Narratives about Africa are often skewed negatively and feature themes of chaos, corruption and violence, and this becomes evident, especially during an election period. This year, at least 20 African nations have or are yet to hold elections. This includes Mozambique, Ghana, Namibia and Botswana.
To empower reporters to challenge and rewrite these negative challenges, Africa No Filter and fraycollege partnered to develop a new resource called “How to Write About an African Election: A Guide.
To develop the guide, senior journalists worked in focus groups and analysed 800 news articles from across the continent to identify the common negative themes. They found that the most common words used in election reporting include corruption, violence, ethnic tension, and fraud. These terms created a negative view of elections across the continent and failed to capture their complexity and diversity.
In a statement, Moky Makura, Executive Director at Africa No Filter said elections are widely covered news stories across the world due to their far-reaching consequences.
“How to Write About an African Election was designed to confront and dismantle the pervasive stereotypes that persist about elections in Africa. This guide is not merely about transforming how stories are told; it’s about redefining the global narrative around Africa through a more nuanced portrayal of African democracy.”
The guide enables journalists and content creators to tell stories using practical tools about the dynamic, nuanced and complex nature of African people and their electoral processes, and not just the stories of crippled states and corruption. It includes ethical guidelines, practical tips, and personal checklists that deal with biases against Africans to interrogate newsroom culture and traditions, especially those that reinforce negative frames. How to Write About an African Election: A Guide also includes missing frames that journalists can use to rethink their stories. The aim is to move beyond the outdated narratives that dominate media coverage.
Mamaponya Motsai, CEO at fraycollege of Communications, said “The stories that journalists tell on elections, or any topic have practical implications for ordinary citizens. This is a lot of power, and it must be used well. This guide is not only a call to action but also a step towards more inclusive and representative election coverage that truly reflects the diverse voices and experiences and serves the African electorate.”
The guide will be launched in a webinar on October 3, where leading voices in journalism will discuss new approaches to election reporting.
Download it here.
Content Writer