IOL chief calls for better representation of Africa
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
Viasen Soobramoney, chief executive of South African media group IOL, is calling on the media to better showcase African innovations, achievements and ambitions. He was speaking at the 2026 Media Cooperation Forum on the Belt and Road, held in Fuzhou, China, with more than 200 delegates.
Viasen Soobramoney, chief executive of South African media group IOL, called on the media to present Africa through its innovations, achievements, ambitions and contribution to humanity, rather than solely through conflicts and difficulties. He was speaking this week at the 2026 Media Cooperation Forum on the Belt and Road, held in Fuzhou, China.
Soobramoney called for more exchanges between journalists, joint reporting, training and content-sharing partnerships. The forum, organised by the People’s Daily and the Fujian provincial government, brought together more than 200 delegates from 182 media outlets and institutions in 100 countries.
He also cited artificial intelligence among possible areas of cooperation and called on the media to tell more stories about entrepreneurs, students, scientists, farmers and communities involved in international partnerships. The fourth council of the Belt and Road News Network (BRNN), a network bringing together 42 media outlets from 27 countries, also announced a consensus on developing its activities.
