Archives for April 2011

United States-based writer Leslie Goffe is what we in the business call a 'sure-thing'. His work is always high quality and inviting - humane but also hard-hitting. Look no further than this - which is in the latest issue of BBC Focus on Africa magazine. Believe it or not, one of our largest readerships is in the United States. I'd like to think that this has to do with more than just the significant size of the African diaspora living there. Africa is increasingly being described as the new frontier. In fact, the great, the good and the prominent insist that the continent will push to the front of the world queue in the near-future. Perhaps that's one of the reasons why so many are returning home from abroad. Do you think there's anything to come home to?

One of the most difficult parts of editing the Focus on Africa magazine is getting the updates ready for press. The magazine comes out every three months, so these pieces need to remain as topical as possible for as long as possible. Also, they are the first pages you'll come across so they have to make a good impression.
Two issues back we struggled over what to say about Ivory Coast. It was late November and the election had just taken place. A winner had even been declared. Problem was that the incumbent Laurent Gbagbo was refusing to budge. We delayed and delayed as much as possible to try and keep a fast-moving story fresh, thinking there would be an outcome before our printers put an end to our procrastination. It's April now and I think the piece printed in that January to March editon is still pretty fresh - says a lot don't you think?
By the way, the new editon is out now. We've got lots of good feedback on the coverage of the North African uprisings. My colleague Damian Zane edited that issue and I know at the time of going to press he had some concerns about the Libya coverage going out of date. Again, he needn't have worried.
Nigeria votes today. Let's hope in a few months' time it won't be business as usual there too.