Sub-Saharan Africa

Historical Overview

100

What is the first sub-Saharan African country that was granted independence?

Ghana

200

What was broadcasting in sub-Saharan Africa originally intended for?

To advance colonial goals or government interests

300

What is the name of the first television station established in sub-Saharan Africa and is still known as the "First in Africa?"

Western Nigerian Broadcasting Service

400

What are African governments increasingly resorting to when dealing with perceived press transgressions?

Judicial process

High-Level Freedom of the Press

100

High-level freedom of the press are the countries that have what type of censorship?

Minimal censorship -Not without incidents of censorship but diversity of opinions and full expression is allowed.

200

What High-Level country has democratized and had a profound impact on the growth of the independent press?

Benin -Reporters Without Borders ranked them 8th among African countries and 53rd overall

300

Although going through various serious incidents, what country's press still remains to be one of the most robust in Africa?

Nigeria -Fell from 7th to 34th, and from 49th in the world to 131st

400

In South Africa, name at least one of the five things the country has seen since the 1994 democratic elections.

1. Black empowerment in the media 2. The growth of community media and an agency to aid black entrepreneurs in print and broadcast media 3. An explosion in the tabloid market 4. Media market's continued subdivision according to language/diversity in broadcasting, but also with print 5. Media's strengthening of its professional journalism fraternity

Low-Level Freedom of the Press

100

Low-level freedom of the press are the countries that have what type of censorship?

Government control is at a high level and instances of press repression are severe.

200

In what low-level country is radio the main source of information because of limited readership of the newspapers due to low literacy?

Burundi -Reporters Without Borders ranks them 127th out of 159 countries

300

In Djibouti, the government owns the main newspaper, owns and operates television and radio stations, and there are no private broadcasters. What other form of media is controlled by the government?

The country's only Internet service provider is also controlled by the government.

400

What country's government has raided newsrooms, blocked newspapers from publishing, and expelled two foreign reporters?

Ethiopia -It is currently the third-leading jailer of journalists in the world

Miscellaneous

100

A concern in much of Africa is the need to improve the culture of reading. What is the percentage of the adult literacy rate?

70%

200

In Tanzania, what has the press been criticized for?

For it's lack of a gender policy and HIV/AIDS

300

What are some hindrances to the circulation of newspapers?

-Challenge of distributing papers in distant rural communities -Limitation of literacy -Economic factor (purchase price)

400

As sub-Saharan African countries consolidate their democracy, they still face a number of issues. Name at least one.

-Continued criminalization of journalistic infractions -The need for information access laws -The need to improve the journalism profession