Q&A: Time for Africa to triumph over western bias, says Indian media mogul

Within a period of not more than a year, New Media Group, a major Indian publishing house is expected to have opened a an international school that will churn out media professionals not only for the Rwandan market, but also for the East Africa region and beyond. The New Times’ Felly Kimenyi interviewed Satya Swaroop, the group’s Managing Editor, who talked about his company’s prospects in Rwanda, among other issues. Below are the excerpts. TNT: Welcome to Rwanda, can you briefly tell us about the company you represent here? Swaroop: New Media Group is the largest publishing house in India, with presence in over 125 countries across the globe and we have a magazine dedicated to Africa for building Indo-Africa relationship which was launched nine years ago, to compliment and supplement the focus on Africa programme of the Indian Ministry of Commerce. Now the reason I am here basically, Rwanda, is by far, the most open country among the five East African countries in terms of security, I find it the best and that’s how we decided to set up our company here and we have registered under Rwanda Development Board. TNT: What kind of activities are you going to be undertaking in Rwanda? Swaroop: Basically we are going to start a complete media solutions company, right from concept to implementation, for example printing, designing, editing and all. We will also start an international media School which will not only serve Rwanda, but the entire region and across Africa. We believe that the media can play a very positive nation building role on the African continent, especially in this century. I personally feel that the western media has not been very fair in terms of reporting and creating a perception of Africa. While, of course, their interest has been there in almost every country, I am afraid the perception they have created of African has not been so far very positive, and I feel that we need to create a more responsible media which can depict the true picture of Africa, especially in Rwanda, we need to churn out journalists who are able to tell the true African story through print and electronic media. This is how you can be able to change this kind of perception the world has of Rwanda and Africa as a whole. That’s why, for example, through our magazine, we always try to play a positive role, of course every nation has its own problems but why highlight only problems? There are enough strengths, there are opportunities, there is potential, there are people with aspirations, all these have to be manifested. I think the Fourth Estate, which is a pillar of democracy plays a very critical role and if I can contribute even a small bit in building more responsible journalism, and inculcate that culture among journalists of being accountable to the country, I will be very satisfied. TNT: What role has the media played in the development of India? Swaroop: That is an interesting question, because in India, we are experiencing a real boom in terms of media development, we have media publishing and broadcasting in very many languages, but mainly in English. In economic growth, journalists in India have played a very positive and constructive role because we have highlighted the success stories, for example, we have a tremendous success story in the field of information technology, much of what the country achieved in this field was achieved in one life time and this has created a huge amount of wealth for the Indian community, in terms of employment, foreign exchange and others and all these have been highlighted by the media. Rising from a nascent stage to the stage of take off, the Fourth Estate has really played a role in this. Of course, you cannot say that every journalist has done it but largely the media has been very responsible in reporting. It has not been politically aligned, it has been neutral and business oriented. This is what I think we can learn from India and replicate that model here. TNT: Do you think the media in your country has triumphed over what you called the western biases in as regards telling your own story, and what is the magic? Swaroop: It is not magic, it is about consistency in reporting, for example, when you try to search about Rwanda on the internet, almost all the information you will get is about the Genocide, you hardly get positive information on how the country has and is reconstructing itself. Of course, you cannot blame the Rwandan media on this, this is largely because the internet game largely comes from the developed economies and these have their own vested interests. We all have to stand up to the occasion, that if the development has to happen, it has to start with us, when you talk about bias, we Indians are independent minded; of course you gather information but you don’t have to wholly believe it until you witness it first hand. Take an example of myself, when I came to Rwanda, the information on the internet suggested that I was coming to a place that is very unsafe, where Rwandans themselves don’t get along with one another, leave alone being accommodative to a foreigner like me, but when I got here, actually of all the more that a dozen African countries I have been to, and all other countries I have been to else where, Rwanda is the most hospitable country you are even better than European countries. So, I feel that bias has been there, yes, but we Indians have always done our independent research and this is why most of the biggest Indian investment groups are investing in Africa. We have always looked at Africans as our own brothers because even our own Mahatma Gandhi came from South Africa. We look at Africa not in an exploitative way but as our partners, people we can grow together with because you have the natural resources, we believe in making you stronger and all of us get stronger. TNT: When do you think the international school of media will open for business? Swaoop: I have already submitted the project to Rwanda Development Board and once I get the clearance, I think within six to nine months, we will start operating and within three years we expect to be fully operational with all the services we expect to offer as per our project proposal with all the kinds of equipment fully in place. TNT: How big is the investment, in terms of money? Swaroop: I haven’t quantified the investment because that will depend on many things, for example, it will depend on what land I will be allocated and how much it will cost and many other things. What I can tell you is that this is an honest investment in terms of equipment, in terms of human resource, in terms of facilities which will be brought in from India and other parts of the world, we want to have the latest technology both for the electronic and print sections, everything has to be in line with the latest technology, because Africa needs such. So I haven’t really quantified the cost but what I can tell you it will be a substantial investment. I have the project ready but I can only determine how much we are going to invest after putting into account the land and construction costs which constitute a sizeable chunk of the total investment. TNT: What level of education will the school be offering? Swaroop: I will have to first talk to the regulators although I have submitted my plan, I will have to get guidance from the regulators, the media board whom I intend to meet before I return home. Depending on what we agree on, if it works well with them then we will be able to offer an entire university curriculum; the most important thing for us is to work within the confines of the law of the land, and whatever framework they give us we will have to work with that but what I can tell you is that my plans are big and our intents are really honest. TNT: Anything you may want to add? Swaroop: What I can add in conclusion is that after the few days I have spent in Rwanda, I must say that I am quiet impressed by the hope and eagerness that Rwandans have in trying to shape a bright future of their country. Your country is lovely and hospitable and I can see every bit of the political will right, from the President to the people, which is a major catalyst for the economic development of any country. The few institutions I have visited, I have seen young energetic and intelligent Rwandans full of positive hopes which I must say is quite impressive. This is one of the factors that enticed us to decide to join this bustling market, to be there, to play our role, however small, in the nation building process. Thank you.

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Q&A: Time for Africa to triumph over western bias, says Indian media mogul