| This study explores the founding of the Pan-African News Agency (PANA) as an alternative regional news organization. The agency was founded on the premise that Africans ought to inform themselves about Africa and the world. The Pan-African News Agency has, in a small way, achieved the aim of informing Africans, but so much remains to be done in the area of news flow between Africans and the world. Although PANA had made significant gains in covering Africa from a different perspective, much of Africa's news still flows from sources other than PANA.;Among the most important goals for the establishment of PANA was that it would contribute to better flow of inter continental news, contribute to national development, present a positive image of Africa, and increase the media market for its products and services.;The main purposes of the study were to analyze its historical milestones, identify weaknesses and challenges, identify its usage in African mass media, and describe its news content and coverage of Africa.;The study covered PANA's formative periods from the late 1950s to 1997. The study used historical/comparative and content analyses. The primary sources included research studies and articles, official documents and reports, and contents of news bulletins and newspapers.;PANA's evolution was remarkable, as were its problems. The problems were so widespread that UNESCO stepped in in 1992 to save PANA. The recovery, begun in 1993, ended in 1997, leaving PANA as an independent, profit-making news agency.;PANA's problems included the low level of literacy among African population, limited media market, limited telecommunications, limited finance, competition from national and international news agencies, restrictive press laws, and lack of vibrant democratic institutions.;Indeed, PANA has succeeded as an alternative news agency rather than as a major global news agency, as its founders had hoped. Besides, it has bridged the exchange of information among African nations and will continue to do so, if the appropriate conditions and materials are present.;Under its new framework, as an independent, profitmaking news agency, PANA may eventually satisfy the dreams of its founders as a formidable voice of Africa in the global news flow. |
