CMFD Productions

03/06/2026

While social media continues to grow as a news source, particularly among younger audiences, radio remains the only medium that consistently reaches people across socioeconomic groups and geographies.

That's one of our strongest takeaways from recent Afrobarometer commentary and findings on Africa's changing media landscape.

For social impact communicators, three implications stand out:
🔹 Inclusive communication strategies still need radio.
🔹 Digital strategies should be assessed by who is reached - and who is missed.
🔹 Social media's greatest, mostly unrealised, potential lies in encouraging participation.

For organisations working on health, rights, governance and social change, the question is not which channels are growing - it's who is being reached, and who isn't
The most effective communication strategies are built around people, not platforms.

📖 Worth a read:
https://www.afrobarometer.org/articles/the-signal-is-shifting-what-africas-changing-media-landscape-means-for-communicators/

01/06/2026

June is Youth Month in South Africa.

This year marks 50 years since the Soweto Uprising - a moment that showed the world the power of young people to challenge injustice and change history.

One of the enduring lessons of 1976 is that voice matters.

Today, young people continue to use their voices to challenge inequality, raise issues that are too often ignored and call for change. Through storytelling, media, art, journalism, activism and digital platforms, they are driving conversations and shaping the future.

The spirit of Soweto lives on in every young person who refuses to be silent and insists on justice, equality and dignity.

Throughout Youth Month, we'll be celebrating young voices, creativity and the power of stories to inspire and build a more just future.

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27/05/2026

🎙️ Some of the strongest stories are not created for communities - they are created by them.

Over the years, CMFD has worked with women, migrants, young people, community radio producers and others to co-create stories through radio, digital storytelling, documentaries and written accounts.

These approaches do more than produce content.
✨ They help surface lived experience
📢 Amplify underheard voices
🤝 Strengthen participation and ownership
💬 Create stories people recognise as real

For organisations working on health, rights and social change, co-created storytelling can be a powerful way to communicate, document experiences and strengthen participation.

25/05/2026

Happy ! 🌍

Today we celebrate the storytellers, communicators and creatives who help shape how Africa is seen, heard and understood.

The journalists, radio presenters, actors, filmmakers, writers, musicians, designers, community storytellers and many others who bring experiences, ideas and lived realities to life.

At CMFD Productions, we are grateful to have spent more than 20 years working alongside incredible people across the continent telling stories that inform, engage and inspire change.

Immense talent. Powerful stories. Voices for change.

Here’s to African voices and the power of storytelling.

21/05/2026

Ahead of next week, a reminder: in today’s increasingly digital-first communications world, radio still matters across Africa. 📻

Radio continues to reach beyond digital - especially in rural and underserved communities where connectivity, data costs and infrastructure affect who gets reached - and who gets left behind.

For organisations working on health, rights, governance and social justice, radio remains a powerful way to turn knowledge into stories, connect policy to lived realities and support dialogue, awareness and action.

Its value is not only in how far it reaches, but in its ability to connect deeply with communities, local voices and lived experiences. That's what makes radio powerful.

Our latest blog reflects on the enduring importance of radio and shares CMFD Productions examples of working with organisations to turn knowledge, advocacy and information into radio productions that reach.

📻 Read here: https://bit.ly/4nIywhV

20/05/2026

Who tells the stories matters...

Who tells Africa’s stories ? Media shapes how the world sees Africa and how Africa sees itself. Yet, one-third of stories in African outlets come from foreign sources, often recycling stereotypes of poverty, conflict, and corruption. Our 2021 survey of 38 editors and analysis of 60 outlets across 15 Arican countries revealed:
- 63% of outlets lack correspondents in other African countries
- 1/3 of coverage comes from non-African sources (AFP & BBC dominate)
- 81% of stories are “hard news” — mostly conflict and politics

The result? A continent of 54 nations reduced to narrow frames. It’s time for stronger, nuanced African storytelling that reflects our diversity, scale, and global importance. Read ‘How African Media Cover Africa’ here: https://africanofilter.org/evidence/media/how-african-media-covers-africa/

20/05/2026

If you create content for social impact, metrics and analytics are essential - they show us what people saw, clicked and responded to. But numbers do not always tell the full story.

Some of the most useful insights come from stepping back to ask:
🔹 What content resonated most?
🔹 Why did that story stand out?
🔹 What strengthened engagement?
🔹 What should we do more of next time?

We developed 📖 Is Your Content Connecting? - a practical reflection resource to help teams review content, explore audience response and focus efforts where they matter most.
➡️ Because strong communication is not only about visibility. It’s about relevance and impact.

Download the free resource below. 👇

Content is often reviewed through outputs and metrics - what was produced, how many people reached and engagement generated.

15/05/2026

Posts are going out. Reports published. Campaigns running.

It’s easy to get caught up in continuously creating content and overlook the strategic thinking behind communications that truly connect and drive impact.

Strong content starts long before a post, report or video goes live. It starts with strategy: understanding your audience, what matters to them and how to create compelling content that resonates. ✨

📖 Our latest blog shares practical insights:
💡 8 essentials for content that connects
💡 Why starting with strategy matters
💡 Creating content with greater impact

Less noise. More clarity, relevance and connection.

Read the blog:
🔗https://cmfdproductions.com/why-strong-content-starts-with-strategy/

Posts are going out. Reports are being published. Campaigns are running. Content is constantly being created. But in crowded communication spaces, visibility

05/05/2026

🌍 Do you working with funding partners? Strong communication is key to showing impact and strengthening relationships.
This practical quick guide can help you move beyond reporting to partnership:
What’s inside:
✔ Why communication matters
✔ Tips to communicate effectively
✔ Simple planning templates to stay consistent
👉Get the guide
🔗 https://hashtagnonprofit.org/digitaldepot-comms/strengthen-funding-partner-communications-quick-guide-for-nonprofits
Available on —affordable (and FREE) resources for nonprofits across Africa.

03/05/2026

When journalism reflects lived realities - accurately, inclusively and responsibly - it does more than inform. 📰

It builds trust, strengthens democracy and supports social cohesion.

🌍 2026 reminds us that a peaceful future depends on inclusive, credible, independent media - and the safety of the journalists who tell the stories.