The Continent is a pan-African weekly newspaper that publishes original reporting and commentary designed for mobile messaging. Launched in April 2020, it delivers each edition as a shareable PDF on WhatsApp, Signal and Telegram, making high-quality African journalism easy to read, forward and save. The newsroom commissions reporters, photographers, illustrators and editors based across Africa, and emphasises concise storytelling supported by strong visuals. The publication is produced by All Protocol Observed, a registered non-profit in South Africa, with publisher Sipho Kings; editor Lydia Namubiru; and co-founder Simon Allison among its leadership.
Its distribution model does more than meet audiences on their phones: sharing on encrypted apps helps resist censorship and slows misinformation by moving fact-checked news into the same channels where rumours often spread. Editions land every Saturday and range from politics and business to culture, climate and health, with recurring elements such as explainers, quizzes and cartoons.
The project began with seed funding and has since attracted support from donors including the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, National Endowment for Democracy, Internews, the Mott Foundation and Africa No Filter, while experimenting with commercial revenue. The Continent’s innovation has drawn international attention and industry recognition, including the 2020 WAN-IFRA African Digital Media Award for Best News Website or Mobile Service for its WhatsApp-first approach. In a fragmented media market, it offers a cross-border view of the continent told by African journalists for African audiences.