InterView Hamadou Tidiane Sy JUN/JUL2013

Photo: C-A Gleason 2012

As a former international Correspondent with more than two decades of experience – what initially motivated you to become a journalist?

To tell truth, I don't know exactly what motivated me to become a journalist. All I know is, at some point, I felt the need to enter journalism school. While I was still attending journalism school, my first piece was published in what was then, a prominent local newspaper - It was a piece dealing with a rape victim when few in the media would talk seriously about it. There is no doubt, this triggered what has become a life-long commitment to journalism and media. Though, I should mention this came after few other professional stints as a teacher in a private secondary school and a small job with an advertising agency. As a journalist - I do know, the sense of satisfaction and achievement in serving the public good was unequalled in ways that could not be compared with any of the work I had been doing before. However, I should admit, this is a tough question…

Throughout your career you have served as Bureau Coordinator of the French service for the South African news outlet Channel Africa and as International Correspondent with Agence France-Press and the BBC to name a few – What led you to step away from the role of journalist?

Is it possible to step away from journalism? I don’t think so. I have tried a couple of times in the past to work for NGOs, but I always had to quit and come back to journalism. This time around it’s a bit different, though I have stepped away from actual field reporting, I still own an online news platform and I run a journalism school, so it still leaves me in the field of journalism, if I can put it this way. The underlying issue is one of ethics and conflict of interest. It has become difficult for me to be a reporter because I am having business interests, via the school and other consulting activities. But my soul is still the soul of a journalist. Now one has to deal with the realities of the job. As I usually say this is a job that is so jealous, you hardly combine it with anything else without creating problems. So, I took some distance from field reporting which requires neutrality and objectivity that as an entrepreneur, it becomes difficult to enjoy.

As a recognized leader in socially innovative approaches for redefining free, independent and high-quality news in Africa, receiving the Ashoka and Knight Foundation Fellowship in the field of Knowledge and Information, due to the work you’ve been doing with the launch of pan-African news site Ouestaf.com – What is the vision guiding these efforts?

The vision behind the launch of Ouestaf.com is threefold:

Firstly was the pressing need for alternative African news. News grounded in an African perspective, news which is relevant and resonates with the African masses. Secondly was the realization of the opportunities brought about by the rise in the ICT sector (Internet communication technologies), opportunities that could amplify the unheard African voices and reach audiences that went beyond the scope of traditional media, unleashing greater potential behind a plethora of African initiatives. Finally was the desire to demonstrate that it is possible for African journalists living in Africa and working within African media outlets to produce high-quality, credible and independent news content that can stand up to what is being produced by International media outlets.

Overall, establishing Ouestaf.com has been a challenging endeavor. What is gratifying is that Ouestaf.com is here to stay, It is an institution now within the African media-scape, of course with it's weaknesses, yet also with achievements and recognized successes. While there have been some real successes engrained in the process, the vision and the ideas alone are not enough. In order to fully realize such an endeavor much more tangible resources are needed to create the change we want to see in Africa. As somebody who profoundly believes in change, I have learned that change is not always an easy goal. At times, change may take generations - but we will get there, or at the very least, we will continue striking a necessary path.

How would describe the character and complexities of journalism and
the media-scape in Africa today?

From my perspective, the biggest challenge is strongly asserting the need for independence -
I cannot conceive journalism without independence. In Africa, many believe that supporting the media means controlling it. There is no doubt this is deeply problematic.

This extends to some of the advertisers who are often waiting for a 'pay back' from media houses that have benefitted from their advertising revenues. The financial weakness of most media houses have left many publishers and reporters vulnerable when facing powerful politicians and business tycoons. Since, the reporters and their editors know that they have some sort of bargaining power with their stories and publications - making it all too easy for them to fall into the trap of exchanging a story for some sort of added-privileges.

We should be aware, those weaknesses reflect the weakness and contradictions within African societies and countries which, in their majority are undergoing shaky transitions. Tough battles between opposing forces are going on, on a day-to-day basis. On the one hand are those forces aspiring to positive and deep change and on the other hand, are those conservative forces trying to keep their privileges - the media cannot escape those battles. They are part and parcel of these battles and contradictions. It hurts to see such things happening if one has spent most of his or her life defending free, independent, credible and high-quality journalism and media.

