A new initiative funded by the European Union aimed at giving Africa a better image in the news was unveiled at the Fourth Africities Summit in Nairobi on Thursday. The initiative is focusing on the creation of a media coalition to promote Africa’s success stories in business, technology, industry and culture to alleviate the “dark continent” image that the EU says has hindered progress in Africa.
“This lag between contemporary reality on the African continent and the reality of creative growth in all sectors is preventing Africans from advancing as quickly as they could,” said Mr. David Applefield, of the Financial Times, the Project Chief.
Echos Communications, a Brussels-based Non-Governmental Organisation, is getting the European Commission’s funding to mobilise leading daily newspapers across the 25-member EU to carry special reports on African successes in various fields.
The Financial Times, a leading business publication, said it published nine special reports, covering Senegal , Sierra Leone, South Africa, Ghana, Egypt, African Diamonds, Tanzania and Nigeria. It plans to focus its attention on African gas potentials this year.
“There have been scores of new initiatives and partnerships between African and European companies and organisations which have led to shared understanding and fruitful benefits,” Mr. Applefield told delegates. |
