The liberalisation of the media sector in the 1990s in Niger marked a decisive turning point, for the media landscape and the diversity of topics covered. The opening up to the first private initiatives led to a wave of change that allowed newsrooms to move away from exclusively political storytelling to cover diverse topics such as security, governance, health… and migration. Although the subject has quickly gained prominence and attracted the growing interest of many reporters, it is now faced with a number of challenges, both material and financial, questioning its place in the media landscape.

Radically diversified transformation of the media landscape

In the past, the information sphere in Niger was dominated by state-run systems that focused on political life and government affairs. The media liberalisation of the 1990s disrupted this balance, opening the sector up to competition and creating a plurality of independent media houses. As private newspapers, radio stations and television channels grew, the topics covered broadened to include societal issues, development and even global concerns like migration.

This shift in the reporting space came like a silent revolution, where newsrooms, empowered by their newfound freedom of expression, have taken on the mission of throwing light on the many facets of Niger life. Among the different facets, the issue on migration has become both complex and paradoxical. On the one hand, it presents a realistic and often dramatic phenomenon designed to arouse public interest while on the other, tending to collide with the structural constraints of a data collection and dissemination system far removed from media centres evidently ill-equipped to cover geographical and human realities.

Migration: a subject at the crossroads

When discussing migration in Niger, the media narrative traditionally evokes perilous crossings of the Sahara, human tragedies in the desert and struggles in the Agadez region, the epicenter of migration to the Maghreb, especially to Algeria and Libya. The reporting structure appears to be established within a challenging environment, characterised by the presence of violence and significant obstacles, all portrayed against the backdrop of poignant narratives.

However, this view is misleading. Information on migration, mostly concentrated in the north, is problematically distant from the media centres which are predominantly based in Niamey the capital. This physical distance creates difficulties in accessing reporting zones, luring journalists into areas where both human and material resources are sorely lacking. Furthermore, a large part of the data regarding migration flows is held by non-governmental organisations and various international institutions, further complicating the traceability and verification of information.

“Today, to access information is like a game of ping-pong between the Ministry of the Interior and the IOM. It is almost impossible to secure a dedicated contact to access the resources. You send them emails, and they reply that they are not responsible for communicating such data,” says Balima Boureima, a journalist.

This observation highlights not only the issue of the disconnect between the decision-making center in Niamey and the reality on the ground in Agadez, but also the complexity of addressing a subject that, by its very nature, transcends physical and institutional boundaries.

Logistical obstacles and journalist demotivation

In addition to the distance and dispersion of information sources, covering migration carries considerable financial and material stakes. Travel to remote areas, the need for specialised equipment to cover sometimes hostile environments and difficulties in establishing reliable contacts all represent challenges that can have a significant impact on newsroom budgets. In such a context, the motivation of journalists is compromised. Many find themselves faced with the dilemma of having to balance the artistic and editorial relevance of their approach with the economic constraints that threaten the viability of their investigations.

The situation inevitably leads to a vicious circle: the lack of resources and technical support contributes to a reduction in the in-depth coverage of migration, while this lack of coverage in turn, reduces the interest of institutions in providing the required information. Limited access to reliable data leads to a progressive distancing of the topic within Nigerien newsrooms, forcing them to prioritise more easily documentable subjects.

Legislative reforms and the decline of media interest in migration 

The authorities’ decision to repeal Law 2015-36 in the aftermath of  the July 2023 coup marked another significant turning point. This legislative reform effectively removed the stigma that had made migration a crime in Niger. Nowadays, candidates for migration enjoy the freedom to travel to and from the Maghreb without the legal constraints that once gave the issue a sensationalist and conflict-ridden dimension.

As a result, migration tends to lose its relevance in the media. The disappearance of this restrictive legal framework has led newsrooms to relegate the migration issue to a secondary concern. Thus, newsrooms, often driven by a quest for “exclusivity” and topics with a certain dramatic content, now prefer to focus their attention on other issues, namely, insecurity, politics and pressing social problems.

“Migratory issues today are a subject fallen into obsolescence. With the repeal of law 2015-36, this topic is no longer seen as a major concern in newsrooms,” laments Balima Boureima, adding “personally, I am one of those who believe that information should not be monetised, but in these situations, it has to be so. No newsroom today is willing to dedicate a desk specifically to the migration issue for free.”

The new legislative landscape has therefore resulted in migration no longer being a priority or “hot” topic for news outlets. At a time when insecurity and political issues dominate the news agenda, migration no longer enjoys the same level of visibility and responsiveness as before. This shift is driven by a desire for exclusivity, which unfortunately overlooks the broader range of migration issues and the equally important socio-economic and cultural aspects.

