www.a24media.com
10 November 2010
Press Release: A new dialogue portal on the African continent

To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 'We are the World', United Support of Artists for Africa (USA for Africa) and Trust Africa sponsored, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Africa Humanitarian Action, co-hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), a Symposium entitled 'Reflections on International Humanitarian Interventions in
Africa' was held at the United Nations Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 21-23 September 2010.

The stimulating discourse of the symposium, which included thinkers, practitioners and activists on the continent and beyond, was the driving motivation for AfricaSpeaks4Africa.org, a continent based web portal, designed, developed and hosted by Africa's own A24 media. Throughout the symposium, the discussions, and the results that came out from it truly underscored that the discourse of the symposium was only a spark towards the dawn of shaping a new future. The continuation of such dialogue is essential for setting a platform that would promote dynamism and vigor for African voices, on the continent and beyond; one of the most prominent ways that this can happen is through the launching of a website that has been constructed to do just that, let Africa speak 4 Africa.

This website is live; the platform, will be a meeting place for Africans to have a voice and engage in dialogue and debate towards developing new ideas and paradigms on issues of humanitarian intervention in Africa, including the relationship of such interventions to social, economic, cultural and even political development on the continent.

The relationship between A24 Media, its sister company Camerapix, and USA for Africa began as a collaborative effort in response to a humanitarian crisis; the 1984 Ethiopian famine.

When the harrowing footage of the Ethiopian famine victims was relayed to millions across the world in 1984, thanks to African iconic photographer Mohamed Amin, it touched the conscience of many and spurred millions to action.

Governments, NGOs and individuals responded, sending all manner of help to alleviate the deep suffering of the famine victims. But of notable impact was the solidarity expressed by world's top rated musicians, under the aegis of USA for Africa, who went on to record the hit song 'We Are The World’. The song was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and it went on to sell more than seven million copies. The proceeds from these sales were channeled to the famine relief in Ethiopia and thousands of lives were saved as a result.

Off the back of this initiative, USA for Africa also announced a scholarship program at the Mohamed Amin Foundation (The MoForce), which is affiliated to A24 Media. The MoForce aims to help students gain the skills to pursue careers in the media and raise journalistic standards across Africa. Since 1998, the Foundation continues to churn out remarkable talent and its impact has resonated throughout the African media landscape.

'A24 Media is proud to be a part of this project. It has been a challenging and exciting journey developing the portal and this portal fits in perfectly with A24 Media’s vision of Africans telling the
African story,' said Salim Amin, Chairman of A24 Media.

*http://africaspeaks4africa.org

* About A24 Media
A24 Media is Africa’s first online delivery site for material from journalists, African broadcasters and NGO’s from around the Continent. A24 Media’s business model ensures that all contributors
receive a wide and previously unknown exposure to their content, thereby generating sustainable and generous revenues from the sale of their stories on a 60:40 basis in favour of the contributor. Most importantly, the contributor will continue to OWN the copyright of the original footage. Content generators from around Africa will send their material to our main office in Nairobi where it will be verified and re-edited as necessary to create a slick, marketable and branded story. A unique and easily navigable system has been developed to allow broadcasters to view and purchase high-quality video for broadcast on their TV Channels. This enhances their ability to continue sending high-quality content to us and to reach a global audience with their
stories… An African Voice telling the African Story.

* Notes to Editors:
For information on how to get involved with A24 Media please contact
Farah Chaudhry [email][email protected]
+ 254 733 790 458
For access to the stories and more information on an African voice
telling the African story, visit www.a24media.com