This sounds like a very difficult situation. All of our media partners are facing financial challenges, political pressure and lots of misinformation. How do we support our media partners and their journalists in this environment?

Arnold Felix-Elba: Training is key. We have three areas of work: We have trained fact-checkers to run the iVerify platform, a UNDP-created platform run by members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists and the Independent Radio Network, which helps separate truth from fiction. We have been running training sessions around the country, providing local journalists and social media influencers with the skills to help them understand the tactics, motivations behind information disorder, and how to detect and debunk it – as well as issues of safety and security for those covering elections. And we are also running training sessions for marginalised groups who are often left out of discussions around misinformation and media literacy – to ensure they understand how to detect false and misleading information, and what to do if they come across it.

Can you tell me a bit more about the iVerify platform, which is run by local journalists to address some of the misinformation that has been circulating? It’s addressed more than 40 rumours and false stories so far!

Marian Tina Conteh: We have been providing the training for the factcheckers who run the platform. It is operated as a local initiative; we do not own or run it ourselves. But it is making a huge impact with journalists and audiences. Now, when people come across some new information they’ll often ask if it should be fact-checked. And yes, they need to, especially if they think the information is not correct or if you’re not sure.

Arnold: To give you an example, there’s a popular social media commentator who put out a claim that parliament had closed and that the sitting president was no longer president. This was widely circulated online, but the information was completely false - because the constitution doesn't say that. The iVerify platform was able to demonstrate that claim was completely false and misleading.

Could you tell me more about the training we have been working on?

Arnold: Our job has been to train journalists, social media influencers and bloggers on mis- and disinformation and in media literacy. That’s what we’re focused on.

And we’ve had some wonderful testimonies about the value of our work. In one session, we discussed how promoting false information could even destabilise the democracy of Sierra Leone.

Marian: We did several sets of training, right across the country. We identified some of the main blogs in the country, and trained bloggers as well as journalists from our partner radio stations. We’re also preparing training for people living with disabilities and youth groups, because we know they often don’t get any media literacy training. Surveys often show that young people are perpetrators of misinformation.

We’ve also seen fewer female journalists taking part in the training. So we’re planning to arrange more training focused on them, for both traditional and digital media. 

The reactions have been really encouraging. Our participants say they now understand much more about the responsible use of social media, and some of the journalists have organised programmes and social media campaigns about media literacy and the danger of false and misleading information for their audiences. One blogger told us, “I thought I knew a lot in this field, but the training convinced me that I did not. I can now identify untrue news stories or fake news.”

Another blogger called the training “an exciting learning experience”.

“Survival is critical for a young guy like me, and to tell the truth, we receive huge money from politicians to spread mis/disinformation. Before this training, I did not know the impact of my actions, but from now on, I will be mindful of what I post and share online.”

Larry, can you tell us about the work we’ve been doing on social media to support this training?

Larry Tucker: During elections, people use Facebook as the main platform and it’s the place where the political parties propagate their propaganda. People then post and share incorrect information. So we’re working to help audiences understand how to use Facebook properly, how to protect themselves online and know what misinformation is.

We want people to understand how they can verify what they see online so they don’t fall victim to propagating propaganda messages. We've done a series of public service announcements with local comedians. These are interesting, entertaining, and give a clear message. They’ve performed very well on our

With less than two weeks left in the campaign, what is next?

Arnold: Because we are partners with Sierra Leone’s Independent Radio Network, we’ve been helping them form ideas for their 30-minute programmes that talk about mis- and disinformation. And as part of our training, we’ll continue to give support in producing their shows.

主播大秀 Media Action Sierra Leone can be found on Facebook @bbcmediaactionLS and on Twitter @bbcmasl. Read more about our work in the country on our  and learn more about in Sierra Leone.

Livestreaming arrests

For a few weeks, the protests continued, and quickly grew from a few hundred to hundreds of thousands. They were joined by government officers, bank employees and even medical staff. By the coup’s third week, Myanmar was at a near-standstill, with shopping malls closed, demonstrations throughout the day and curfews imposed at night.

