CHINESE MEDIA, KENYAN LIVES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INQUIRY INTO CCTV AFRICA’S HEAD OFFICES

The paper examines the internal operations of CCTV Africa in Nairobi, finding that while employees generally appreciate the stability and salaries compared to local media, there are significant tensions regarding censorship of China-related news, lack of safety protocols for field reporters, and a rigid organizational hierarchy where supervisory roles are reserved for Chinese nationals.

• CCTV Africa's organizational structure is characterized by a strict nationality-based hierarchy where department supervisors, the deputy managing editor, and the managing editor are all Chinese nationals, while the general staff is predominantly Kenyan.
• Content producers reported moderate dissatisfaction due to censorship of topics involving China and a requirement to emphasize official state positions, noting that coverage of China-specific issues lacks nuance.
• There are significant concerns regarding the safety of journalists traveling within Africa, with staff reporting a lack of security checks and safeguards compared to other major international news outlets.
• The biannual training program in Beijing is viewed by some staff as lacking professional media utility, focusing instead on Chinese history and culture, and requiring employees to sign commitment forms to stay with the company for an extra year.
• Workplace relationships often remain segregated by nationality; Chinese and non-Chinese staff frequently use separate transportation in the field and maintain distinct social circles.
• Despite organizational flaws, many Kenyan media professionals view CCTV Africa as a stable and attractive employer due to higher salaries and better organization than domestic Kenyan media houses.
• The author identifies potential conflicts with Kenyan labor standards, specifically regarding the exclusion of non-Chinese nationals from supervisory roles and the adequacy of safety protocols under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).

APA

LEFKOWITZ, M. (2017). CHINESE MEDIA, KENYAN LIVES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INQUIRY INTO CCTV AFRICA’S HEAD OFFICES. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/CARI_WP9_LefkowitzCCTVKenya.pdf

Chicago

LEFKOWITZ, MELISSA. CHINESE MEDIA, KENYAN LIVES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INQUIRY INTO CCTV AFRICA’S HEAD OFFICES. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2017. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/CARI_WP9_LefkowitzCCTVKenya.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=LEFKOWITZ |first1=MELISSA |title=CHINESE MEDIA, KENYAN LIVES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INQUIRY INTO CCTV AFRICA’S HEAD OFFICES |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=January 2017 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/CARI_WP9_LefkowitzCCTVKenya.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lefkowitz2017chinese, author = {LEFKOWITZ, MELISSA}, title = {{CHINESE MEDIA, KENYAN LIVES: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INQUIRY INTO CCTV AFRICA’S HEAD OFFICES}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2017}, month = jan, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/CARI_WP9_LefkowitzCCTVKenya.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }