Think Africa Press Gives Breadth and Depth to African Coverage

"Think Africa Press is a long overdue source of analysis and critical commentary at a time when the world is waking up to the fact that Africa matters for us all."

Dr Phil Clark, lecturer in African Studies, SOAS

15th April 2011 - London - Think Africa Press, a free online publication committed to insightful and enlightening news analysis and commentary on a variety of African affairs has officially launched - http://thinkafricapress.com/

In recent weeks African news stories have dominated the headlines, with the world's eyes on fighting in Libya and the Ivory Coast, regime change in Egypt, elections in Nigeria and the secession of South Sudan. Think Africa Press aims to give the these stories, and others from the continent, the thoughtful and specialist treatment necessary to place them in their local and historical context.

Run from London headquarters by multi-national staff, Think Africa Press engages a network of expert correspondents – both on the ground in Africa and from around the world. As a free-to-access website with an exclusively African focus Think Africa Press can provide in-depth, quality content to readers around the world.

Commenting on the launch, Woody Webster, co-founder of Think Africa Press, said: “We're aiming to be the platform for debate on Africa's most pressing issues, with an unchallenged range and depth. We strongly believe that the latest news and opinions will gain in value by being presented alongside specialist high quality features on business, economics and history.

We aim to make Think Africa Press the home of not only the most complete coverage but also the most informed and constructive discussion of Africa's present and future.”

In addition to the well-established in-house editorial team, Think Africa Press harnesses the ideas of some of the world's leading thinkers on Africa through its Experts Panel which already includes the likes of Mahmood Mamdani, Richard Dowden and Raquel Rolnik. The site boasts interviews with the Zambian President, Rupiah Banda, Dr Muhammed Pate, Director of Nigeria's National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood.

James Schneider, editor of Think Africa Press, said: “While there is no shortage of rolling news from the African continent, very little of it is properly contextualised. The depth of our focus sets us apart from other news sources, providing important and often neglected background information for outsiders, and original reporting and new viewpoints for locals and specialists, while our engagement with our readership allows us to identify gaps in conventional media reporting and fill them with unique content.”