In turn, the security forces became more aggressive, with reports of many night-time arrests, and the use of stun grenades and live ammunition on demonstrators and during house-to-house searches. Large demonstrations turned into local neighbourhood protests; human rights organisations say security forces have been using extreme violence in cracking down on these gatherings. By the beginning of May, a monitoring group reported more than 760 people had been killed and nearly 4,000 remain in detention.

Over the last three months, the military has shut down internet access at night and has periodically blocked mobile data communication. Access to information is curtailed and access to social media platforms regularly blocked. Some journalists have been using social media to livestream arrests and harassment by the military, but intermittent shutdowns make it harder to share and access that information.

Local journalists threatened

The safety of journalists is under threat, both in the larger cities such as Yangon and Mandalay, and in ethnic areas where there are few national or international journalists. I have worked closely with local journalists from my work filming in these areas for our 主播大秀 Media Action TV series Khan Sar Kyi (Feel It), which brought leaders to meet and discuss major issues with local communities. Many of my journalist friends are now in hiding for fear of arrest.

They have spent years reporting from the front lines of ethnic conflict, and have skills and experience in negotiating and reporting on conflict in a high-risk media environment. However, most of these agencies are small, local operations that are an easy target for search, raid and arrest procedures from local authorities and security forces.

This month, while the world marked World Press Freedom Day, I counted the number of my Myanmar journalist friends who are detained, or fleeing. Over 70 have been arrested; 30 of those have been released, and more than 40 have been prosecuted. At least 20 more still face arrest warrants for doing their job. Some journalists now face charges under the Penal Code that carry a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison. Six media outlets’ licenses have been revoked, including two popular TV channels which were broadcasting Khan Sar Kyi.

Yet amidst the current crisis, the Myanmar public has adapted swiftly to the changing media landscape. They are using a range of virtual private networks (VPNs) that allow them to circumvent blocks on Internet and social media, and they switch between encrypted messaging apps to share information safely and discreetly. With trusted independent TV and radio channels now largely blocked and struggling to reach their audiences, people are turning to social media for news, to watch events unfold in real-time, and to organise protests. These young, often first-time voters are still ready to risk their lives for democracy.

The echo of bullets

I write this now from Kathmandu; I returned to Nepal after my application for a visa renewal was refused in March. I feel safer here. But when I hear a loud noise, I can’t forget the echo of bullets. And I still feel alarmed when I see a police officer.

I haven’t slept well since the coup began. Thoughts of my Burmese friends haunt me still. They cannot sleep from the sound of gunfire and fear of arrest. They stay awake all night to keep watch and protect their community. How can I sleep peacefully?

主播大秀 Media Action has been working in Myanmar since 2013, and at the time of the coup was producing Khan Sar Kyi (Feel It) and Tea Cup Diaries, a popular radio drama that tackled social, religious and ethnic divides, as well as projects on COVID-19 prevention and on sexual and reproductive health and rights. While some of 主播大秀 Media Action's work in the country has been able to adapt and continue, Tea Cup Diaries and Khan Sar Kyi are currently on hold.

Now that Zambia is deep in a second wave of COVID-19 infections, our local radio partners face even more complex challenges.

Advertising has dropped even more as small businesses fight to survive and larger ones redirect their spending. And small production teams are trying to continue their programmes while keeping themselves safe, working on rotation and spending more on telephone and Internet when they cannot interview people in person. In one case I know of, a radio station had to pause production when its entire production team tested positive!

But I also know small radio stations are making a difference in their communities. Before joining 主播大秀 Media Action, I was one of their mentees, at a radio station in the south of the country. So I understand how critical these voices are in providing important information that people need for their day-to-day lives, as well as platforms for debate and discussion.

The power to speak and be heard

What I find most inspiring is seeing communities speaking up about their concerns and holding leaders to account. At one radio station, we were able to inspire a group of young listeners to join a debate broadcast to ask questions of local decision-makers. After this, they realised they could be a part of the solution and formed a youth co-operative, working to improve the community, helping each other with loan applications for starting businesses, and having follow-up meetings with local councillors on issues of concern. 

Young people began to realise they have the solutions – they just needed an impartial platform to allow them to challenge cultural norms and ask questions of elders and decision-makers. Radio gave them the voice and the power to speak and be heard.

