Most of what the world reads about Africa is focused on the continent’s many problems—famine, genocide, HIV/AIDS, corruption—and it is not written by Africans. Salim Amin, CEO of the photo agency Camerapix and son of the late Kenyan photojournalist Mohamed Amin, wants to change that through A24 Media, the first media source dedicated to news about Africa by Africans. Amin’s goal is “to create a platform for Africans to tell their own stories, accumulate as much content from around the continent as possible and be the go-to source for anyone looking for information about Africa.”
A24 content comes from African journalists, TV stations and non-governmental organizations, as well as companies involved in corporate social responsibility projects, with archive material from Camerapix’s 3.5 million still photos and 10,000 hours of video. About six new stories appear daily, along with 10 new videos each week.
By sourcing such a diverse range of content, Amin wants to show a more complete picture of Africa—and he wants to help African journalists make a living. Contributors retain copyright of their material and receive 60 percent of any revenue derived from its sale. As a result, journalists can earn revenue from their content for a longer period of time rather than a one-time sale. “People need to understand that there is more to Africa than famine and genocide,” Amin says. “South Africa just hosted the World Cup, and that has proven that we have the capability to do so much more than we are given credit for. It is important that the perception of the continent is changed.
