Africa being home to some of the world’s fastest growing economies, it’s no surprise that business journalism is on the rise. With an increasing number of Africa-based publications being created, the mainstream newspapers make it a point to provide a business supplement and, as to be expected, blogs on the topic are mushrooming.
“Yes, business oriented publications for Africa represent a viable business opportunity,” says Frank Aigbogun.
He should know what he’s talking. He founded one of the leading business publications in west Africa and across the continent at large. Business Day won the Media of the year category for the 2010 Diageo Africa Business Reporting Awards.
It's no longer the western media that is the leading sources of information on business news and investment opportunities in Africa.
Regional powerhouses, such as South Africa and Nigeria, provide reliable publications that are sought after by the business community both in Africa and abroad. Kenya too occupies a fair share of the business media market both in terms of quantity and quality.
“The African financial media has an extensive influential role on the flow of capital in Africa,” says consultant Jo Crawshaw.
“A new elite club of African business people are hungry for timely information about the economic landscape in Africa,” says Aigbogun.
Quality business reporting from Africa is a sector worth exploiting. To ensure a good supply of journalists that meet international standards, Business Day partnered with the Lagos Business School to train its staff.
“A lot of the journalists also come from a business background, they perhaps have business degrees,” says Crawshaw. As a result, they possess business acumen that gives their reports an extra edge.
In the future Business Day intends to publish an edition for Ghana and create a network of business newspapers dedicated to covering the key financial centres in Africa.
- Frank Aigbogun, CEO, Business Day newspaper
- Jo Crawshaw, consultant, Africa Practice, African focused communications consultancy
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