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A media council whose aspiration is to counter negative media reporting of East Africa and the continent was over the weekend launched in the Tanzania East African Community (EAC) headquarters of Arusha.

Rwandan Emmanuel Mugisha said the emphasis of members of the East African Community was on how best the media can promote Pan African stories.

He said the umbrella body that was unveiled by the EAC Secretary General Dr Peter Mathuki will bring together media regulatory authorities within the region:

“As Africans, we need to tell our own story, stories that are in our own favour and portray a just image of ourselves,” he said.

The only detailed research on how Africa is being represented in the media was published in 2021 by Africa No Filter (ANF).

Negative stereotypes

The research found that more than 50 per cent of the African editors who participated in the study had negative stereotypes of the stories and events happening on the continent. According to the findings, what the media believes is news in Africa is “a crisis”.

Mugisha, disclosed that Rwanda was using media literacy to ensure that youth and members of the public are adequately prepared to use the media space especially the social media responsibly.

Mugisha said that Rwanda was also trying to empower the media to become more viable in its role of informing and educating members of the public for purposes of personal growth and sustainable development.

The main objective of the EAPC, which draws its membership from media and press councils in the EAC Partner States, is to promote and protect free, independent, professional and accountable media in East Africa.