About The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa

MRB-at-BMIA-Launch-1-1 — On February 3, 2014 in Johannesburg, South Africa Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P., philanthropist and 108th Mayor of New York City, announced the launch of the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa.

Timely and accurate reporting of business and financial matters plays a critical role in advancing efficient markets and is a key driver in supporting economic and social growth. Strengthening business and economic news coverage, expanding training programs for journalists, and providing greater access to reliable data about Africa are frequently cited as important enablers of the continent’s continued development. In 2014, Michael R. Bloomberg announced the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA), a pan-African program to advance business journalism to improve access to data and important financial and economic information in order to advance market transparency, accountability and governance on the continent.

The BMIA provides cross-disciplinary education programs and mid-career fellowships to increase the number of highly trained business and financial journalists, convenes pan-African forums to examine worldwide media best practices and support research to stimulate media innovations, growth and sustainability, and seeks opportunities to support the growing community media sector supported by nongovernment organizations and citizen journalists in Africa’s rural and remote communities.

Since its inception, the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa has graduated hundreds of journalists and mid-level professionals, convened global business leaders in five countries in Africa and supported community media on the continent, improving access to information to move markets and contribute to inclusive economic growth on the continent.

The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa is part of Bloomberg’s Global Business and Financial Education Program designed to advance business journalism worldwide and provide career opportunities in journalism for students and journalists from diverse backgrounds. The Global Business and Financial Education Program is offered in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East.

BMIA-Launch-in-Johannesburg-MRB-Johannesburg-First-Lady-Park-US-SA-Ambassador-Gaspard-1 — Michael R. Bloomberg, former Mayor of the City of New York, and co-founder of Bloomberg LP, discusses the initiative with Pili Twala-Tau, Former First Lady of Johannesburg, and Patrick Gaspard former US Ambassador to South Africa.

MRB-at-BMIA-Launch-Trevor-Ncube-Achmat-Dangor-Vice-Chancellor-Bello-1 — Trevor Ncube, Mike Bloomberg, Professor Rahmon Bello, and Achmat Dangor at the BMIA launch in Johannesburg, South Africa (2014).

BMIA-about-slide-ghana — The Honorable Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, MP, Minister of Information, Ghana, meeting with delegates at the BMIA Financial Journalism Training Program launch in Accra, Ghana (2019).

BMIA-about-slide-kenya — Erana Stennett at the BMIA Faculty Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya (2018).

BMIA-about-slide-johnannesburg2 — John McCorry, Hamilton Wende, Bilal Randeree, Aguil Deng, Andile Khumalo, and Khadija Patel at a BMIA welcome reception in Johannesburg, South Africa (2019).

BMIA-about-slide-tanzania — The Honorable Dr. Harrison Mwakyembe, MP, Former Minister of Information, Culture, Artists, and Sports, Tanzania (2019).

Press Release

Michael R. Bloomberg Launches Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa

February 3, 2014

Bloomberg announces $10 million commitment to support pan-African business and financial journalism and advance transparency, accountability and governance on the continent.