“Shaping Development Conversations in Africa: The Role of Media in the Digital Environment” African Media Leaders Vote on Theme of AMLF 2015
Nairobi, 25 March, 2015 – The 2015 African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from November 11 – 13 under the theme: “Shaping Development Conversations in Africa: The Role of Media in the Digital Environment”.
In an announcement of the date and theme of the November Forum, the Board of Trustees and management of the African Media Initiative (AMI) said it had asked media leaders across the continent to prioritise six possible topics to be discussed during the AMLF. The outcome of the survey pointed to some important differences between Francophone and Anglophone speakers, but the top choices in both languages were, the Media and Development and Adapting to Digital Technology themes.
The other subjects, in order of preference, included: Audience Data and Media Performance; Achieving Success in the News Business; Assessing New (foreign) Players in African Media; and Production Costs, and Newspaper Distribution & Circulation. Based on a linguistic breakdown, the top choice in English was the Media and Development theme, closely followed by Achieving Success in the News Business. In French, the top two choices were, respectively, Adapting to Digital Technology and Media & Development themes.
“We will make sure that the AMLF 2015, which will be at its 7th edition, not only focuses on the key concerns of the industry but also comes out with a clear road map on how we deal with these issues,” said Dr. Roukaya Kasenally, the organization’s Senior Adviser for media development. “AMI has carried out some important studies on the state of media in Africa and will ensure that these findings inform the Forum discussions.”
AMLF Coordinator, Noreen Wambui, on her part, pointed to the innovations in the 2015 Forum. “The first of these,” she said, “is the decision to be all-inclusive and have all the themes discussed in plenary sessions.” “We will have thematic exhibitions, with a Media Space that will offer a free venue for all participating media houses to showcase their products and engage in partnership discussions; an AMI Open-House that will display the organization’s service offerings; and a sponsors’ Exhibition Area. Finally, we will launch the first Africa Media Awards – the Zimeo – to celebrate excellence in African media” said Wambui.
Two training bootcamps for journalists on subjects that are yet to be chosen, and a special symposium on ‘Overcoming Hate Speech in Media’ will be organised in the lead up to the AMLF.