IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/qualqt/v59y2025i2d10.1007_s11135-024-02045-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

An Analysis of the news coverage of Fintech in Africa: a natural language processing approach

Author

Listed:
  • Hamid Nach

    (UQAR)

Abstract

This study analyzes a corpus of 2,409 English-language news articles published between 2013 and 2023, focusing on the Fintech sector in Africa, using Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques. The research aims to uncover the dominant themes, narratives, and trends in media coverage of African Fintech, enriching the understanding of how the sector is represented. The analysis reveals a significant increase in Fintech-related news coverage over the decade, with a marked rise post-2020, reflecting a burgeoning industry. Text mining methods, including word cloud visualization, geographical mention analysis, sentiment analysis, and topic modelling, are applied to extract insights from the data. The study contributes to the understanding of media’s role in shaping perceptions of the African Fintech sector and provides valuable insights for stakeholders in policymaking, investment, and technology development.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamid Nach, 2025. "An Analysis of the news coverage of Fintech in Africa: a natural language processing approach," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 59(2), pages 839-877, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:59:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11135-024-02045-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-024-02045-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11135-024-02045-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11135-024-02045-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gao, Xin & Xu, Weidong & Li, Donghui & Xing, Lu, 2021. "Media coverage and investment efficiency," Journal of Empirical Finance, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 270-293.
    2. Liudmila Zavolokina & Mateusz Dolata & Gerhard Schwabe, 2016. "The FinTech phenomenon: antecedents of financial innovation perceived by the popular press," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 2(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Wisniewski, Tomasz Piotr & Lambe, Brendan, 2013. "The role of media in the credit crunch: The case of the banking sector," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 163-175.
    4. Mohr, Svenja & Höhler, Julia, 2023. "Media coverage of digitalization in agriculture - an analysis of media content," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    5. Molla, Alemayehu & Biru, Ashenafi, 2023. "The evolution of the Fintech entrepreneurial ecosystem in Africa: An exploratory study and model for future development," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 186(PA).
    6. Luigi Wewege & Jeo Lee & Michael C. Thomsett, 2020. "Disruptions and Digital Banking Trends," Journal of Applied Finance & Banking, SCIENPRESS Ltd, vol. 10(6), pages 1-2.
    7. Nicolas D. Brunet & Danielle Dagenais & Sandra Breux & I. Tanya Handa, 2020. "A characterization of media representation of biodiversity and implications for public perceptions and environmental policy: the case of Québec, Canada," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 1655-1669, February.
    8. Ho, Shirley S. & Cheung, Justin C., 2024. "Trust in artificial intelligence, trust in engineers, and news media: Factors shaping public perceptions of autonomous drones through UTAUT2," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    9. Chen, Zan & Jin, Jun & Li, Meng, 2022. "Does media coverage influence firm green innovation? The moderating role of regional environment," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    10. He, Feng & Guo, Xinyao & Yue, Pengpeng, 2024. "Media coverage and corporate ESG performance: Evidence from China," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    11. Bennani, Hamza, 2018. "Media coverage and ECB policy-making: Evidence from an augmented Taylor rule," Journal of Macroeconomics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 26-38.
    12. Li Ying & Li Linlin & Li Qianqian, 2022. "The clues in the news media coverage: detecting Chinese collective action trend from a text analytics research framework," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(2), pages 729-749, April.
