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In a time of exceptional crisis for newsrooms and media companies everywhere, African media is facing huge financial challenges. But this time of uncertainty is also forcing media companies to find innovative ways of coping. Where is the money coming from, and how is the digital transition helping – or hindering – a future economic model? In this episode, we look at the struggles that African media companies are confronting, and the solutions they are finding. In this episode: -Charles Kanamugire (twitter.com/jckanam), Managing Director, Kigali Today, Rwanda (www.kigalitoday.com/) -Lisa MacLeod (twitter.com/lisataljard), publishing consultant, FT Strategies and former head of digital at Tiso Blackstar Group in South Africa -Alexander Owino, financial expert in Kenya For more resources and tips visit WAN-IFRA's press freedom page (wan-ifra.org/about-us/press-freedom/). The Backstory production team is Andrew Heslop, Mariona Sanz, Colette Davidson and Sarah Elzas, who edited and mixed the episode. Music in this episode: Sal by Xylo-Ziko (freemusicarchive.org/music/Xylo-Ziko/polyrhythms/sal)

It’s been thirty years since the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press was born on May 3, 1991 in Namibia. The declaration was not only a proud moment for African journalism, it also inspired others to do the same, and the United Nations launched World Press Freedom Day on May 3 two years later. Though some countries across the African continent have made press freedom gains since then, many continue to struggle with journalist safety, independence and financial pressures. What are the press freedom challenges facing African media? And what steps are being taken towards improvement? In this episode: - Angela Quintal (twitter.com/angelaquintal) Director of the Africa program, Committee to Protect Journalists (cpj.org) - Gwen Lister (twitter.com/GwenLister1), founder, The Namibian (https://www.namibian.com.na) - Churchill Otieno (twitter.com/otienoc), Head of Development & Learning, The Nation (https://thenationonlineng.net), President, Kenya Editors' Guild - Joan Chirwa (twitter.com/ChirwaJoan), Founder, The Free Press Initiative, Zambia (twitter.com/ZambiaFree) For more resources and tips visit WAN-IFRA's press freedom page (wan-ifra.org/about-us/press-freedom/). The Backstory production team is Andrew Heslop, Mariona Sanz, Colette Davidson and Sarah Elzas, who edited and mixed the episode. Music in this episode: Simple Hop by Broke for Free (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Slam_Funk/Broke_For_Free_-_Slam_Funk_-_11_Simple_Hop)

The Covid-19 pandemic has focused attention on issues that have been taboo in many newsrooms for a long time: mental wellbeing, stress management, technological burnout and limits between personal and professional life. For women journalists in particular, where there is an expectation to remain productive under demanding circumstances, these challenges have been compounded. What can journalists to improve their own wellbeing and resilience? And what should editors and managers be doing to better support their teams? In this episode: - Mar Cabra (twitter.com/cabralens), Pulitzer prize-winning data journalist and founder of The Self-Investigation (theselfinvestigation.com) - Tamala Chirwa, Director of Operations and People, Women in News programme - Ritu Kapur (twitter.com/kapur_ritu), Founder and CEO of The Quint (thequint.com), India This season of The Backstory is produced in partnership with WAN-IFRA’s Women in News programme, a ground-breaking effort to promote gender equality throughout the news industry. For more resources and tips visit WAN-IFRA's press freedom page (wan-ifra.org/about-us/press-freedom/) and the WIN site (www.womeninnews.org/) The Backstory production team is Andrew Heslop, Mariona Sanz, Colette Davidson and Sarah Elzas, who edited and mixed the episode. Music in this episode: Gaia by Soularflair (https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Soularflair/CUES_for_film_TV_games_etc_POSITIVE/Cue_1_-_Emotive-Beautiful-Building_Gaia_1536)

How do you run an independent media organisation in a country where the government imposes censorship rules? How do you support a successful media company without folding to pressure from your funders or your sponsors? The internet has exploded traditional media funding models. And yet, in some parts of the world, legacy media - even print! - remain a strong source of independent information. How are these companies surviving? In this episode of The Backstory, WAN-IFRA Press Freedom Director, Andrew Heslop, meets some of them to find out: - Sonny Swe, founder and CEO of Black Knight Media Group and publisher of Frontier Myanmar magazine (https://frontiermyanmar.net/en) - Harlan Mandel, CEO of the Media Development Investment Fund, which invests in independent media organisations around the world (https://www.mdif.org/) - Fatemah Farag, founder and CEO of Welad ElBalad Media, a network of local newspapers in Egypt (https://www.weladelbalad.com) and MENA Director for WAN-IFRA’s Women in News Programme The Backstory production team includes Mariona Sanz, Colette Davidson and Sarah Elzas, who edited and mixed the episode. Music in this episode by Broke for Free (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_01_Night_Owl) and Lee Rosevere (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Xeno/Lee_Rosevere_-_Xeno_-_05_Vertex)