Something, apparently, since the AFP Foundation is launching a FIFA-backed “training program” for several hundred African football reporters and photographers in advance of the World Cup. The program involves eight cities, where journalists from all 53 African countries will convene for two one-week courses in Arabic, French, English, or Portuguese. AFP chief executive Pierre Louette has said that he hopes the training courses will not only “enhance” the journalists’ “skill,” but also “create lasting friendships.”
I have no idea whether the program will be useful or not, but is there maybe something a little condescending about this presentation? I mean, if African journalism is so behindhand, how is the AFP going to fix it in just two weeks? On the other hand, if the journalists are already competent and this is just the career development-slash-networking opportunity it sounds like, why does the AFP have to go out of its way to emphasize its tutelary role and portray the journalists as desperately in need of help? (“We aspire to give journalists skills which they can pass on to their colleagues and to future generations,” the foundation director said.)
I’m no expert on African journalism, but from what I’ve read to keep up with World Cup news, most of it is terrible, some of it is decent, and a small percentage of it is really, really good. So if that’s the description of a media culture in need of fixing, what can we do to persuade the AFP to do England and America next?
Read More: Africa
by Brian Phillips · May 15, 2009
How many copies of the National Enquirer were sold in Nairobi last week? That’s right, zero. Clearly this is a continent in need of some dire help.
You beat me to the punch. I was going to suggest a similar program for American journalists, most of whom wouldn’t know a pitch from a horseshoe.
A lot of FIFA’s behaviour towards Africa in the build up to SA 2010 has been nothing but patronising and condescending. I just hope they send some of the UK’s MSM journalists to that same conference, then again we have had enough expenses scandals as it is
I know some soccer journalists in the Kansas City Star who could use some extra training.
I’m always curious as to what these trainings for journalists are like – do they teach you how to rub elbows with owners, or is it the down and dirty tactics like tipping of bouncers to let you pull down Bendtner’s pants while snapping a cell phone photo?
If its the latter, then I would be interested in attending
I think journalism in Africa is really unique, it is a mix of traditional and new media. African journalists really need the training program. It would be useful to most of them especially to the sports journalists.