News Out Of Africa – Sport and Big Brother

We live in a media-saturated world. Indeed, a media-dominated world.

So it’s little wonder that few people in the West – Christians included – show much real concern with the heart-breaking problems that afflict Africa.

After all, the media don’t show much real concern either.

Google News claims to show you what the media are saying at any particular time about any particular topic.

Google News presents information culled from approximately 4,500 news sources worldwide and automatically arranged to present the most relevant news first. Topics are updated continuously throughout the day, so you will see new stories each time you check the page.

Recently I checked on what the world’s media were saying about Africa. Here are the top 10 stories:

1. US Marine Killed Training in Horn of Africa
      
2. South Africa show some promise
   - cricket

3. Out of Africa
   - light-hearted commentary on the missing Boeing 727

4. South Africa leave Ivorians distraught
   - soccer

5. Wessels writes off England's chances against South Africa
   - cricket
    
6. Greek Forces Seize Africa-Bound Explosives Ship
    
7. Bush making first Africa trip next month with AIDS fight in focus
    
8. BB Cameron's going to South Africa
    - a report on the Big Brother television show
    
9. Bush to meet South Africa's Mbeki on July 9
    
10. How Europe Sows Misery in Africa
     

Only that last story – an in-depth Washington Post commentary on how European agricultural subsidies are helping destroy African agriculture – showed real concern for the continent’s problems.

In fact, of the top 50 stories, 13 were about sport and eight about Big Brother.

Africa’s misery continues, unnoticed.