Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Tips for Chinese Journalists Covering Africa

The UK-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) sponsored five Chinese journalists' travel to Kenya in February 2014 to investigate sustainable development issues associated with China's engagement there.  In a short piece dated 2 May 2014 titled "China-Africa Relations: Fresh Perspective from Chinese Journalists on Environmental Challenges" Xue Weng, IIED researcher, offers three suggestions to Chinese journalists reporting on sustainable development issues in Africa. 

She emphasized the need to educate the Chinese public about Africa, noting by way of example that ivory is highly prized in China but many Chinese do not understand that you have to kill an elephant to have ivory.  She pointed out that in some cases Africans are doing more to preserve the environment than Chinese are doing in China and urged this be covered in Chinese reporting.  Finally, she emphasized the need to move away from the "China-centric" approach of Chinese journalists in dealing with Africa.