The Future of Visual Design and Storytelling in Africa A Newsroom Perspective

Abstract

Storytelling in Africa has come a long way from the family sitting by the fireside in the courtyard gleaning
wisdom from the elders to just one click and you can access information on anything. In the past, the
legends were unquestionable and opaque. The delivery of the stories was one way. Now we have to
be transparent, interact, authenticate the sources, comply with copyrights, and above all tell the truth.
Our content is constantly questioned. Stories are no longer abstract, they are emotional and personal.
As a problem-solving tool, Design is many things, including a conversation. A problem cannot be solved
without a conversation. You must relate, empathize and connect. Newsrooms thrive on conversations;
listening, creating, reporting, and reminding. The audience wants to be informed, engaged and entertained
but above all, they want to connect. The demand for sense-making in complex stories, big data, and the
democratization of the digital space has made visual design (infographics, interactive graphics, photos,
and videos) an enriching way in which we tell our own local stories and make a connection. This article
argues that freedom of creativity must be tempered with the responsibility of honesty (visual integrity).
We have at our disposal all the tools to create alternative truths, but the future of African visual storytelling
in newsrooms relies heavily on honesty because trust is the only currency that media trades on.