segunda-feira, 3 de dezembro de 2007

Entrevista com Louise Bourgault
Professora da Northern Michigan University, EUA
Especialista em Mídia africana
Concedida por e-mail em 07/11/2007


- How does mass media work inside Africa? Are most countries sufficiently covered by its press? Are there relevant newspapers and television networks in most countries?

There are 53 countries in Africa. Each has its own media system. There are a few pan-african services, such as africa n. 1 in radio and TV. There is a web newsservice called allafrica.com. I suggest you check it out!

- Which countries have more expressive media and which ones have less expressive communication channels?

Countries with a lively private sector are likely to have what i think you mean be "expressive" communication. Those whose media is still small and government controlled will be less expressive.

- Are some countries flooded with foreign media, especially the ex-colonies of european countries?

Most countries are at least supplied with some examples of media from former colonial masters. Satellite and cable TV services, for example, are typically subsidiaries of European services.

- Are there any political and linguistic barriers that get in the way of the information flow in some countries and inside the continent?

Obviously, as one in two Africans overall is illiterate. The media available is usually written (or spoken if it's electronic media) in the language of the former colonial master. If a person has not gone to school, not only will he or she not be able to read French, English or Portuguese, but he or she may not be able to speak these languages either. This will exclude the person from a good deal of TV, but also a considerable amount of radio fare as well.

- Does technology constitute a barrier to the information flow from other continents and from africa to other countries?

Obviously, yes. Africa is the least wired continent. Computer ownership is very low, though people can go to Internet cafes. They must pay for on-line time and many lack the skills and the finances to do so.

- Do African media rely on the content provided by international news agencies do report the international sphere?

Yes, though they do have their own newsgathering sources as well. These are usually under resourced, however. See allafrica.com.

- Does Africa rely on these same agencies to express their issues to the international media?

Africa is of course very dependent on the big news services, especially the BBC and Agence France-Presse.

- Do you think that Africa is "under-reported" in the international media?

Yes.

- Would you like to suggest a particular case that you would like to comment?

Positive news is under-reported. Mali's successful democracy and transition to democracy in the early 1990s is unknown outside of Africa. The impending Rwandan genocide in 1994 was not reported early enough. The inability of African agricultural producers, such as Mali's cotton producers, to get a fair price for its products is not reported.

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