The Inter Region Economic Network (IREN) launched a debate session dubbed Africa's Ultimate Question Series during its 7^th Annual Eastern Africa media Training. Africa's Ultimate Question Series seeks answers and generates debate to key questions that confront people in Africa. The first Ultimate Question Series sought to answer the question "Whose Interest Does the Press Serve in Africa?"

The panelists lauded the media for the crucial role it has played in highlighting the plight of vulnerable people hence eliciting intervention. In Uganda, it brought to fore the encroachment on Mabira Forest, a fact that halted the move. In Kenya, the media has unearthed such scandals as Goldenberg and Anglo Leasing, making citizens to put pressure on the government to be accountable. In Ghana, it contributed significantly towards peace during the general elections.

Exploring the state of the media in Africa, discussants in the debate that was held at Panafric Hotel (Nairobi, Kenya) on March 13, 2009 pointed out that:

• Africa’s media uses Western media as a benchmark. This has made it impossible for Africa’s media to set an African agenda as it is too busy chasing foreign agendas.

• The domination of Africa's media landscape by private/corporate media, state owned media and a glaring poverty of public media is a major threat to Africa's public interest in framing conflicts on the continent and other spheres of life.  

• Africa’s media does not form part of the solution to Africa’s problems.

• The press has played a major role in leadership crisis in Africa by not providing leadership; offering content that neither builds citizens nor focuses on issues that matter to Africans; starving Africans of intellectual discourse;  short term thinking and eroding objectivity. 

It was agreed that African citizens ought to utilize their power as consumers to regulate media, as government regulation is counter- productive.

The Africa's Ultimate Question Series was Co-Chaired by Kwamchetsi Makokha (Form and Content Consultant Panel) and James Shikwati (Director Inter Region Economic Network).

The Panelists included

1. Karen Rothmyer (Consultant Editor, Nairobi Star)

2. Chaacha Mwita (Media Focus of Africa Foundation, Kenya)

3. Ernesto Yeboah (Ghana based Journalist)

4. Dr. George Lugalambi (Head of Mass Communication, Makerere University, Uganda)

5. Onyango Oketch (Visual Artist, Kenya)

Watch highlights of 'Africa's Ultimate Question Series: Part I' on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56bzmyAHGFc

The African Executive will serialize the outcomes of the 7th Annual Eastern Africa Media Training next week.