International media organisations were formally admitted into the African Union of Broadcasting during its 15th General Assembly in Gaborone, Botswana
The Pan Afrikanist Watchman
Sputnik Africa, Russia Today, Voice of America, China Media Group and MTA Africa were today admitted into the African Union of Broadcasting Group at its 15th General Assembly being held in Gaborone, Botswana.
The inauguration of the new AUB members took place at the Union’s Congress, which was officially opened by Botswana’s Vice President Slumber Tsogwane on Tuesday 3rd September 2024.
Members of the Sputnik team Victoria Budanova, the Africa department head and Correspondent, Viktor Anokhin, as well as Svyatoslav Shchegolev, RT’s Head of Africa News and Nikita Volkov, Producer, International Cooperation department of RT met The Pan Afrikanist for an impromptu interview early on Monday.
It is the team’s first visit to Botswana and they expressed great excitement to have become new members of the AUB, which “we became part of last year”.
Budanova said that Sputnik is happy to be part of the family of African media, as unlike the western media landscape, Africa is more free, where one can show a wider diversity of content – something that African peoples are most interested in.
“This is what we have heard numerous times from our African media partners, African journalists, and, of course our dearest listeners, as Sputnik is not only a news agency but radio as well”, she remarked.
Russian media, including Sputnik, is banned in the west and according to many of “our African partners, this move is equivalent to censorship in its clearest form”, since the concept of freedom of speech stipulates that all points of view should be offered.
She said their presence in Botswana is a huge opportunity for them to meet representatives of local media agencies and radios to discuss future cooperation.
“We are honoured to have already been able to hold fruitful conversations with representatives of Botswana radio and media agencies that are more than eager to cooperate” Budanova said.
Further, she revealed that Sputnik has signed several dozens of agreements with African media counterparts. “In fact, we are already closely cooperating with Botswana media, which use Sputnik Africa’s content for publishing”, she said.
Overall, she said they can foster these relations and are ready to improve already existing cooperation.
Collaboration agreements with African countries’ outlets are based on mutual terms, as “we successfully use the opportunity to exchange first-hand information and that is exactly what our partners value most”.
This is particularly important in this era when fake news and misinformation are widespread, it is essential to provide quality information – Sputnik about Russian initiatives and African media about events in their countries.
“This is the foundation for painting an objective picture of what is going on around the globe”, she said.
As a radio, Sputnik also produces radio podcasts presented by its radio hosts from a diverse array of countries. Likewise, they are a news agency, and able to offer articles and analyses in written format.
“We are present on many social media platforms where our content can be viewed, read and listened to. For now, we are broadcasting in some countries of the continent and we are negotiating cooperation opportunities in other African states as well”, Budanova said.
Joyce of China Media Group (CMG)
In particular, the countries of broadcasting include Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger and Mali. She said they are about to open their representation in Ethiopia, whilst simultaneously developing their network of correspondents on the continent.
“We are looking forward to closer cooperation with African partners on the continent, whom we meet in particular at media events that the AUB. We are willing to assist and work with African partners who are interested in content that we provide,” she said.
The 15th Annual General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) converged players in African broadcast media to discuss the future of the industry, particularly in the face of challenges posed by new technologies and climate change around the theme: “The Future of African Media in the Face of the Challenges of New Technologies and Climate Change.”
(C) TPA2024