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Radio Waves is funded by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida).

主播大秀 Media Action’s work in Zambia is providing a foundation for learning in PRIMED - Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development. This 主播大秀 Media Action-led consortium, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, aims to support independent media and deliver ground-breaking research and learning on what is most effective in creating sustainable media.

Iraq was just registering its first handful of COVID-19 cases when Al Mirbad’s Editor-in-Chief was approached by Dr Abbas Timmimi, Director of the Basra Health Department.

He felt warnings about the approaching pandemic were not being taken seriously enough – by the public, and also by the central government, which had not enforced border closures with Iran due to a fear of backlash from Iranian-backed militias, even though Iran was one of the worst affected countries at that time.

Al Mirbad is a household name in Iraq, renowned for providing impartial and accurate news, investigative journalism, political satire and social content to its ever-growing audiences on radio and digital media since its founding by 主播大秀 Media Action in 2005.

With 48% of adults in Basra being regular Al Mirbad consumers, and with Basra being one of the provinces worst affected by COVID-19, the broadcaster is uniquely placed to help people survive the pandemic and cope with its repercussions on daily life. And true to its reputation, Al Mirbad’s reporting from the border crossing with the Director exposed the issue and led central government to finally close the border, helping to limit further spread of the virus in Iraq.

Since then, Al Mirbad has worked closely with health officials to host a regular slot with experts, providing clear advice on a range of topics including self-isolation, how the virus spreads, and testing, as well as debunking misinformation around herbal remedies and helping to counter rumours that cause public harm. When much of the Iraqi media fell for false claims that a company in Suleimaniya has developed a cure, Al Mirbad held back, chose not to run the story, talking instead to the WHO representative in Iraq to set the record straight.

A key component of Al Mirbad’s work is producing hugely popular satirical skits intended to reach wider audiences, including those turned off by traditional news and information. Our previous research shows the skits have led to strong attitudinal change amongst audiences across Iraq, and our hope is that this trend will continue for its latest skits relaying critical information about COVID-19.

For example, this is Al Mirbad’s take on an Egyptian pop song, using new lyrics to explain the need for a lockdown and support the medical and security services. The song features Al Mirbad’s well-known actors, alongside medical teams, police and security forces in Basra. It has already exceeded 9 million views on YouTube, and has been played on loudspeakers in hospitals in Baghdad to boost morale:

The pandemic came following months of public protests against unemployment, corruption, poor services and dismay with the country’s political system. There was already boiling frustration amid large numbers of unemployed youth, many of whom had settled in makeshift tents in large protest hubs in Baghdad, Basra and other southern cities.

Al Mirbad designed another online skit to engage specifically with them – using rap to champion staying at home and encourage social responsibility. The song plays out counter-arguments to common reasons for defying curfew, such as feeling trapped, and argues that staying home is the responsible choice, rather than caving in and giving up on protester’s demands.

Al Mirbad plays a critical role in holding government to account in a country still struggling in a shaky transition to democracy. As such, Al Mirbad’s job is to be critical and challenging towards public officials. But public interest media also has a critical role to play in communicating health information in a crisis so that people can make decisions to keep themselves and their families safe and healthy. As Dr Abbas puts it:

“Without Al Mirbad and especially without Qif L-Tahshish [the social media skits] we would not have been able to reach the public with critical communications about this crisis.”

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Abir Awad is the Iraq Country Director for 主播大秀 Media Action.

主播大秀 Media Action ended its partnership with Al Mirbad in 2021, following a change in control of the organisation.

To find out more about the importance of public interest media around the world, and a proposed solution to the crisis facing independent media, read this new Feasibility Study for an International Fund for Public Interest Media.

There are so many challenges in Libya – eight years after the revolution, the conflict continues. Now temperatures are soaring, power cuts can last up to 13 hours a day, access to water is challenging, and forest fires are causing pollution. People are struggling to survive, and the mood is very negative.

The majority of media outlets here are polarised, and journalists may face arrest or kidnap for what they write. With El Kul, we have been working to fill that gap and to provide balance in a very unbalanced media scene. Over the years, our work has included journalist training and mentoring; however the environment now is unpredictable, and simply getting from one part of the country to another is difficult and can be dangerous.

