France Médias Monde, the parent company of RFI and France 24, has launched a new digital news channel called ZOA, targeting a young African audience. The platform focuses on feature-style stories and is built by young African journalists. Based in Dakar, Senegal, ZOA’s newsroom is part of the France Médias Monde hub and features an open-plan office where a team of 10 journalists from five African countries work together.
ZOA’s content includes a range of topics such as health, sports, society, culture, and entrepreneurship, but excludes politics. The channel distributes its content on major social platforms, including WhatsApp, TikTok, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, in the form of videos, photos, and infographics. With a mission to amplify the voices of young Francophone Africans through fact-based reporting, ZOA aims to provide a platform for stories that are often overlooked.
The channel’s editor-in-chief, Kaourou Magassa, emphasizes the importance of editorial independence, stating that while RFI and France 24 provide technical and financial support, ZOA has its own distinctive style and chooses its topics entirely on its own. The team works with a network of correspondents in 11 countries to ensure that they are close to the people and their stories.
ZOA’s videos have already gained significant traction, with some of its most popular content reaching over 800,000 views in just a fortnight. The channel’s focus on daily life on the continent, showcasing ordinary Africans doing extraordinary things, has resonated with its target audience. With a range of sections, including Citizen Initiatives, Heritage, and Health, ZOA provides a unique perspective on the African continent.
As a new player in the digital news landscape, ZOA is poised to make a significant impact on the way young Africans consume news and information. With its commitment to editorial independence and fact-based reporting, the channel is well-positioned to provide a fresh and nuanced perspective on the continent’s stories. As ZOA continues to grow and expand its reach, it is likely to become an important platform for young African voices and perspectives.