Panel: Level the Playing Field for Chinese Investment in Africa L to R: Howard French,
Buddy Buruku, Hamadou Tidiane Sy and Akwe Amosu (Asia Society Hong Kong Center)

As a communications and media expert with extensive involvement in international media initiatives and trainings – What key issues do you aim to address and advance?

If I could sum it in three words, it will be excellence, independence and credibility for African journalists and the African media.

The ultimate aims and objectives being to have the journalism fraternity operate with a sense of purpose and social responsibility. This can help African journalist to gain back credibility and respect vis-à-vis the general public. However, this can only be achieved through the production of relevant news that informs, educates and awakens citizens.

As a continent, Africa is facing various development challenges from governance to health and education to sharing of resources, etc. Each of these issues need to be addressed by media houses and journalists need to be prepared to address them in the best professional manner. This is why, whenever I am called to share knowledge from my experiences, I humbly respond. I owe it to the profession, to the continent, and somehow to myself.

Increasingly critical attention is being drawn to the problematic tendency for Western journalists and media to project an image of Africa dominated by deeply negative news – Does this distort an accurate view of realities taking place within Africa today?

You are right when saying there is a common tendency for the 'international media' to portray a negative image of the African continent. Some of it is true, but much of it is exaggerated. I have always argued that such media organizations feed their public with what they need or ideas of what they think the public may need. So, it is up to African journalists to rise to the challenge in portraying an accurate image of what’s happening in their continent with a better understanding of complex issues. However in doing so, there is a risk of embellishing the image too much and falling into pure propaganda, so one needs to find the right balance between wanting to correct a faulty image and going to the other extreme. Finding this balance is what we are doing at Ouestaf.com - at times it pays, other times it does not.

One good example is when we interviewed a Togolese economist and found our interview serving as a basis for a blog from the Chief Economist for Africa at the World Bank. Through this interview, we managed to present an African issue from an African perspective which captured the attention of the top decision makers in the world. Another example was the result of a recent piece we published about a Senegalese IT expert working on a new software. Months later, we received an email from someone in neighboring Guinea requesting to get in touch with the young software developer to learn how they could use his software in Guinea. These are simply two examples at two different levels of impact that good journalism can have in moving Africa’s development agenda ahead.

Obviously Africa has long been in the position of the victim and sadly, many believe it’s impossible to change that paradigm. I say no! If Al Jazeera has succeeded in bringing to the West another 'world view' and shaping the opinion in the Arab world, it means the same is possible for us in Africa to do the same. And how did Al-Jazzera succeed - it succeeded because somebody in the Arab World with the necessary power-base and the necessary resources supported the project and let the journalists to do their jobs. Who in Africa would do that? In Africa we have yet to see any of our leaders demonstrate a clear understanding of the media's role in world politics and international relations. Whenever African leaders have tried to support media-related initiatives, it’s done with an agenda to utilize media houses as their mouthpiece - it can’t work like that. The media is only credible when it is run by professional and independent journalists. As a continent, Africa would greatly benefit in having major and powerful media outlets, editorially controlled by professional journalists, in making the African 'world view' relevant across international relations and within the world arena, as Al-Jazeera did for the Arab world.

What are some of the obstacles and challenges for Africans in projecting a more accurate image of Africa within the global media -
How do you foresee Africa’s future, it's place and role in global affairs?

Everyone is now talking of 'an emerging Africa' - What a surprise! When I started Ouestaf.com, I did so because I wanted to focus on a more balanced news that could also provide a broader view of the African continent, to show it's potential, the good as well as the bad. At that time we were still in the 'dark ages' when everyone was an afro-pessimist! No one would pay a dime to a media house trying to portray an image of Africa beyond the victim narrative. Now everyone, including the international media outlets have embraced the emerging afro-optimism and the enthusiasm that goes with it. In the midst of this ethusiasm, it remains crucial that we remain attentive to the need to facilitate the grounds for balanced and independent news, reflective of the many people and diverse communities of the Arican continent.

