Listservs and Newsletters
Listservs and newsletters are powerful tools that enable users to get information directly from organizations via e-mail from sources and avoid costly internet search times. This week we feature two affiliates that provide these services.

'Nigeria-AIDS'
A moderated internet discussion forum and listserv produced by JAAIDS Find news and views on HIV/AIDS from Nigerians across the world, information about grants, resources, upcoming conferences as well as research reports.

Pambakuza News
Very comprehensive weekly newsletter covering social justice, includes media, Internet and technology, conflict and environment news. Please contact editor@pambazuka.org to subscribe

Monitoring Democracy in Africa
What role does the media play in ensuring voters make informed choices, elections are fair and coverage remains impartial?

A Roundtable Discussion
This roundtable debate with three MC: Africa advisors discusses such questions as: What should be the focus of media monitoring initiatives? What should be the journalists' role in informed democracy? What is the impact of increased liberalization of the airwaves and the advent of private and new media?

Also see:
A Practical Guide to Media Monitoring
Media and Elections Index

Monitoring the Media
Bias, misrepresentation and inaccuracies are common in the media. Can media coverage of events be improved and and understood? We feature the work of two MC: Africa affiliates that track media content.

Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe Reports (MMPZ)
Each week MMPZ tracks private and public media coverage of events in Zimbabwe. In a tense political climate and restricted media environment these reports provide invaluable record of abuses and attacks by and against the press.
 >> Report: Week October 21-27: Includes continuing violence against reporters; coverage of the mysterious death of an opposition spokesman.

Media Tenor South Africa
Provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of media coverage of events in Southern Africa. The group dissects publications and broadcasts for implicit and explicit biases, sources and overall content.
 >> Recent Reports:
Media Contributing To Xenophobia
NGOs receiving little credit in the media

Online Networking
Find colleagues, media experts and organizations working in Africa with these searchable online directories.

Directory: Women In Media
Great directory of women working in the media allows you to browse by region, country, language, media type and media beat. From International Women's Media Foundation.

Directory: Agencies And Institutions
Organizational directory organized by country, includes donor groups, aid agencies, media and other institutions working in Africa. From Partners for Media in Africa.

Issue Guides
MediaChannel's education and action guides on major themes and debates. Of special relevance to Africa:

• African Challenges: Journalism, community media, AIDS
• Covering The Planet: Media and environmentalism
• Women's Media: Gender equality and gender difference
• Communicating For Change: Broadcasting for development
• Manifestoes: Declarations for communication rights