    13. Favourate Y. Mpofu & David Mhlanga, 2022. "Digital Financial Inclusion, Digital Financial Services Tax and Financial Inclusion in the Fourth Industrial Revolution Era in Africa," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-22, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Aurang Zeb & Irfan Ullah & Amjad Iqbal & Mohib Ur Rahman & Shahab Aziz, 2024. "CEO’s Science and Engineering Background and Green Innovation: Evidence From China," SAGE Open, , vol. 14(1), pages 21582440241, February.
    2. Aaryan Gupta & Vinya Dengre & Hamza Abubakar Kheruwala & Manan Shah, 2020. "Comprehensive review of text-mining applications in finance," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 6(1), pages 1-25, December.
    3. Zongwei Li & Jianing Chen & Zhenyu Li & Yanhui Zhang, 2024. "Strengthen or weaken? How industrial internet platform affects the core competitiveness of manufacturing companies," Operations Management Research, Springer, vol. 17(1), pages 220-232, March.
    4. Guo, Jinwen & Duan, Jiangjiao, 2024. "The impact of MD&A digital transformation information disclosure on stock price synchronicity in China," The North American Journal of Economics and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Xu, Yong & Zhao, Xin & Wang, Jian & Xie, Peijun, 2023. "Clarifying the dispute of corporate social responsibility: Evidence from green technological innovation," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    6. Beckmann, Joscha & Czudaj, Robert L., 2023. "Perceived monetary policy uncertainty," Journal of International Money and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    7. Wisniewski, Tomasz Piotr & Lambe, Brendan John, 2015. "Does economic policy uncertainty drive CDS spreads?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 447-458.
    8. Zhang, Zuomin & Wu, Yingjue & Wang, Honglei, 2024. "Corporate financial fragility, R&D investment, and corporate green innovation: Evidence from China," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 62(PB).
    9. Sladjana Barjaktarovic Rakocevic & Nela Rakic & Rade Rakocevic, 2025. "An Interplay Between Digital Banking Services, Perceived Risks, Customers’ Expectations, and Customers’ Satisfaction," Risks, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-26, February.
    10. Xu, Weijun & Pan, Shiliang & Ji, Yucheng & Zhao, Qi, 2023. "Public disclosure with information sharing in financial market," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 53(C).
    11. Hao, Pu & Alharbi, Samar S. & Hunjra, Ahmed Imran & Zhao, Shikuan, 2025. "How do ESG ratings promote digital technology innovation?," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    12. Stelios Michalopoulos & Melanie Meng Xue, 2021. "Folklore," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 136(4), pages 1993-2046.
    13. Oyundari Byambaa & Chimedtsogzol Yondon & Enkhbat Rentsen & Bayanjargal Darkhijav & Mahfuzur Rahman, 2025. "An empirical examination of the adoption of artificial intelligence in banking services: the case of Mongolia," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-16, December.
    14. Ahmad, Khurshid & Han, JingGuang & Hutson, Elaine & Kearney, Colm & Liu, Sha, 2016. "Media-expressed negative tone and firm-level stock returns," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 152-172.
    15. Sheikh Farhan Ashraf & Cai Li & Muhammad Umair Wattoo & Majid Murad & Babak Mahmood, 2024. "Green horizons: Unleashing green innovation through green business strategies and competencies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(5), pages 4233-4251, July.
    16. Anita Mirchandani & Namrata Gupta & Esinath Ndiweni, 2020. "Understanding the Fintech Wave: A Search for a Theoretical Explanation," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 10(5), pages 331-343.
    17. Mohd Fairuz Adnan & Erisya Nadira Efendi & Muhammad Wafiy Asyraf Zamri & Nuremilianatasha Ridwan & Yusrah Yusoff, 2025. "Factors Influencing User Retention and User Experience in Malaysian Fintech," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(3), pages 3259-3272, March.
    18. Peng, Shengnan & Liu, Chan & Wang, Ze & Ye, Zihan & Sun, Xialing & Tan, Zhanglu, 2024. "The impact of the carbon reduction policy effectiveness on energy companies' ESG performance," International Review of Financial Analysis, Elsevier, vol. 96(PB).
    19. Ji, Qiang & Nie, Song, 2024. "How does local government fiscal pressure affect corporate ESG performance?," Finance Research Letters, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    20. Gao, Kang & Yuan, Yijun, 2022. "Government intervention, spillover effect and urban innovation performance: Empirical evidence from national innovative city pilot policy in China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:59:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s11135-024-02045-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.