Watch the following short film to learn more about El Kul:

Our new phase of El Kul continues to focus on the country’s youth, some of whom have spent nearly half their lives living with conflict. They are concerned with education, health care and employment; many have an entrepreneurial spirit but don’t know how to get started. And there are many social issues and divisions which Libyans do not traditionally discuss. Bridging these divides and opening these conversations is critical for the country’s future.

This age group, 18-35-year olds, doesn’t watch television or listen to radio – nearly all of their news is consumed online, through Facebook, Instagram, and on Twitter or YouTube. So our new El Kul strategy aims to reach them in those places, to provide a space for impartial, accurate and relevant information to young Libyans and open discussions on sensitive topics like child marriage and restrictions on women, as well as broader areas like employment and education. We also work to highlight the rich cultures that make up Libyan society – including different foods, traditions and the beautiful and diverse geography of the country.

One of the greatest struggles we face now is sustainability. In the future, we are aiming to be financially independent. Like all independent media outlets, this is a challenge in a fragile environment where the economy is affected by internal divisions.

In this work, measuring the results is important, but just as important is the process: how we contribute to creating a safe environment to discuss issues and problems. It isn’t just about teaching technical skills: when we talk about freedom of speech, it is about creating an environment in which journalists feel safe to open conversations around these serious topics.

It is so rewarding to open debates on issues which might otherwise never be discussed in Libyan society: things like drugs, harassment of women, and stories of hope and reconciliation. We feature stories of how people are changing their own lives, to open conversations and inspire hope and change. These stories are important in how Libyans understand their country and each other, as they look toward a more peaceful future.

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Ali Sharif is the Senior Content Producer for our El Kul project. You can find El Kul on , and .

To learn more about 主播大秀 Media Action's work around the world, click here.

For 20 years, 主播大秀 Media Action has been supporting media freedom and providing training and mentoring to journalists in developing countries to produce free, independent journalism that provides space for constructive public debate.

For the recent UNESCO World Press Freedom Day conference (WPFD2019) in Ethiopia, we sponsored two youth delegates – Bwale Mutanuka from Zambia and Kefa Hussein from Tanzania – to take part in the Youth Newsroom initiative, which gives young journalists from around the world the chance to report on the conference and improve their journalism skills.

Bwale (left), from Zambia, is currently Chief Producer of a youth-focussed radio show called Ishiwi, supported by 主播大秀 Media Action. Kefa (right) is a Film and Television student from Tanzania who works as a ‘Young Professional’ for our vibrant youth radio programme, Niambie. They both kindly spoke to me about their experiences in Addis, what they learned whilst there, and why media freedom is important to them. Read on to find out more!

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So, when did you both first know that you wanted to be journalists?

Bwale: For me, I’ve known since I was very young – maybe since fourth grade in school. I always thought I should be on TV reading the news or reporting from the field! I used to go around my school pretending to interview students, and took part in both press and debate club. My dad actually wanted me to study something completely different, but my mum and I convinced him that journalism was the course for me.

Kefa: My dream started when I was around 11 years old watching a Tanzanian kids’ news show on Independent TV – I wanted to be just like the young presenters! I auditioned for the show but sadly didn’t get through – however it sparked a passion in me and I took on every presenting opportunity I could find at school until I chose to study film and TV at university.

What’s the best story you’ve reported on?

Bwale: Where I’m based in Chingola, we’re right in the middle of the Zambian copperbelt – so I find that I cover a lot of stories about the mining sector. Recently we had some peaceful demos by citizens who felt their water was becoming polluted due to mining activity, and some of their houses were getting cracks. The government had promised to support these communities – so it was interesting reporting on both sides to see how the citizens’ concerns were being handled by their leaders.

Kefa: My best story was when I shared the experience of a young girl living just outside of Dar Es Salaam and the difficult journey she faces every day to get to school. We followed her from the moment she wakes up (at 4am) and gets ready, through to her dangerous journey walking to school all alone along a very dark and busy road. The road is full of drunkards and ‘fataki’ (sugar daddies) who try to talk to the girls. There is a bus, but the conductors often refuse to let too many students board as they have to charge a lower fare. We also interviewed her teacher, and the piece really opened my eyes to the extra challenges girls in my country face just to get to school.

