“Charlayne Hunter-Gault, one of the best-known and most award-winning journalists in the United States, has focused her recent career on covering Africa. After nearly two decades as a correspondent for the Newshour on public television, she moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, working successively as Africa correspondent for National Public Radio and CNN bureau chief, before leaving CNN last year to pursue independent projects.”
From 'New News' from Africa - Looking Beyond Death, Disease, Disaster and Despair
The following are some excerpts from an interview that Hunter-Gault did recently with AllAfrica.com on the 6th of October. I would really suggest reading the article as I think it has great insight, perspective, criticism and hope. As she says in the interview I too believe that AllAfrica.com is one of the best sources of news and information on all 54 countries that make up the continent of Africa…that is right Mr. Bush it is not a country. I hope you enjoy the selections below and take the time to read the whole article and I imagine Hunter-Gault’s latest book “New News Out of Africa: Uncovering Africa's Renaissance.” is well worth reading. Click here to read the interview in its entirety.
“Why do you think that coverage of Africa in major U.S. media is so limited?
I am constantly confounded as to why American media don't find Africa an exciting place to report from and about. I think there's a perception that audience interest is limited. That's certainly not been true in my experience. I lecture on college campuses, before businesses and corporations and other venues around the country. And I always find receptivity to the 'new news' that I bring from Africa. Interest - and ignorance to be sure - because people aren't getting the information they need to understand Africa.
Reporting is dominated by the four 'd's I talk about in the book - death, disease, disaster and despair.
What do you recommend to people in newsrooms who want to bring more "new news" about Africa into the coverage?
They just have to go there. They have to be willing to go there. This is not always glamorous. Everyone wants to come to South Africa, because they can stay in nice hotels and run out to the townships and get a little bit dirty and then come back and take a nice shower in the five-star hotel.”
And near the end of the article Hunter-Gault says:
“The public is very sophisticated. I think that it's unfortunate, in America, that there is this perception that you have to dumb down information in order for people to understand it. That's a wrong perception.”
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