AfricaInfoBase (AIB) Universal Editorial Guide

A cross-sector publishing framework for turning institutional knowledge into clear, practical information for everyday readers and viewers.

1. Our Purpose

AfricaInfoBase (AIB) bridges the gap between institutional knowledge and everyday understanding.

International organisations, African institutions, governments, universities, research groups and professional bodies produce thousands of important reports every year. Many contain valuable evidence about Africa's economies, societies and development. However, these reports are often difficult to find, scattered across different websites and offices, written in highly technical language or available only as printed documents.

AIB identifies, examines and explains this information in clear, practical language. We help students, entrepreneurs, professionals, policymakers and ordinary citizens understand the main findings, why they matter and how they may affect people's daily lives.

Our work does more than summarise reports. We compare evidence, examine whether policies and funding reach communities, identify gaps between official promises and actual results, and present practical lessons and possible solutions.

2. Our Editorial Scope

AIB publishes independent, research-informed documentaries, articles, interviews and practical guides across connected areas of African life and development.

Public Health and Medicine

We examine disease prevention and response, access to healthcare, medicine supply chains, maternal and child health, health financing and inequalities in health services.

Technology and Innovation

We cover digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, financial technology, telecommunications, access to the internet, digital inclusion and technology regulation.

Agriculture and Food Security

We analyse farming systems, food production, fertiliser and seed supply, agricultural technology, climate resilience, food prices and the causes of food insecurity.

Energy, Environment and Natural Resources

We examine energy access, renewable energy, mining, oil and gas, climate adaptation, environmental protection, carbon markets and the management of Africa's natural resources.

Trade, Infrastructure, Business and Economics

We cover regional trade, the African Continental Free Trade Area, roads, railways, ports, public debt, taxation, investment, entrepreneurship, employment and economic policy.

Education, Politics and Governance

We examine schools, universities, skills, public institutions, elections, democracy, corruption, justice, public accountability and citizen participation.

Tourism, Culture and Diaspora Communities

We explore tourism beyond wildlife, cultural heritage, creative industries, migration, diaspora investment and the social and economic links between Africans on the continent and abroad.

3. Our Five Rules for Every Story

1. Use Simple, Everyday Language

We explain technical terms in Plain English and avoid unnecessary academic, corporate or institutional language. Readers and viewers should not need specialist knowledge to understand the subject.

2. Explain What the Findings Mean for People

We look beyond headline figures and major announcements. We explain what a policy, investment, loan, budget or project may mean for an individual, family, worker, farmer, student, business or community.

3. Follow the Money, Policy or Project

We trace how decisions move from government offices, donor boards and company headquarters to implementation. Where evidence permits, we examine who provides the money, who manages it, who benefits and whether the intended results are achieved.

4. Examine Evidence from More Than One Perspective

We do not simply repeat press releases or official claims. We assess potential benefits, limitations, risks and unintended consequences. We distinguish verified facts from opinion and clearly identify important uncertainties or missing evidence.

5. Make Complex Information Easy to Compare

Where useful, we turn long reports and extensive figures into clear tables, charts, rankings, timelines and concise explanations. Comparisons must use consistent measures and provide enough context to avoid misleading conclusions.

4. Research and Evidence Standards

Every substantial AIB publication should be based on credible and traceable evidence. Priority sources include governments, African and international institutions, universities, peer-reviewed research, recognised professional bodies and reputable civil society organisations.

Writers and producers must:

• verify important facts using the original source wherever possible;

• check publication dates and explain when information may be outdated;

• distinguish grants, loans, private investment and government spending;

• avoid presenting estimates as confirmed facts;

• provide context for statistics, rankings and country comparisons;

• represent uncertainty, disagreement and limitations honestly;

• never invent quotations, figures, sources or personal experiences; and

• correct material errors transparently when reliable new evidence becomes available.

People with relevant lived experience should be included where their voices add genuine understanding. Individual experience must not be presented as proof of a continent-wide trend without supporting evidence.

5. Style and Readability

AIB content should be analytical, independent, engaging and solutions-focused. It should scrutinise problems honestly without portraying Africa only through crisis, failure or stereotypes.

Every publication should:

• begin with a clear question, contradiction, human consequence or important finding;

• explain why the subject matters before introducing detailed evidence;

• use concise paragraphs and logical sections;

• define unavoidable specialist terms at first use;

• use relatable examples without oversimplifying the evidence;

• include practical solutions and opportunities where supported by evidence;

• distinguish clearly between what has happened, why it happened and what could improve it; and

• end with a meaningful conclusion rather than repeating the introduction.

Bold text, bullet points, tables and callout boxes should be used only when they improve understanding. Visual presentation must remain clean, accessible and professional.

6. Editorial Independence and Fairness

AIB maintains editorial independence from governments, political parties, donors, companies and interest groups. Funding, sponsorship or collaboration must not determine editorial conclusions.

We may recognise effective leadership, successful policies or positive results while also examining weaknesses, failures and unanswered questions. Criticism should address evidence, decisions and outcomes rather than rely on personal attacks.

People, organisations and governments facing serious criticism should be represented fairly. Where practical and appropriate, they should be given a reasonable opportunity to respond. Responses should be reported accurately without allowing them to replace independent analysis.

7. Visual and Video Standards

Images, footage, charts and thumbnails must accurately reflect the subject. AIB must not use misleading visuals, fabricated scenes or unrelated footage in ways that could cause viewers to believe they are seeing a documented event, place or person.

Documentaries and video explainers should:

• use high-quality, relevant footage and clearly identify illustrative material where necessary;

• avoid repetitive stereotypes of Africa based only on wildlife, poverty, conflict or rural hardship;

• represent modern cities, businesses, institutions, communities and everyday life where relevant;

• use readable subtitles and accurate on-screen figures;

• identify sources for important claims; and

• protect the identity and dignity of vulnerable contributors.

Thumbnails and titles should attract attention without exaggerating, misrepresenting evidence or promising conclusions the content does not support.

8. Search and Audience Value

Search optimisation must serve readers rather than distort the writing. Titles and headings should reflect genuine questions people ask, while keywords should appear naturally.

Each substantial article should provide a clear answer to its main search question, address important related questions and link to relevant AIB background material. Comprehensive overview pages may connect readers to country studies, project reviews, interviews and practical guides.

9. Multi-Platform Publishing

Research should be organised so that one well-supported subject can be adapted appropriately for different formats, including:

• long-form website articles;

• YouTube documentaries and explainers;

• interviews and face-to-face discussions with experts and people with lived experience;

• short videos and social media posts;

• podcast or audio briefings; and

• charts, comparison tables and presentation slides.

Adaptation does not mean copying the same text into every format. Each version should suit its audience, length, platform and method of presentation while preserving the same verified facts and editorial meaning.

10. Final Editorial Test

Before publication, editors should confirm that the work answers five questions:

1. Is the information accurate, current and supported by identifiable sources?

2. Can a non-specialist understand the central argument and its importance?

3. Does the work explain how the issue affects people, communities or businesses?

4. Does it examine evidence critically and fairly rather than repeat institutional claims?

5. Does it offer useful context, lessons, opportunities or practical solutions?

If the answer to any of these questions is no, the work should be revised before publication.

Conclusion

AfricaInfoBase exists to make important knowledge about Africa easier to find, understand and use. Its role is not merely to shorten institutional reports, but to connect evidence with everyday realities, question the gap between policy and implementation, include relevant community voices and help audiences identify practical lessons and solutions.

This guide should govern AIB articles, documentaries, interviews, practical guides, charts and social media content. It may be updated as the platform develops, but accuracy, clarity, independence, fairness and public value must remain its core standards.