How did you get involved with 主播大秀 Media Action?

Bwale: I first heard about Media Action when I worked for Radio Icengelo, as the charity had previously helped the station run some audience debate shows. Then I started at Kokoliko FM and heard that we were starting a partnership with Media Action – I was really happy! Now I’m the Chief Producer of a youth radio show called Ishiwi, supported by the charity, which broadcasts every Saturday. I work with fellow young people to discuss and debate the important governance issues affecting young Zambians so they can know what’s going on and hold leaders to account. Media Action’s mentor, Vanessa, travels out to us from Lusaka to deliver all kinds of training – from editorial and production through to responsible social media usage, to make sure we’re properly verifying all our sources. She’s really helped me when it comes to objectivity, impartiality and transparency – and has helped me ensure I’m striking a good balance between female and male voices on the show.

Kefa: Well firstly, I was aware of 主播大秀 News and World Service. 主播大秀 Swahili is very popular here in Tanzania. I remember one day in my first year of studies, a friend ran up to me with an advert for Niambie he’d seen on Instagram. I’d never heard of the charity before but was curious to learn more, so did some research and applied! I was quite nervous at first that my English wouldn’t be good enough, as it’s my second language, but I got accepted! I started as a ‘Young Professional’ with Niambie in July 2017. My job is to help gather content from the field to include on the show, including creating some digital content for Niambie’s social media channels. When I started with Niambie I had no editing skills, but they’ve really grown a lot from working on the show. I enjoy it very much – more than university! When it comes to Niambie, this is the reality of what I want to do, you know? Meet real people, tell real stories, put my training into action.

Tell us about your experiences at World Press Freedom Day!

Bwale: There was so much! I was so grateful and humbled to be there. I learned a lot about development and the media reform process Ethiopia is currently going through – it made me think a lot about the state of media reforms in my own country. A big theme of the conference was ‘elections in times of disinformation’ – and with Zambia’s elections coming up in 2021, it reinforced how important it is for me to report in a responsible manner. Zambia has been a beacon of peace in Africa since its independence, and I want this to continue. So I need to report factually and recognise, and be sensitive to, the potential influence I have over my listeners. I also learned a lot from Kefa and really enjoyed hearing about his work with youth radio in Tanzania and the political situation there.

Kefa: Going to Addis was my first ever international visit! I have to say I initially found little things very confusing – such as the currency and the language – but the trip really exposed me to new people and new cultures. My favourite session was with the organisation Cartooning for Peace who produce satirical cartoons with political messages. It’s rare to find this kind of cartoon in Tanzania – not many people have the courage to draw cartoons that go beyond making people laugh to help people learn or address sensitive issues. I also really enjoyed the session on how to spot real versus fake news, and learnt useful techniques such as checking the author’s background and finding alternative sources. I learnt a lot of things for sure, and it was great to meet Bwale and discover the work she is doing with Media Action in Zambia.

Why do you both think media freedom is important?

Bwale: For me, media freedom is important because it means I can dig into a story without any interference from the government. I have no fear – I know I have the freedom to report and write what is right. I was really inspired at the conference by the journalists from Myanmar who won the Press Freedom prize – they encouraged me to be fearless in my reporting.

Kefa: I think media freedom is important in Tanzania so that people can consume news from lots of different sources and in lots of different ways – be it newspapers, radio or social media. We’re heading towards an election next year, and I think media freedom plays an important role in informing people and helping them to figure out for themselves which candidate is right for them. As a developing country, free media is also something we really need to be an informed society – media plays an important role in the development of my country.

What did you learn at the conference that will help you in your career? And what is your dream job in media?

Bwale: This whole experience has really encouraged me to have confidence in my ability as a journalist and to persevere in my career, even in the face of challenges. I always have more to learn! And my dream? I would love to be a news anchor on TV – I’m confident that if I continue working as a reporter I will get there one day!

