The Moth urges African journalists to adopt empathetic reporting on key societal issues

Storytelling organisation The Moth on Friday called on African journalists to prioritize human-centered narratives, empathy, and dignity when reporting on major societal issues including healthcare, safety, and family life.

Speaking at a media roundtable at the Tamarind Hotel in Kenya’s capital Nairobi, representatives of the U.S.-headquartered global non-profit organization emphasized that moving beyond statistics to highlight lived human experiences remains critical to impactful journalism.

The media session was convened ahead of the seventh edition of “The Moth Mainstage” in Nairobi, scheduled for Saturday at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) under the theme “Now or Never.”

Sarah Austin Jenness, Executive Producer at The Moth, noted that first-person narratives have demonstrated a long-term capacity to drive institutional change worldwide.

“The Moth has been around for 30 years, and I have listened to more than 1,000 stories. I have seen stories change policies at the United Nations,” Jenness said, adding that support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will enable the organization to expand its international and public storytelling operations.

Gina Duncan, Chief Executive Officer of The Moth, highlighted Africa’s pivotal role in the organization’s expanding international footprint as it explores new storytelling formats.

“Africa is in the middle of what we are doing globally,” Duncan stated during the event.

Local organizers and storytellers at the session underscored how narrative techniques used on stage mirror the core responsibilities of modern journalism.

Josephine Kharay Macharia, Producer of the Nairobi Mainstage and founder of Bluegrass Solutions, observed that media coverage is increasingly shifting toward building direct, individual connections with audiences.

“The stories on the stage are Saturday’s news. The issues behind them are what is happening today, tomorrow, and throughout this week. They are people’s lived realities, and they deserve to be heard,” Macharia said.

Healthcare professionals also attested to the value of empathetic communication. Dr. Michael Maina, an Accident and Emergency physician at Kenyatta National Hospital, noted that mastering personal narrative techniques helped humanize medical data and improved patient advocacy in clinical settings.

The upcoming Mainstage performance will feature five storytellers from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone sharing true, unscripted personal accounts spanning public health challenges, personal survival, and family guardianship.

Founded in 1997, The Moth operates globally through live events, educational workshops, community outreach initiatives, and broadcast programming.