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From its headquarters in Johannesburg, South Africa,
IPS Africa coordinates a network of correspondents and
stringers in more than 30 African countries. This vibrant
network of journalists provides news features and analyses
from their own countries, striving to go underneath
to unearth that story about Africa that often remains
untold. The editorial staff at the regional editing
centre in Johannesburg, places emphasis not only on
hearing the voices of those in positions of power and
formal authority, but more on providing access for actors
in civil society and the majority of the people whose
voices have often been silent in the media.
IPS Africa is committed to retain its function as “an
alternative news agency” and to survive the electronic
inundation of information IPS by continuing to strengthen
its coverage as well as find innovative and “alternative”
ways of presenting news and issues. This is achieved
through ensuring that our stories are analytical, thought
provoking, diverse while at the same time linking issues
with broad global perspectives where needed as well
as being country specific.
Themes for coverage
Some of the major theme areas for coverage include Human
rights and governance, Health and HIV/AIDS, Environment,
Population and Migration, Education, Politics, Culture,
Energy, Economics-Finance and Culture.
IPS Africa consists of the English network, which is
coordinated from Johannesburg, and a Francophone service,
which is based in Cotonou, Benin. IPS Africa also translates
its stories into Kiswahili, providing a wider outlet
for information dissemination in East Africa.
Radio
Radio remains a very important medium in Africa. In
order to further capitalize on the core product of news
reporting, IPS Africa runs an established radio product
(available in rip and read format). At least six independent
stories are available on a daily basis to radio audiences
in Africa and worldwide. These stories are also available
in audio format.
IPS
Africa disseminates information through a growing list
of media, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and
institutions throughout the whole of Africa. Leading
private, independent news media in Southern Africa receive
IPS material directly or through networks. Within South
Africa, IPS distributes its material via the South African
Press Association (SAPA) which has dedicated satellite
links to the country’s mainstream media.
 Web
page
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Whilst not ignoring the traditional media - print and radio - for reaching audiences, IPS recognizes the importance of supporting the growing connected community in Africa with local, independent media content. To this end IPS Africa has a dedicated web page www.ipsnews.net/africa/index.asp specifically targeted at its different audience. This is done through mini sites, on HIV/AIDS, Gender, Religion and Culture, etc, that direct users to specific areas of coverage.
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TerraViva
Africa
Terra Viva Africa - a weekly journal providing critical and in-depth reporting on Africa's top stories and coverage of policy and high-level negotiations by key African players directly affecting Africa and its peoples.
Gender Bulletin
This bulletin provides a selection of stories every
fortnight to organisations, networks, academic institutions
and individuals that are interested in reporting on
gender issues in Africa.
Focus on Southern Africa
A bi-weekly e-letter that provides readers with insights
into the issues the region is grappling with - and the
ways in which individual governments are coping with
these challenges.
Media
development and communication work
IPS Africa is involved in a number of media and communication projects intended to broaden the scope of coverage and build the capacity of journalists throughout the continent.
Human rights and governance
Human rights and Governance has been one of the major theme areas for IPS Africa's work. This has translated into articles from various African countries within the network on rights and governance that span from political and social rights to economic rights. Monitoring, educating and informing the public about human rights and governance through the media is key at this point given that governance is a central issue of concern in Africa.
Culture, religion and gender
This project intends to deepen the media’s understanding
of religion, culture and gender issues. With support
from the Ford Foundation in West Africa, 45 journalists
in Anglophone and Francophone West Africa have been
trained. Another product of this project is a training
manual entitled “Training Manual for Journalists
on How to report culture, religion and gender”.
More than one hundred stories have been produced as
part of this initiative.
Enhancing the capacity of female
journalists to cover elections
This initiative is intended to move female journalists
into an arena that has often been considered as a male
domain – election reporting. 12 journalists from
southern African countries were trained to give them
an understanding of electoral processes and to provide
them with analytical skills to report on elections from
different perspectives such as gender. AUSAID has provided
support for training and story production.
HIV/AIDS
IPS Africa continues to provide consistent and analytical
coverage on the impact of HIV/AIDS on the continent.
In partnership with IDASA, IPS undertook at the beginning
of 2004, an initiative to deepen HIV/AIDS coverage that
looks specifically at the governance perspective.
Gender coverage
This is an initiative that seeks to heighten awareness
of the global dimensions and complex nature of globalization
especially in Africa. The project which is supported
by the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa will
enable IPS to enhance its coverage of globalization.
Information 21
Immense development challenges face the Southern African
region, where a consensus has emerged that people need
to take centre stage in efforts to address HIV/AIDS,
poverty and other problems. Through its coverage of
countries in the Southern African Development Community
(SADC), IPS gives readers insights into the issues the
region is grappling with - and the ways in which individual
governments are coping with these challenges. This project
is undertaken as a partnership with SADC Secretariat,
Southern African Research and Documentation Centre and
the Southern Africa Broadcasting Association.
GENDER
COVERAGE
IPS
Africa was the first region within the IPS global network
to develop a gender responsive editorial and employment
policy to ensure that the agency democratizes its own
internal structure and operations. Over the years IPS
Africa has maintained its commitment to gender equity
and equality through mainstreaming a gender perspective
in its coverage. Training of journalists to understand
and undertake gender analysis is an on-going activity.
A training manual on reporting violence against women
was produced.
WORKING
WITH CIVIL SOCIETY
IPS
has been involved in a number of initiatives with non-governmental
organizations in Africa to put the spotlight on, and
to give space in communication channels to people and
social actors neglected by the mainstream media. These
initiatives also seek to strengthen the media and civil
society awareness and networking capacities on human
rights and democracy in Africa.
For more information please
contact:
Africa
Regional Headquarters
DUNKELD
WEST SHOPPING CENTRE
SECOND FLOOR, SUITE 283
CORNER JAN SMUTS AVE AND BOMPAS ROAD
PHONE NUMBERS
+27.11.325-2671
+27.11 325 2673
+27.11 325 2674
+27.11 325 2675
+27.11 325 2854
Direct line +27.11325 2861
Fax number +27.11 325 2891
www.ipsnews.net/africa/index.asp
Regional Director - Africa
Farai Samhungu
Email: farai@ips.org
Editorial
Enquiries
Associate
Editor
Moyiga
Nduru
Email: moyiga@ips.org
For
subscriptions please contact
Beryl Fraser
Email: beryl@ips.org
Cotonou
Regional Office
Ie
Service Français de IPS-Afrique
Tel/Fax: 229 330940
Postal address: 05 BP: 1150,
Cotonou (BENIN)
Regional
Editor
Ali Idrissou-Touré
Email: ipscoo@intnet.bj
Nairobi Bureau
Nairobi Baptist Church Court
Ngong Road
Nairobi
Tel: +254.2.2737673
Correspondent
Joyce
Mulama
Email: joymuluma@yahoo.com
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