Kefa: Well, I really now want to encourage all of my friends studying graphics and design to try including important messages into their cartoons! My dream? I want to be an influential person in my country – in fact, just like Salim Kikeke from 主播大秀 Swahili! He’s one of the most influential people in Tanzania and young people really appreciate what he is doing – the way he presents the show, his social media activity. He stands out from other journalists. And I want to keep supporting young people to participate in society through media. Young people make up almost 60% of Tanzania’s population. If you exclude them, you have no nation.

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To find out more about our work supporting media freedom and strengthening the capacity of journalists like Bwale and Kefa around the world, check out the media development section of our website.

Most commentaries on 21st-century media focus on the impact of new technologies, social media and, above all, the increasing global ubiquity of mobile telephony Such commentaries highlight how in many, if not most, societies, the majority of people are under the age of 30 and are reinventing how humanity communicates with itself. The focus is on innovation, on digital replacing analogue, on an old order of mass, vertical forms of communication being supplanted by horizontal, digitally enabled networks.

Speaking personally, I have advanced at one time or another all these tenets and continue (mostly) to do so. This blog, however, marks the publication of a set of 主播大秀 Media Action policy and research outputs I’ve commissioned which collectively advance some unfashionable arguments.

We focus particularly on the role of media in fragile and divided societies and especially on what can be done to support media that transcends, rather than exacerbates, divisions in society. We argue that, for all the innovation, dynamism and potential that exists, there are growing signs that publics are less and less trusting of the media that is available to them. Media environments appear more dynamic, interactive and complex, but much of media – both traditional and social – exists to advance particular agendas or interests in society rather than to serve a public. 21st-century fragmentation of media environments has often been accompanied by an associated fracturing of media often owned, controlled or heavily influenced by particular political, factional, ethnic or religious interests. Such fracturing often applies to both social and traditional media.

National debate

As one response, we revisit the potential in fragile and divided states of a set of institutions understandably considered relics of a monolithic, analogue, ageing past – the state broadcaster. We suggest that traditional state broadcasters – which we describe as often “too biased to trust but too big to ignore” – could provide a critical platform for national public debate in divided societies. For that to happen, they would need to transform themselves into genuinely independent 21st-century public service media organisations capable of being digitally agile, trusted and appealing to all in society (especially the young). Such a process we acknowledge presents formidable political, as well as technical difficulties. Despite the scale of the challenge, however, we argue that such a function is becoming increasingly important and increasingly urgent.

None of this is designed to justify reigning in or discouraging other forms of commercial, community, online or other media. Such media produce pluralistic, vibrant, often muscular debate providing the essential threads making up the fabric of healthy democratic societies. We believe that freedom of expression is as important now as it has ever been and we are actively opposed to attempts to control or censor.

But sometimes, especially in fragile and divided societies, our analysis suggests 21st-century media systems can foster greater division in society, making it more difficult for people from different faiths, ethnicities or politics to get on with each and get on with their lives. Greater attention needs to be paid to media that encourages discussion, dialogue and understanding across communities in divided societies, not just within them.

New analysis

We have already published several briefings that have examined these issues. drew on more detailed analyses from , , , and to track the often extraordinary economic and political contributions of media but also the growing fragmentation and co-option of both traditional and social media by factional interests. It flagged an increasingly urgent concern that some media was driving division, political polarisation and sometimes hate and that international support strategies appeared not to be reacting to these concerns. It also highlighted the many positive roles of media in the 21st century.

We published , a research report based on the kind of detailed, quantitative data that has only rarely recently been conducted in post -Arab uprising countries. It demonstrated a clear reduction in trust in a media that publics had become increasingly convinced existed to tell them what to do and think for the benefits of their owners or backers, rather than one that sought to inform and enable them to navigate the extraordinary turbulent sea of political transition.

We have just published two policy briefings examining the prospects of supporting media systems that are trusted, universal (reaching all parts of a society and reflecting the concerns of all sections of society), balanced and fundamentally focused on serving a public, rather than any other political, economic or factional interest.

