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Falsification of Africa in Western Media

The document discusses the falsification and negative portrayal of Africa in Western media. It argues that the historical interactions between Europeans and Africans during colonialism, including the slave trade, created a lasting negative view of Africa. This view was reinforced by influential figures like the historian Hegel, who criticized African culture without ever visiting the continent. Today, most news about Africa still originates from major Western agencies, perpetuating stereotypes that ignore Africa's economic growth and contributions to the world. The document concludes that Africans and African groups must work to change these perceptions by providing more context in their reporting and highlighting examples of countries' successes.

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Sruty Ahmed
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152 views2 pages

Falsification of Africa in Western Media

The document discusses the falsification and negative portrayal of Africa in Western media. It argues that the historical interactions between Europeans and Africans during colonialism, including the slave trade, created a lasting negative view of Africa. This view was reinforced by influential figures like the historian Hegel, who criticized African culture without ever visiting the continent. Today, most news about Africa still originates from major Western agencies, perpetuating stereotypes that ignore Africa's economic growth and contributions to the world. The document concludes that Africans and African groups must work to change these perceptions by providing more context in their reporting and highlighting examples of countries' successes.

Uploaded by

Sruty Ahmed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Sruti Ahmed

COMM630
Abstract#2

The Western Media and the Falsifícation of Africa: Complications of Value and Evaluation

The article addresses falsification of Africa which is the result of distortion of news events, the
untrue statements, biased interpretations, underrepresentation and frequent negative news. Africa
has faced many problems, but every continent has such issues to deal with, but those don’t get
publicized by the western media as much.

The historical interaction between Africans and Europeans during European trade slave and use
of derogatory terminology made clear why Africa's image is mostly negative in the Western
media. There were two stages to the Western assault on Africans and Africa, and during those
stages African recourses were exploited and it financially benefitted the westerners. Africa and
African humanity had been criticized and attacked by the German historian Hegel, who never
went to Africa. The long history to negativity involving the humanity, character, history,
philosophy, achievements, religion, values, and behaviors of Africans gave rise to the western
view and impacted the way Africa is viewed globally creating a destructive contemporary image
and attitude about Africa.

The attitudes and ideas about the behavior, customs, traditions, and capabilities of Africans
portrayed through the eyes of European and Americans. African stories only matter to the
Westerners when it’s of their interest or it will impact them in some way. All media
representations of Africa and Africans reflect the distinction between blacks and whites in the
minds of those who control the media in the West. Four or five major agencies still dominate
news about the world and nearly 80 percent of all international news about Africa originates
from those agencies. African company is yet to gain power over opinions, images, and
metaphors of African culture and history. The real image of Africa is still altered through the
lens of white writers through broadcasting degrading stereotype and ignoring contributions.

Even though Africa is experiencing economic growth with the falling poverty rates for the past
several years, United States Magazines and newspapers publish more stories focusing on Africa's
poverty than positive stories. Even in 21st century, Africa has been associated with newer
stereotypes. Africans can contribute to end these stereotypes and perceptions. African Union
took a new strategy to be more aggressive in an effort against western domination. More
educated and liberal media experts should be engaged in reforming the image of Africa by
reporting on events with context. Everlasting success can transform global perceptions about
African countries.

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