We shouldn't hesitate to admit the role the colonial past has played in transforming African countries into a source of raw material and a dumping ground for manufactured western goods, and more recently used goods. While Africa represents, officially at least - roughly 2% of global trade (which by the way is grossly and purposely under-estimated), Africa and Africans continue to be marginalized despite the wealth of their continent. This has been done through institutions and processes which were created when Africa was still under the thumb of their colonial master. The United Nations, The World Bank, The International Monetary Fund - each of these institutions have played a part in maintaining the African continent as some sort of big 'colony' well beyond formal proclamations of independence in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s.

This is meant to change, we have new types of citizens and intellectuals who do understand world dynamics, they are those who will not allow this unfair system to continue, it will take time, a lot of arguments and fights, but we will come to an end of the current system. The West is in crisis and decaying, whereas Africa is full of hope. Even while Africa has ongoing challenges and issues to address, globally citizens are enacting movements and gaining momentum in calling for new and more just system to redress the imbalances of the past. There is no doubt - Africa will definitely benefit from that trend.

In October 2011 you established E-jicom School of Journalism, Digital Media and Communications in Dakar, Senegal with a purpose to elevate the practices of high-quality journalism and robust ethical standards – What compelled you to take on this endeavor?

There are two reasons that stem from my own experience. First, after years of facilitating workshop after workshop, I realized that although these workshops were useful in refreshing knowledge-areas for some of the participants, I often discovered that others were lacking the founding principles of the job. Ultimately, this prompted me to realize there was a need to create a journalism school where aspiring and emerging journalists would be taught the basics first. Simultaneously, after 5 or 6 years of running Ouestaf.com, many of those coming to look for a position with us were not properly trained, either they were lacking the necessary technical skills and/or the understanding of world issues that any good journalist need to be equipped with in order to do their work. Combined, these two aspects prompted me to create a journalism school in Dakar, Senegal. Labeled as a 'school of excellence', but for me it’s all in the same vein of contributing to high-quality and excellence in African journalism.

What responsibilities are necessary for emerging African journalists to grasp, understand, embody, and bring to the profession of journalism?

Uuuhh. They would need a whole lot of things. However, to make it short and simple I would say it starts with having a real passion for the job. All the successful and respected journalists I have met during my career have this passion, regardless of pay, working circumstances and media houses they work. They are driven by the desire to inform and empower citizens, to make the world a better place through the news they produce, publish and broadcast. This is not accounting or manufacturing and it’s not mechanical. It’s something a bit beyond techniques. For me, journalism is a job that combines a bit of talent with a bit of knowledge, supported by a strong sense of ethics and social responsibility. This is what I preach and it is also my belief. All the journalists I admire and respect have these values in common. Therefore, I would be a very happy man to see the coming generations of African journalists either enrolled at E-jicom or those I mentor during and after workshops, come to embody these values with an undeniable sense of professional responsibility.

Can you give an example of an endeavor that enlightened your own determination?

When Mandela worked to end apartheid in South Africa, it was a moment for realizing that the 'impossible' is very much possible. Mandela's awareness of purpose combined with his unwavering commitment is evidence enough that success lies in front of every person who is committed to a purpose and determined to achieve it. On a more personal level, whenever I've decided to quit one of these big media organizations where many journalists are dreaming to end their careers, regardless if friends and colleagues thought I was mad, I have always managed to find my way. I know, the road ahead is still long, but I also know from where I stand today, some of that road has indeed been passed.

Are you driven by a passion, purpose, a calling?

I think it always starts with passion. Purpose, yes definitely - there’s a sense of purpose we need to have if we want to achieve certain goals in life.

When you dream – where do your thoughts, your heart, gravitate?

This is tough question because my dreams are so many. Though I do pay close attention to those dreams which fuel even more inspiration and infuse even greater desire to serve, to serve my community, my country and Africa, and why not to serve the world in the area I am most familiar with - journalism and media.