US media coverage of Africa may be scant, shallow and sensationalist, but there’s more to it than racism and lack of interest. Sean Jacobs picks apart the forces at play.
In this exclusive extract from his book <i>A Continent for the Taking: The Tragedy and Hope of Africa</i>, Howard French details how mainstream media can have a disastrous influence on US policy in Africa.
As someone who only knocks out words on the promise of hard cash, David Bullard explains why he’ll probably never write a novel.
Is private television’s role as an instrument of nation building in Africa being challenged by the profit motive of multinational broadcasters? Sean O’Toole investigates the arguments, with a focus on MultiChoice Africa. The local conglomerate also has a chance to respond.
The print sector in Africa is still an elitist enterprise. It may be a solid source of political criticism, but financial constraints have kept circulations at a minimum. Can the so-called "imperialists" from the South find a business model?
How does the rest of Africa feels about South Africa’s "media imperialism"? What are the economic motivations for moving into the continent? Does the Western media still look at Africa through a colonial lens? These are some of the queries that the December issue of <i>The Media</i> addresses.
"It is dark. We have taken five days to get here from Johannesburg, and our arrival in Cuito Cuanavale is going to be delayed by another day. The plan is to drive to the site of the last battle fought by the old South African Defence Force against Angola." The Battle for Cuito Cuanavale was a turning point in the history of apartheid, and is soon to be revisited in a tourism initiative.
Didier Drogba scored two goals in the first 17 minutes and Chelsea boosted their lead to seven points atop the English Premier League with a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. Chelsea’s victory contrasted with the fortune of the chasing clubs — Arsenal and Manchester United.
Shane Warne took four wickets on Wednesday to move Australia within a wicket of a series sweep before Asim Kamal’s unbeaten 86 helped guide Pakistan to a 59-run lead on the fourth day of the third cricket Test. Asim shared an unbroken 53-run 10th-wicket partnership with Mohammad Asif (12) to frustrate the Australian attack.
Humanity has been ill-served by Christianity, which was born in deceit — the virgin birth, miracles, the resurrection of the body, the promise of eternal life — and nurtured into life by the totalitarianism of Constantine and his episcopal thought-police. Looking at the best way adults should conduct their lives, Christianity’s days should be numbered, argues Colin Bower.