Towards redefining migration perception 

In light of these observations, it now becomes an imperative to rethink the media treatment of migration. The negative perception of the phenomenon, traditionally associated with desert tragedies and stories of interrupted caravans, now needs to be examined and challenged. Migration is not just about scenes of distress; it also reflects economic dynamics, cultural mobility and sometimes territorial development strategies. Rethinking the topic thus means shifting from a fatalistic narrative to a more nuanced approach that highlights diverse testimonies and the plurality of human experiences.

To this end, several experts recommend training reporters in the art of navigating complex environments, while encouraging newsrooms to deploy correspondents in the field. Additionally, stronger cooperation between state institutions, NGOs, and the media could help break through the barriers of centralised information. Networking these actors would foster more direct and immediate access to data, enabling the emergence of relevant and balanced coverage of migration.

Blueprint for the future of journalism in Niger

Recent developments highlight that the revival of migration coverage will necessarily require rethinking traditional practices. Newsrooms would benefit from adopting a more investigative approach while forming local partnerships to bypass geographical obstacles. By investing in communication technologies suited to remote areas and consolidating local information networks, Nigerien media could broaden their investigative reach, even in regions often neglected by administrative centralization.

This is not only about reviving a subject considered “outdated” but also about giving new meaning to the very notion of information in a transitional context. In this regard, migration reporting must evolve into a tool for analysing the social and economic impacts of human mobility, rather than just recounting isolated tragedies. The effectiveness of such a change lies in the ability of journalists to reinvent themselves and redefine their relationship with their sources, placing the human being and their travelling experiences at the heart of the narrative.

Moreover, broadening the scope of migration topics would promote a better understanding of this multifaceted phenomenon. For instance, instead of focusing exclusively on “desert stories,” it would be wise to also explore integration successes, local development initiatives, and migrants’ solidarity networks. These often subliminal aspects provide a fuller and more nuanced view of migration, revealing a reality of resilience and innovation beyond the drama.

The liberalisation of the media sector in the 1990s undeniably brought a welcomed diversification of information channels and covered topics. However, the particular case of migration in Niger reveals how difficult it is to maintain quality coverage in the face of logistical obstacles, difficulties accessing information and legislative changes. Today, as the repeal of law 2015-36 has relegated migration to the status of an “outdated” topic, the challenge for journalists remains substantial.

For migration to regain its relevance as a news topic, it is essential to rethink how it is perceived and treated in the newsroom. This involves deconstructing the negative image associated with desert tragedies and building solid partnerships with local and international actors. By investing in customised and localised training systems for reporting, Niger’s media could provide their audiences with more comprehensive and balanced information.

The path to renewed migration coverage is undoubtedly fraught with challenges, but it also represents an opportunity for the media to redefine their role as true agents of social progress. By reintegrating migration into their agenda in an innovative way and valuing diverse approaches, journalists will help uncover the multiple dimensions of a phenomenon that, far from being exhausted, remains the mirror of complex, ever-evolving dynamics.

Thus, at a time when modernisation and globalisation are reshaping African societies, the challenge for Nigerien media is significant i.e. to transcend technical and institutional difficulties in order to offer an authentic perspective on migration. By focusing on investigative quality, proximity to concerned actors and valuing a plural human narrative, journalism can reclaim its full social and democratic dimension, ensuring that information is not only accessible but also meaningful.

This renovation of media coverage could also inspire other transitioning countries facing similar modernisation and tradition dilemmas. Ultimately, each step toward better coverage of migration realities will contribute to informing, questioning and, above all, bringing citizens closer to the complexity of the world in which they live.

The transformation that began in the 1990s is not an isolated phenomenon but a continuous dynamic that calls for rethinking of the very structures of information. In order to effectively address contemporary challenges, such as migration coverage, a resolutely modern and collaborative approach must be adopted, placing the human being and their journey at the heart of journalistic narratives. This deeper perspective will reignite the newsroom’s interest in topics once considered secondary and encourage a new generation of reporters to passionately explore all facets of an ever-changing world.

In future analyses, Dialogue Migration will look into how other sectors of information are adapting to the challenges of the 21st century and how technological innovations could, in the near future, revolutionise reporting even in traditionally remote areas. Thus, the reflection on migration is just a prelude to broader transformations in the media landscape in Niger and beyond.

Despite the obstacles, the road to a more comprehensive and nuanced journalism lies wide open: a path filled with questions, challenges and constant reinventions, albeit rich in promises for discovering essential truths and understanding human dynamics.