Media Disparity: Neglect of African Crises

In a groundbreaking report released last week, Care International sheds light on the global media's negligence in covering the ongoing crises in Africa. The report identifies ten African nations, including Zimbabwe, Uganda, Burundi, Zambia, and Senegal, grappling with severe challenges such as climate crises, war, poverty, hunger, violence, and political instability.

Despite the gravity of these humanitarian crises, the report highlights a startling media contrast. Only 77,000 articles were published last year about all African countries and their challenges, while the release of iPhone 15 alone generated over 273,000 news stories. This significant discrepancy underscores the urgent need for increased media attention to critical African issues, especially considering the vast disparities in coverage across linguistic boundaries.

Stefan Brand, an expert from the German branch of Care International, attributes the underreporting of African humanitarian crises to the dominance of global media and the overshadowing presence of other crises. Douglas Okwach, Secretary of the African Foreign Press Association, points to reduced global media budgets post-COVID as a key factor in diminishing focus on Africa's crises. The closure of foreign media offices, a consequence of decades-long conflicts, further exacerbates the lack of media attention on the continent.

Care International advocates for improved access for journalists to African countries and increased investment in sustainable media to amplify coverage in the region. As Africa faces humanitarian challenges affecting over 300 million people in 2024, the report emphasizes the critical need for heightened media attention and focus on the continent's crises. 

_{Source: Care International}