In focus

The Media We Want

Our reporters asked young people around Africa about what kind of media they would like to see in their country. Here are summaries of what they said.

Grace Timanywa – student in Mukono, Uganda

"I expect the Ugandan media to deliver accurate news and the latest information. I also expect the Ugandan media to interview our leaders so that we can get to know their views on what is happening in the country. I would like to see some of the newspapers deliver more accurate news. Some have facts, yes, but they add in more soup to the news. It’s better to just keep it simple."
Abdullah Sesay – child's rights advocate and student in Monrovia, Liberia

"I would like our media to be more proactive, to be independent in their reporting and to get to the people and get more information, especially information that is genuine, on national development or national security."
Beatrice Mwape – intern at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation in Blantyre

"I want to see a media that is free, objective and has access to information. Whatever the media writes, it should bring development, hope and a change to our nation. I think things really have to change so that people can be experts, people can know the truth and the world can change."
Prince Bongani Chikwebo – graduate from the University of Malawi, Blantyre

"I would like to see a media that it is free and objective, not being influenced by any social groupings or projections of Western or Eastern media, just projecting what represents society in Malawi as a whole."
Pwanidi Francis – student in Adamawa State, Nigeria

"I expect the media to be very objective. They can meet this expectation if they are independent and without bias. They can also fail in meeting this objective if they choose to dance to the tune of government."
Anthony Kanuma – sound engineer in Kampala, Uganda

"I expect the Ugandan media to always tell the correct news, be on time and ensure that information is delivered to the public accurately. There are certain stories, certain news clips that may not be suitable for the younger audience so I would like to see them sort of censor those things especially for the younger viewers so that they may not be affected."
Nora Wreh – student in Monrovia, Liberia

"I expect the media in my country to give me factual information. Some of our media practitioners are not meeting the expectation of the Liberian people. Some of them are biased. They are being carried away or bought by somebody or somebody is pushing them around, telling them what to do. The media must stand firm: they must go out, seek information no matter where it is hidden."
Mosupatsila Nare – law studies graduate in Gwanda, Zimbabwe

"I expect the media to be independent from any external influences, be they political, business or financial. I expect them to be fair and present issues as they are. Not to be biased, based on any political party influence or anything. There is a great deal of improvement that is needed in the Zimbabwean media. I think as citizens we deserve to know what the issues are, with no bias."
Shaloam Strooper – student in Nairobi, Kenya

"I expect from the media in Kenya that at any given time, at any given place, whenever something happens I should be able to get that information. I should be able to know what is happening in my country. Sometimes you may be on Twitter or Facebook and you see photos of things happening that the news hasn’t yet reported. The media should be faster than social networks."
Thandeka Gamede – casting agency coordinator in Soweto township, Johannesburg, South Africa

"My expectation of media is a non-political treatment, reporting without fear or favor, more reporting on issues around gays and lesbians, making the public aware of their rights and responsibility. Do I think that the media is meeting my expectations? No, I don’t think so because politically it’s always about the ruling party. I would like to see more balance."
Itumeleng Ditshego – software development student in Johannesburg, South Africa

"The type of media I would like to see in South Africa is just basically well-balanced media and well-researched stories. I would like to see less speculation. And I would also like the media to showcase what we as youth are doing to push our country forward."
Irvine Takavada – activist in Harare, Zimbabwe

"I expect the Zimbabwean media to be transparent in their coverage, to be explicit and not to be manipulated. They are failing to meet our expectations because you find that when journalists cover a story, at times they are manipulated by businessmen or politicians or they cover it with a slant or cover it for money. I would like to see the Zimbabwean media change."
Edward Maina – student in Nairobi, Kenya

"The media in Kenya should provide genuine, first-hand information, not just rely on information given by local people. It should also have research that will help to bring out information. During the holidays when most schools are closed, the media could concentrate on the children who need to be educated and give information that will help them with problems we are encountering nowadays."

Grace Timanywa – student in Mukono, Uganda

"I expect the Ugandan media to deliver accurate news and the latest information. I also expect the Ugandan media to interview our leaders so that we can get to know their views on what is happening in the country. I would like to see some of the newspapers deliver more accurate news. Some have facts, yes, but they add in more soup to the news. It’s better to just keep it simple."
Abdullah Sesay – child's rights advocate and student in Monrovia, Liberia

"I would like our media to be more proactive, to be independent in their reporting and to get to the people and get more information, especially information that is genuine, on national development or national security."
Beatrice Mwape – intern at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation in Blantyre

"I want to see a media that is free, objective and has access to information. Whatever the media writes, it should bring development, hope and a change to our nation. I think things really have to change so that people can be experts, people can know the truth and the world can change."
Prince Bongani Chikwebo – graduate from the University of Malawi, Blantyre

