A new study calls on Eastern Africa’s journalists to go beyond headlines and tell the deeper stories behind the region’s digital transformation.
Coverage of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods (DPGs) across Eastern Africa remains narrow, event-driven, and dominated by official voices — a new report has found.
The research, conducted by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), analyzed how media in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Sudan covered DPI and DPGs throughout 2024.
“Our research shows that while digital transformation is taking root across the region, the media is yet to catch up in terms of depth and diversity of coverage,” said Dr. Peter G. Mwesige, CIPESA’s Chief of Party. “Most stories are reactive — tied to events and press releases — with little interrogation of the systems shaping citizens’ digital lives.”
The dominance of official voices
According to the report, Kenya and Tanzania produced nearly 60% of all DPI-related stories published in 2024, while South Sudan and Rwanda had the lowest levels of reporting.
Government officials featured as sources in 55% of all stories, while civil society, private sector leaders, and ordinary citizens were rarely quoted. Eight in ten cited voices were men — highlighting a gender imbalance that mirrors the broader inequalities in tech leadership and access.
Ethiopia showed the starkest disparity, with women accounting for only 5% of quoted sources.
“Editorially, DPI is still treated as a marginal subject,” Dr. Mwesige noted. “It rarely makes front pages or receives in-depth analysis despite its growing importance to governance, service delivery, and inclusion.”
This lack of diversity in sourcing, he added, narrows public understanding of technology’s impact on rights, data protection, and digital inclusion.
Why this matters
From mobile money systems to national ID platforms, DPI is reshaping how Africans access essential services — from healthcare to education and voting. Yet, when coverage focuses only on official announcements, the public misses crucial debates on privacy, transparency, and accountability.
“Media in the region still reports on what technology does, not how it is governed or who it excludes,” said Dr. Mwesige. “We need journalists who can connect the dots between technology, rights, and accountability.”
A call for stronger tech journalism
The study recommends several steps to strengthen media capacity:
Invest in training: Equip journalists with knowledge of digital governance, cybersecurity, and data rights.
Specialize reporting: Encourage editors to treat DPI as a strategic public-interest beat, not a niche topic.
Promote collaboration: Civil society organizations can support reporters through access to experts, background materials, and grants for investigative work.
Support cross-border storytelling: Donors and development partners can fund fellowships that enable journalists to explore regional connections in digital governance.
The report emphasizes that digital infrastructure is as critical as physical infrastructure — and without informed journalism, citizens remain unaware of how their data and digital rights are managed.
Beyond the headlines
As governments across Africa invest in national digital ID systems, e-governance platforms, and data exchanges, the role of the media becomes even more crucial. A digitally literate press can help ensure that digital progress is also democratic progress.
“Digital transformation is not just a technical issue; it’s a governance and democracy issue,” Dr. Mwesige concluded. “The media must reflect the voices of all citizens — not just those in power.”
