent from the press. Conclusion !he media landscape is changing particularly in Africa, women must grasp the opportunity. /e need to encourage private sector investment in the media, giving way for more professional and business reportage. - Foreign media both tv and print are adding content focusing on Africa,s emerging economies. .reat examplesB Forbes Africa launched the pan African magaCine, Forbes women in Africa , highlighting trailbraCers, game changers and pioneering women involved in business, Africa,s economy and world. !here are many success stories of success on the Africa continent that we will never be able to do 'ustice to all women making a difference in the continent. Dagnesgitau

05 Ma!es Road" #ood $reen" London N22" United Kingdom %e&: 0'( 464 56' )a*: 020 (446+((5 ,mai&: info-&amn.co.uk: #ebsite: www.&amn.co.uk and www.ken!a&ondonnews.co.uk
London Africa Media Network Ltd is registered in United Kingdom Registration Number: 05646426