AFRICAN IMAGES AND WESTERN MEDIA

The Flow and Framing of African Images in the Western Media



ABSTRACT

In this study we try to explore the concept of “The Flow and Framing of African Images in the Western Media” in a holistic context. The main focus of the research is on “African Images in the Western Media” and its relation with “Western Media”. The research also analyzes many aspects of “African Images in the Western Media” and tries to gauge its effect on “Western Media”. Finally the research describes various factors which are responsible for “African Images in the Western Media” and tries to describe the overall effect of “African Images in the Western Media” on “Western Media”.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACTii

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION1

Background on African Continent1

Africa and the Western media1

Significance of Study5

Problem Statement5

Research Questions5

Relevance of This Research with Mass Communication6

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW7

An Apocalyptic Picture7

Other Minorities Who Are Victims Of Media8

Causes And Impact Of Adverse Media Coverage9

The Agenda-Setting Of The Current African11

Biased Choices14

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY17

Primary Research17

Instrument for Data Collection17

Sample18

Data Analysis19

Setting19

Research Instrument19

Significance of Survey Based Research19

Advantages20

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION21

Questions21

Chi-Square Test27

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS30

Recommendations31

Role of Media to enhance the picture of Africa32

REFERENCES34

APPENDIX37

Questionnaire37

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

The paper will talk about some images that are seen in the media today. It will also talk about the process the western media in the US uses to get their coverage of Africa. This would serve as a preliminary for determining the relevance of the African images in the western media. In other words, how does the western media determine which African images will be covered and why. In addition, this section will discuss some African images that are not seen in the media.

Background on African Continent

Media Coverage on Africa in the past -What kind of African images are seen in the media. The purpose of this research is to explain how African images are received by the western media to be presented in the media. In addition, it will attempt to explain why particular images and not others are chosen by the media and others.

Africa and the Western media

The view that the media offer on Africa is not the most appropriate. The fundamental reason for this is that it is always an external perspective to the continent. If we consider that the major media are controlled by the same multinational corporations that extract resources in the continent in a way ethically dubious. One can understand well that these corporations are interested in not talking about Africa.

The image that the Western public has a view of Africa is cooked in the West. For example, the image of African leaders is either the autocrats about using all means to stay in power corrupt dictatorships masked either democracies to support Western interests. The African media, the fourth power of the continent, are those who must see that this is a half truth. Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga said in brief the key idea of this change, saying that Africa should "sort his house" to generate positive news for the world to ...