Gibson Nyikadzino in BERLIN, Germany
THE media programme director for sub-Saharan Africa at the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung has urged African, European and German media organisations to constantly dialogue with each other to address the emergence of single-sided stories and perceptions about each other.
Mr Hendrik Sittig, speaking on the sidelines of the KAS Masterclass for African Journalists on foreign Policy, said the way Africa is portrayed in European media and the perceptions African media have about Europe and Germany also need to be addressed to build lasting relationships.
“Africa is still too often portrayed primarily through crises, conflicts or the interests of outside powers. Our programme deliberately shifts that perspective; Africa not as an object of international politics, but as an actor with its own interests, strategies and diverse national perspectives.
“But this change of perspective cannot be one-sided. African perceptions of Germany and Europe also need to be questioned. Participants examine German foreign policy positions and are encouraged to compare stated ambitions with how they are perceived from African perspectives,” Mr Sittig said.
The masterclass, which ends today, is being attended by 13 journalists, including those from Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, Senegal and Kenya.
As part of their programme, the participants had meetings with officials from a German think tank, the Federal Foreign Office, Deutsche Welle and the Embassy of South Africa in Germany.
Mr Sittig said the programme was also key for journalists to build networks and durable relationships.
“Building sustained professional networks and durable source relationships is explicitly part of the programme’s objectives and expected outcomes. For German-African cooperation, that matters.
“Lasting relationships need people who know each other, can disagree with each other and remain in conversation,” he added.
Ms Thando Maseko, from South Africa, said the programme was key for African journalists to have a greater understanding of German and EU foreign policy from their respective countries.
“This is really relevant in the times of shifting geopolitical global dynamics, obviously brought on by some things, economic downturns, but also the disruptions in trade all over the world,” Ms Maseko said.