"I would like to see a media that it is free and objective, not being influenced by any social groupings or projections of Western or Eastern media, just projecting what represents society in Malawi as a whole."
Pwanidi Francis – student in Adamawa State, Nigeria

"I expect the media to be very objective. They can meet this expectation if they are independent and without bias. They can also fail in meeting this objective if they choose to dance to the tune of government."
Anthony Kanuma – sound engineer in Kampala, Uganda

"I expect the Ugandan media to always tell the correct news, be on time and ensure that information is delivered to the public accurately. There are certain stories, certain news clips that may not be suitable for the younger audience so I would like to see them sort of censor those things especially for the younger viewers so that they may not be affected."
Nora Wreh – student in Monrovia, Liberia

"I expect the media in my country to give me factual information. Some of our media practitioners are not meeting the expectation of the Liberian people. Some of them are biased. They are being carried away or bought by somebody or somebody is pushing them around, telling them what to do. The media must stand firm: they must go out, seek information no matter where it is hidden."
Mosupatsila Nare – law studies graduate in Gwanda, Zimbabwe

"I expect the media to be independent from any external influences, be they political, business or financial. I expect them to be fair and present issues as they are. Not to be biased, based on any political party influence or anything. There is a great deal of improvement that is needed in the Zimbabwean media. I think as citizens we deserve to know what the issues are, with no bias."
Shaloam Strooper – student in Nairobi, Kenya

"I expect from the media in Kenya that at any given time, at any given place, whenever something happens I should be able to get that information. I should be able to know what is happening in my country. Sometimes you may be on Twitter or Facebook and you see photos of things happening that the news hasn’t yet reported. The media should be faster than social networks."
Thandeka Gamede – casting agency coordinator in Soweto township, Johannesburg, South Africa

"My expectation of media is a non-political treatment, reporting without fear or favor, more reporting on issues around gays and lesbians, making the public aware of their rights and responsibility. Do I think that the media is meeting my expectations? No, I don’t think so because politically it’s always about the ruling party. I would like to see more balance."
Itumeleng Ditshego – software development student in Johannesburg, South Africa

"The type of media I would like to see in South Africa is just basically well-balanced media and well-researched stories. I would like to see less speculation. And I would also like the media to showcase what we as youth are doing to push our country forward."
Irvine Takavada – activist in Harare, Zimbabwe

"I expect the Zimbabwean media to be transparent in their coverage, to be explicit and not to be manipulated. They are failing to meet our expectations because you find that when journalists cover a story, at times they are manipulated by businessmen or politicians or they cover it with a slant or cover it for money. I would like to see the Zimbabwean media change."
Edward Maina – student in Nairobi, Kenya

"The media in Kenya should provide genuine, first-hand information, not just rely on information given by local people. It should also have research that will help to bring out information. During the holidays when most schools are closed, the media could concentrate on the children who need to be educated and give information that will help them with problems we are encountering nowadays."

Date 26.04.2016
Number of pictures 13
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SPECIAL

In focus

The Media We Want

Grace Timanywa – student in Mukono, Uganda

Abdullah Sesay – child's rights advocate and student in Monrovia, Liberia

Beatrice Mwape – intern at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation in Blantyre

Prince Bongani Chikwebo – graduate from the University of Malawi, Blantyre

Pwanidi Francis – student in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Anthony Kanuma – sound engineer in Kampala, Uganda

Nora Wreh – student in Monrovia, Liberia

Mosupatsila Nare – law studies graduate in Gwanda, Zimbabwe

Shaloam Strooper – student in Nairobi, Kenya

Thandeka Gamede – casting agency coordinator in Soweto township, Johannesburg, South Africa

Itumeleng Ditshego – software development student in Johannesburg, South Africa

Irvine Takavada – activist in Harare, Zimbabwe

Edward Maina – student in Nairobi, Kenya

Grace Timanywa – student in Mukono, Uganda

Abdullah Sesay – child's rights advocate and student in Monrovia, Liberia

Beatrice Mwape – intern at the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation in Blantyre

Prince Bongani Chikwebo – graduate from the University of Malawi, Blantyre

Pwanidi Francis – student in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Anthony Kanuma – sound engineer in Kampala, Uganda

Nora Wreh – student in Monrovia, Liberia

Mosupatsila Nare – law studies graduate in Gwanda, Zimbabwe

Shaloam Strooper – student in Nairobi, Kenya

Thandeka Gamede – casting agency coordinator in Soweto township, Johannesburg, South Africa

Itumeleng Ditshego – software development student in Johannesburg, South Africa

Irvine Takavada – activist in Harare, Zimbabwe

Edward Maina – student in Nairobi, Kenya