Mainstream news media turns away from Africa

McClatchy newspapers correspondent Shashank Bengali is closing his blog  "Somewhere in Africa"  because he is returning to the U.S.  And the McClatchy newspaper chain is not replacing him  -  in effect, their Africa news bureau is closed.

Bengali is a gifted journalist, I always appreciate his analysis  -  check out this story printed earlier this year in the Seattle Times about the elections in South Africa.  Bengali is also an excellent photographer, this taken for a story about a former Somali pirate now living illegally in Nairobi:

Bengali leaves Africa with a grim synopsis:

I am sorry to say that I find the continent in many ways a grimmer place than it was when I arrived in 2005.  The crises in Sudan, Somalia and Congo haven't gotten any better, there are new troubles in places like Guinea, and the rigged elections in Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe dashed hopes and cost too many lives.  (I'll never get used to hearing someone say that so-and-so "died in the election.")  The rich are getting richer, the poor more desperate, the climate more unpredictable and the population growing faster than any politician seems to reckon. 

I appreciate Bengali's candor, and appreciate his work in some places (like Mogadishu) where, frankly, I wouldn't consider travel.   And I understand the economics of the print news media business. However, Africa is a place that is just too important to turn away from.

The McClatchy Company should reconsider their decision:  a full time Africa bureau from just one location on the continent is the least they could be doing to dig hard for the important news we all need to hear from Africa.