Image is Everything...The Impact of International Media Portrayal of Africa

The South African government has taken exception to a BBC report on crime in the country, believing that the news corporation sought to portray South Africa as the crime capital of the world. According to a report in the online newsletter of the ruling party, the BBC "does not understand the universal and social phenomenon of crime, does not understand South Africa, and had, like the most die-hard racists in our country, convinced itself that crime in our country represents little more than black vengeance against the former white oppressors". This incidence highlights the important issue of the media's role in, perhaps, perpetuating Afro-pessimism. Is it a matter of simply telling the truth as it is, or does the international media selectively showcase Africa's failures to the rest of the world? And the effects...let's try to look at them in a more personal manner: Is it possible that being constantly bombarded with images of war, famine and disease could deter you from traveling to the continent (tourism money's important, after all)? Would you (after completing law school and going on to a successful career as a corporate attorney) advise your company that investing in an African country is a terrible idea?