The media in Africa is bedeviled with lots of challenges in the digital age, making the promotion of media freedom a difficult task. Some Journalist over the years have suffered brutalities in their reporting duties. Some traditional media houses are also struggling to cope with the economic turmoil happening in the counting, causing most media houses to cut down staff.
finding the solution to these, the African Media Convention was birthed in 2021 by the Eastern Africa Editors Forum, UNESCO Liaison Office to the African Union and UNESCO in Da-es Salaam, Tanzania.
it emerged out of a growing need to engage with all African media stakeholders in addressing the unique challenges and opportunities facing media in the digital age. Recognizing the critical role of free and vibrant press on the continent, the inaugural AMC was convened in 2022 in Arusha, Tanzania, bringing together media stakeholders from across Africa and the African Union Commission. In 2023, the second AMC was held in Lusaka, Zambia, with the third being held in Accra from May 15, to May 17, 2024.
The annual AMC is a collaborative effort supported by African media stakeholders to reflect on the fundamental role of journalism on the continent, celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and deliberate on measures to safeguard media freedom and deliberate on measures to safeguard media freedoms and promote access to information, the safety of journalists and the media viability in AU members states.
This year’s AMC is on the theme; “The African Media we want! Fit for purpose in the 21st Century, enhancing freedom, innovation and Environmental sustainability in dynamic media landscape”.
The first day saw a plenary discussion on varying topics relating to the media, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the future of Africa’s media, new models of media financing, exploring new approaches to media economic resilience, strengthening mechanisms for monitoring, reporting and advocacy on Journalists’ safety in Africa, among others.
It continued with day two; where there was an opening ceremony loaded with thought provoking speeches from the GJA president Albert Kwabena Dwomfour, the Minister of Information Designate, Fatimatu Abubakr, the Chief of Staff of Ghana; Akosua Frema Opare, President of the African Editors Forum, Director, Directorate of Information and communication, African Union Commission among others.
This year’s convention, hosted by Ghana was spearheaded by the Ghana Journalist Association and the Government of Ghana, will end on Friday 17th May 2024.
Source: myinfotoday.com.
