Culture / Media

Decolonizing Africa’s media means interrogating its form as well as its content. Patrick Gathara examines an initiative which tells narrative stories through live performance in Kenya, and asks what lessons it holds for the continent at large.

Despite threats, regional media in Russia is resurgent and inspiring audiences tired of the ‘official version’ broadcast by the nationals. Tina Burrett surveys the changes afoot.

Chris Brazier looks back over a career as a co-editor that stretches back to 1984, remembering highlights and dark moments from Nicaragua to Vietnam, South Africa to Western Sahara and Burkina Faso.

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Working on a documentary in the Andaman Sea prompted questions for Julian Sayarer about the way indigenous and nomadic peoples are represented in the West.

By Bill Posters.

Joining his neighbours one evening, Dan Baron Cohen finds himself immersed in a spontaneous conversation about culture, justice and sustainability that would be rare inside the halls of academe.

Politicians of both Left and Right continue to march behind the banners of meritocracy and equality of opportunity as if this were all that is needed to achieve a fair society. But rewarding people for their ‘merit’ may be creating a new class system based on arrogant, insensitive winners and angry, desperate losers, writes Peter Adamson.

Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s autocratic hard man, is riding high, with the help of young propaganda-mongers. Lorraine Mallinder investigates a media takeover.

Comedy is an art form. Kate Smurthwaite explains.

Changing habits; Tech takeover; Trust in media; Who owns it?

So many voices online. Surely that means more diversity and media democracy? Not really, explains Laura Basu.

Vanessa Baird writes on the strange mutations of ‘fake news’

Trump has a precursor – and maybe even a mentor – when it comes to waging war on media he does not like. Iris Gonzales reports from the Philippines.

There is no one magic remedy – but lots of strategies. Vanessa Baird writes.

Trust in tatters. Business model busted. And journalism under attack from all sides. So why does Vanessa Baird think that the news media has a bright future?

Update from Kenya by Moses Wasamu.

The story of Radio Inzamba, daring to report on human rights abuses, told by Giedre Steikunaite.

Jokes may have more power to make people think than facts – but is mainstream comedy doing enough to open people’s minds? Kate Smurthwaite jabs back at the comedians with only easy targets in their sights.

As the New Internationalist embarks on its great, democratic, community shares experiment, Vanessa Baird explores the contradictions of today’s media landscape.