As a journalist with over 25 years of experience, Leslie Dodson has grown weary of individuals especially fellow journalists who misrepresent Africa. Dodson has reported throughout the world for CNN, Reuters covering politics, economics, and international finance organizations. Over the years she has witnessed journalists, NGOs and even researchers falsely sensationalize African stories for global reactions.
In her TED Talk, Dodson calls for individuals to present stories from Africa objectively and fairly.
“We often see these monolithic homogeneous stories about the great country of Africa; but Africa is not a country, it’s 54 countries and thousands and thousands of languages. So my question is, is this imagery productive or is it reductive?” She asks passionately.
Leslie Dodson urges for the media and researchers to stop constantly representing the entire Africa as one big disaster and take the time to report on more positive stories.
Performed at TEDGlobal 2011. *Information acquired and copyrighted to TEDGlobal
