The Internet and African IT Journalism

A while back, I attended the first ever IT Journalism Conference in Nigeria in 2003. I was one of the speakers (sandwiched between Adrian Woods (then CEO, MTN Nigeria) and late Dr Charles Alaba Joseph (then president, Mobitel)).

I believe I spoke about Knowledge Capital and leveraging technology to achieve and deliver this (no change there, then,…!!)

The idea behind the conference at the time was to bridge the gap between the IT journalists and the key players and leaders in the burgeoning IT, Telecomms and media industries in what was quickly being recognised as the fastest growing technology market in Africa. That, allied with the rapid rise of mobile telephony in the country and the paradigm shift it was creating in the economy and society in general, meant that journalists were seeking answers to questions they had, wanted access to knowledge bases and sources of information to educate, inform and update their audiences about this new phenomenon that was taking the country – and the continent, by storm.

The industry leaders (telecomms, media, IT) in turn, were looking to build relationships, gain information channel access to their markets and audience [in order] to create and maintain their key messages about their products and services. As occurs in new markets, where there was a rapid uptake of new products in new markets, there were various rumours, conjecture and misinformed stories bandied about in the markets that new Product and Services Providers (MNOs in this case) had to manage, mitigate – or completely dispel by putting out their own version of events. I believe it is the art otherwise referred to as…. Spin …

Back then, the principal platform and channel for IT journalism was (and still is to a large extent) print and publishing media (i.e. the written word – Gothenbugers would be proud!!).  Mainstream newspapers with IT or technology sections, and their new stars – IT journalists. They were covering the hot stories – new developments and stories to do with the new big boys on the block; Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) and their astonishing profits, market growth – and impact on the economy and society. Not to forget their glitches, problems … Ah the good days…

Since then, there has been a rapid rise in the use of the Internet medium to broadcast opinions, news and information about those same markets – and the new genres that have since come into being. There are now numerous websites, on-line chat rooms and bulletin boards, on-line versions of mainstream and niche newspaper and print magazines, taking advantage of greater reach using the same content for a wider market share. 

And through this reach that takes their opinions and comments beyond their geographical shores, often via the Diaspora readership in foreign shores, journalists are able to shape opinion and perception about providers, service quality, issues, problems, challenges and success. Par for the course, you night say.

Yet how much of what was (and is) written, has basis in fact? How much was fully researched, verified and backed by sourcing – creditable and valued? How much was just rumours, unfounded stories being passed on; or at best a single (biased?) source using the journalist or platform of the website to peddle their own version of the story (or ‘facts’),…? Or sourced from yet another website – and simply reproduced…?

Half a decade later,…Read an interesting [print!] article recently about the impact of the Internet on the quality of journalism in general. Was it supporting the identification, presentation and discussion of the truth (whose, we’ll debate later!)  – and the facts surrounding it…?

Or was it merely peddling gossip and rumours…. (no facts required here please!!)

Was User Generated Content (UGC), promoting the dissemination of facts – or was it simply peddling, gossip, rumours, idle chat, mischief making…?
Here’s a simple test – how many times have you come across a joke or story that was first sent to you as part of a link sent to numerous other recipients – only for it to appear from another source (friend, spouse, family, work colleague). The story has now acquired what I like to call an ‘Internet truth’ – various people have seen it, read it, reproduced it, forwarded it, begun to use it as a reference point for discussion , debate; arguing the facts,…

The power of the Internet is insidious,… you log on, write (or reproduce) your story/opinion/version/commentary (delete as appropriate!), hit the ‘Publish’ button, and presto hey, … one to several million people have the opportunity to read your content, form an opinion – or ignore it!

In that case, should we be selective in where we go to ‘consume’ our on-line journalism – and what IS on-line journalism in this case, anyway…?

How do we assess the standards to which readers accept and receive their on-line journalism – and to what standards should we be holding these journalists and the sources of their content?