How Can Investigative Podcasts in Africa Become More Popular?
And where can you get the resources you need?
"Of course, the risk varies in different countries," says Melissa Mbugua, Co-Director of Africa Podfest, a podcast festival in Africa that aims to bring African voices to the forefront. "And what's considered risky in Kenya might not seem so from an outsider."
Tip 1# - It's an issue of censorship
She uses the example of Case Number Zero (the Kenyan podcast that we featured last week) as a podcast that took plenty of risks and was "on the edge". But she admits that if you are not Kenyan you wouldn't think of it as sensitive.
The main point of contention was that it named and featured people from the current administration. "Right now, these people are still in office. And even though I wanted to know more. I knew that I couldn't. For now," she says.
And for Melissa this is one of the reasons why investigative podcasts have been slow to materialise in Kenya (and other African countries). "I think, for sure, there are a lot more ideas for investigative podcasts - mainly from journalists - but the slow uptake is due to an assessment of risk," she says. She stresses that the types of stories that would lend themselves to this format would just be too dangerous to produce.
"Next year we have an election. So, I don't expect us to have many more hot, investigative podcasts until maybe after the election," she says. Then she shifts to the consequences: "At the worst you get disappeared. And at the lower end you just get into legal trouble."
LISTEN NOW: In September 2013 Kenyan journalist turned blogger Bogonko Bosire disappeared. "Case Number Zero" is the podcast of a long, hard investigation into where Bosire went.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Tip 2# - Resources. Where do you get them from?
"The skills are there, right? Because we have radio background people. Those from the film world," Melissa says, commenting on the people in the industry that could start producing podcasts without too much trouble.
However, there is a bridging process. "That process of adjustment is taking long. There is still a shortage of awareness about what it takes to make a good podcast," she says. "Production is intense work and to do it well... we are not right there where people are committed to that process."
"However, on the other hand, if I were a media business and I wanted to get big and win at podcasting in Africa I would invest in an investigative podcast," she says. Her theory is that these big, noisy investigations ignite interest and force people to become accustomed to podcasts. "I would use that as a strategy. The banter pods or the entertainment pods will not create the sort of interest in people for them to seek a whole new medium out." They aren't going to download a new app and learn a new skill unless they are going to be served some content that is extremely vital.
"In addition: podcasts can carry interesting stories to niche audiences so donors and funders in Africa are likely to put money into investigative pods soon," she says. "Not that I know of any deals. This is just my prediction."
Visit Africa Podfest.
All the best,
Paul
If you'd like to chat more about podcasts you can just hit "reply" to this letter. I'd love to hear from you.
LISTEN NOW: In September 2013 Kenyan journalist turned blogger Bogonko Bosire disappeared. "Case Number Zero" is the podcast of a long, hard investigation into where Bosire went.
Listen on Apple Podcasts | Spotify