why is that journalists in european and american countries seem to be only interested in poverty of africa?

Question

i have always listened to what they have to say about africa and it seems to me they only air the poverty in africa and most of americans and europeans dont know there is actually economic developments. we have airports telephones and all the technology you can ever imagine. i think that is ignorance at its best for them to focus on the negative sides of africa rather than both the negatives and the positives.

Answer 1

Probably becuase poverty is always a relative concept. Being the richer nations they probably still see Africa as the "Dark Continent" back from their sea-faring days.

That said...

Most other countries probably have more than their share of poverty in their own country to be worried about poverty in another country.

Answer 2

I think journalists only concentrate on bad news. There are few sales in good stories ie good deeds increase by 25% doesn't sell as much as crime rate increase by 25%. We are the culprits as all humans like a good moan (complaint). However a lot of people understand that there has been progress made in Africa even if the cost was 10 times what it should have cost through corruption and waste. We know they are getting there but universal education is the key which will end poverty in Africa.

Cancelling the debt of Africa will not cure their ills as their politicians take advantage of their people and when you throw one corrupt politician out, another 10 are ready to take over. As more become educated, you will get better politicians and the corruption should reduce which will accelerate the improvements. Hopefully some of the educated people of african roots in the USA and Europe will go back to Africa and help those less fortunate.

Answer 3

Generally, you're totally rite. Most news on Africa I see in U.S. is real sad and negative. There is a program on CNN International called "Inside Africa", which does show positive aspects of the African continent. This show, however, is the minority. I think their is a tendency for news media to focus more on negatives than positives. I suspect this is true the world over. To be fair, there do seem to be a plethora of severe problems in Africa. .....disease, poverty, civil-unrest, etc. I hope the benevolent Whites in South Africa aren't overrun by the wicked Blacks..............just joking. Here's a link to a page, which you may enjoy. Good luck and go w/ Allah.
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/sgreport/index.html

Answer 4

i agree with your observation.... i am an asian, a filipino who has not visited any country outside the philippines, but i do travel a lot via the internets and always visit the sites of african countries specially the south africa... i discovered a lot of things that truly gave me a different perspective on african nations.... yes.... african countries just like any other countries in the world... do also have some shares of economic, social and political developments as well as social problems too, namely, poverty, health and sanitation, population, poltiical, infrasructure transportation and communications, etc. that need to be addressed both by their local governments and the international governments. To probably share my opinion on your observation, i would say that african nations are somewhat special to the hearts of americans and european journalists may be because many of them originated from the african races and these journalists are just doing their share to appeal on people and countries to share whatever little help they can to provide comfort to our less privieleged brothers in that continent.... Let's not ignore the fact that media is the fastest way of communication and it is proven... I know that many US and European private organizations are pouring millions of dollars of assistance to Africa to provide better water facitilities, agricultural technologies and irrigations, health missions and the likes.... with these, I guess the journalists who wrote about the plights of the less privileged africans has somewhat accomplshed something and did his or her share to better the world.

Answer 5

Poverty and sex scandals are most demanded items in the media industry.So journalists are after related news.In the case of Africa it is relatively poor country compared to USA and African leaders are not much in lime light.Since sex scandals in Africa donot get much public attention,journalists have to highlight poverty only.Few air ports or telephone does not bring Aficans amoung wealthy,it is the percapita income that indicates level of development.Percapita income,you will agree continue to be low in African countries.

Answer 6

we should be helping africa not critising! Your right we are ignorant,just look at madonna! Instead of sponsoring david and his dad she takes him out of the country ,away from his father and promised to visit in 3 years! She should have helped davids dad look after him. Africas world debt should be wiped and i think with the seriousness of the situation,all presidents and especially royals should help with the cost of building wells for africans to have fresh water etc.Bob geldof can do it why cant they? These people have nothing and we are more fortunate in life so we should help! Africans are dying for no reason.The media is there to tell us what they want us to know,judge the rest for your self.

Answer 7

because they wish to stereotype and to offer us one perception of africa- though that perception is a negative and biased one. yes africa has problems, but so do every other continent and country in the world. and there are many interesting, positive and encouraging tales coming out of that part of the globe. the media, particuarly news is mainly to blame for presenting to other people this one-sided view of africa. not forgetting bob geldof, what with live 8, he and bono constantly associate africa with poverty and to always emphasise the negatives. that it is helpless, poor, that there is poverty, violence and corruption but there is poverty, violence, corruption and all manners of bad stuff happening everywhere too. i agree with you its due party to ignorance and lack of knowledge, not to mention not being socially aware and informed of the good coming out of africa.

Answer 8

What surpassed off to Rwandans & the Sudanese & now Dafur is genocide. i've got confidence they are telling those memories in hopes that we are going to call for that the government.concentration on it. what's happening merits each and all of the clicking it could get. something in Africa good now pales in assessment. many of the countries in Africa are corrupt & enable their people to starve to dying with the aid of fact the leaders are enriching themselves at their price. it particularly is why the negatives are being stated.

Answer 9

churches love to bellow about poverty in africa and try to get us to send money and then its the church people who use it ,not any one who is poor.

Answer 10

Media is a drama queen and they need their drama.