(Mis-)Representations of Africa in the Western Media: Crises, Conflicts, Stereotypes
(Mis-)Representations of Africa in the Western Media: Crises, Conflicts, Stereotypes

Summary/Abstract: This paper investigates the sources of the stereotypes and (mis-) representations of Africa in the Western media. It founds that the depiction of Africa as the “dark continent” infested with diseases, corruption, hunger and everlasting “tribal conflicts” is caused by the commercialization of the media sector, media monopoly and economic interests, as well as, old colonial prejudice and ignorance. Studying the crises and conflicts’ reporting, the paper identifies patterns that are used to create an image of Africa as if dependable on foreign funds and aid agencies. Due to the media’s partiality, the involvement of the Western political structures and multinational corporations in the exploitation of Africa’s natural resources, their common support of dictatorial regimes and weapon exports into (post-)crisis regions are deliberately left out of the reports. It is therefore difficult to imagine that the prevailing images of Africa in the Western media could ever be altered, save for the fact that African states start being regarded as equal partners in political and economic dialogue.

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