Power and Pressure: The Media in Africa

With the sub-Saharan economies in Africa now relying on the extraction of natural resources for growth, they have begun to look at the media to help influence policy agenda and educate the public. Their hope is that media will increase transparency, promote good governance, and make sure revenues from these extractives are put in the right hands, so that poverty and development can improve.

But, in many countries undergoing similar situations, the media has been able to do very little. This is often due to inexperienced reporters and editors who lack the necessary resources, as well as suffer from government pressure not to succeed.

This discussion was presented at Columbia University as part of the Committee on Global Thought and SIPA’s International Media, Advocacy, and Communications specialization.