An Africa MEDIAta report presented in Rome on May 23 highlighted the vast untapped potential of the African continent, emphasizing that Africa is not merely a source and victim of problems. The fifth edition of this report, curated by the Pavia Observatory, critiques the Italian media for its persistent portrayal of Africa as “lacking in hope and filled with problems” despite the “profound, unstoppable, and revolutionary” changes occurring across the continent.
The Italian branch of AMREF Health Africa, presenting the report, underscored that young Africans, particularly young women, are striving towards a sustainable future. This presentation, timed just before Africa Day on May 25, aimed to shed light on how Italian media covers African issues.
The report consistently reveals a glaring lack of coverage on Africa, Africans, and the African diaspora in mainstream Italian media. This edition reaffirmed that out of every 4,200 interviewees on television news, only one was an African activist during the study period.
In 2023, there was a slight increase in Italian media coverage of African news, averaging 16 stories per month in the six largest dailies—an increase from 13 in 2022. However, two-thirds of these stories were set in Italy or the West and primarily focused on crime and migration, making up 80.2% of the coverage, an increase from the previous year.
The Italian government’s initiatives, such as the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding, the Italy-Albania pact, and accords with Libya, also drew media attention to African issues. Migration was the predominant theme, accounting for 42% of African news coverage, shifting focus from previous years’ emphasis on wars and terrorism.
Significant stories included the conditions of migrants in refugee camps, incidents involving migrant boats, and visits by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to African nations.
The report also noted a total of 3,457 news stories about Africa on television in 2023, the highest since 2019. Despite this, only 1.9% of these stories directly addressed issues and events in Africa, predominantly covering wars, terrorism, and crime. Notable exceptions included an earthquake in Morocco and flooding in Libya.
AMREF Health Africa Director General Guglielmo Micucci emphasized the need to see beyond Africa’s challenges. He highlighted the role of African youth in tackling unemployment, economic issues, and health with more resources than previous generations. Micucci called on the G7 and those behind the Mattei Plan to engage with Africa, stressing that the continent’s new generation, which constitutes most of its population, is leading grassroots change.