Title: African Advertising (1)
1Foremedia Group
2African governments use Advertising as a tool
versus Media freedom
- Africa's media freedom crisis has a new name
advertising. Governments use advertising to
spread their political agenda. Still, in recent
months, the government has withdrawn government
ads from the commercial press and agreed to
launch a free newspaper articulating their policy
agenda. Similarly, in South Africa, the
government's communications arm has cancelled all
African advertising in local newspapers. These
measures have sparked a backlash among media
freedom advocates, including African Union and
Amnesty International.
3Introduction - In Kenya, the government funds
over 60 of all ad revenue
In Kenya, government money accounts for more than
60 of advertising revenue. Consequently,
government-owned newspapers receive more
government funding than independent ones. This
situation disadvantages independent press and
increases the pressure on media outlets. In
Tanzania, the ruling party maintains
near-monopolistic control over ads in the media,
in part to ensure it does not fall prey to
bribery.
4Advertisement is still seen as a threat to media
freedom
Although an increasing number of African
countries have liberal constitutions, some
governments still see African Advertising as a
weapon against media freedom. In Nigeria, for
example, where state-owned media dominates most
markets, a government-owned newspaper receives
the majority of ad revenue. The fixed-line
monopoly Telkom is widely regarded as impeding
growth in many African countries, and mobile
network operators are gaining ground in the
internet market.
5Uganda, the world's largest funder of the press
and a leading stifler of!
The attacks on Uganda's news media are part of a
broader trend across the continent. In Tanzania,
government-owned newspapers dominate the market,
while state-owned newspapers receive most
government advertisement revenue. In Kenya, the
ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party's communications
arm announced the suspension of local television
stations covering the opposition leader's
inauguration in January 2018. This trend is not
exclusive to East Africa.
6CONCLUSION
In Africa, state-owned newspapers lead the market
and receive most government advertisement
revenue. In contrast, the state-owned newspapers
are receiving only a small proportion of
government advertisements. This means that the
government can use African Advertising as a tool
to discourage critical coverage.
7CONTACT
ForeMedia Group Location Nigeria Email Id
info_at_foremediagroup.com Contact 44 208 158
5552 Website https//foremediagroup.ng/
8Thanks