Nigerian journalist Michael Onjewu has called for stronger media cooperation between China and Africa, saying increased engagement and firsthand reporting could help counter stereotypes and promote a more balanced understanding of relations between both regions.
Onjewu made the call while highlighting the strategic role of the media in shaping how countries and their people are perceived globally.
He described the media as both “the eye and the mirror” through which societies see and understand one another, stressing that limited media engagement could allow misconceptions and negative stereotypes to persist.
According to him, stronger cooperation between African and Chinese journalists would provide opportunities for more accurate and balanced reporting on developments and relations between the two sides.
“The role of the media cannot be overemphasized,” Onjewu said, stressing the responsibility of journalists to provide accurate and objective accounts of events.
He argued that media cooperation should extend beyond official statements and conferences to include direct engagement with communities and people on the ground.
Onjewu urged journalists from Africa and China to travel to each other’s countries, visit different cities and provinces, interact with local communities and gain firsthand experience of the realities they report.
“As a journalist, if you want to be objective, come to China,” he said, encouraging African journalists to visit Chinese cities and provinces to develop a deeper understanding of the country.
He said such exchanges could help journalists gain better insights into the social, economic and cultural realities of both sides and produce stories that go beyond stereotypes and official narratives.
The call comes amid growing efforts to expand China-Africa media exchanges and strengthen mutual understanding through journalism and professional collaboration.
Onjewu maintained that firsthand experience is essential to responsible journalism, arguing that journalists who interact directly with communities are better positioned to produce nuanced and accurate reports on the China-Africa relationship.