The first is , by the former Director of News at the 主播大秀 World Service, Phil Harding. Some of the many people interviewed for the report argued that the concept should be consigned to an analogue dustbin of history. Phil argues that, while the concept needs to be entirely modernised, the role of an independent, trusted, national, universally available media entity whose sole focus is to serve its audience and work in the public, rather than governmental or factional interest, could not be more relevant.

The second briefing is . written by Alexandra Buccianti and Sarah El Richani. The briefing examines the relationship between media developments and the complex politics and social dynamics in four countries: Egypt, Lebanon, Libya and Tunisia. It concludes that the still mostly unreformed state broadcasters are working in the interests of their governments, rather than their people but if they can be reformed to become genuinely independent of government, they could provide a critical source of both social cohesion and political freedom.

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Ahead of this week's UN summit in New York, 主播大秀 Media Action’s Director of Policy and Learning argues for a stronger focus on the provision of information as well as resources.

"This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity." So begins the outcome document which forms the basis of the agreement for a new set of "global goals" which are expected to be signed by 215 world leaders this week. It is a statement that encapsulates both their ambition and weakness.

Anyone who comments on the post-2015 goals does so from a particular standpoint. Let me set out mine. The new development goals that replace the MDGs provide a welcome and clear agenda, but they do not and cannot provide a comprehensive plan for poverty alleviation and human development in the 21st century.

Planning the planet to prosperity is neither feasible nor desirable. Development over the next decades will depend as much on how societies and economies adapt to the challenges they face, as on the 17 goals and 169 targets that make up the new development goals. How societies adapt in the future is - as it has been in the past - likely to depend on the trustworthiness and usefulness of information available to them.

As someone who works to support media and other strategies that lead to more informed societies, that perspective shapes my view of the goals. Government, development agencies and other development actors will be central to translating the goals from words to actions. But ultimately progress will also depend on how societies and people act and adapt. That will depend on many factors, but a central one will centre around issues of information and communication.

The agenda assessed

that an important measure of human progress in the future would be to ask people whether they feel they have access to the information they need to make the decisions (political, economic and otherwise) that best enable them to make the most of their lives. This is mainly what I mean by an 'informed society'. While that measure seems unlikely to feature in the future metrics to measure the success of the goals, there is ample room in the current text to make progress.

Target 16.10 in the outcome document makes a commitment to ensuring "public access to information and to protecting fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements". Target 12.8 sets out the aim that "by 2030 people everywhere [will] have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature". And Target 3.7 is to ensure by 2030 "universal access to sexual and reproductive health care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes".

Stronger focus

Ultimately, the issue is not about the text of the new declaration or whether issues of media, information and communication are highlighted in it. The arguments over what issues should or should not be included have preoccupied the energy and time of many thousands in the run up to the summit.

The issue is more about the balance between such visions and the adaptive capabilities and energies of people who have most to win or lose from the success of these goals. I believe both are needed. Too little development attention has in the past been paid to creating the best environment – including the best information environment – that enables people to determine their future.

The 2015 World Bank's World Development Report opened with this sentence: "Every person seeks to steer his or her own course, and a great deal of development policy aims to supply the resources and information people in low- and middle-income economies require in their voyage through life."

It is true that development policy has focused on providing the resources, less clear that it has provided the information. In the highly complex and dynamic information societies of the 21st century, the success of the global goals will require a stronger focus on the information available to people as well as the resources.

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It’s been a significant few months for the “Any Questions” style TV and Radio show Sema Kenya. As Senior Production Manager Jackie Christie explains in her , after three years and over 80 episodes later, the team behind the show is handing over production to the Kenyan state broadcaster, KBC. For those of us working in 主播大秀 Media Action’s , this presents an opportunity to reflect the programme’s impact.

 

Researchers in London and Nairobi have been working since the creation of Sema Kenya not only to ensure that it remained relevant and appealing to audiences, but also to assess the programme’s impact on governance in Kenya.

 

Sema Kenya has had a clear purpose from its inception: to create a national conversation on democratic processes in Kenya, supporting accountability and increasing people’s knowledge of key governance issues, focusing on matters our audiences have said are most important to them, including unemployment, security, education and the high cost of living.

 

Our  suggests that, through its locally driven programming and a format based on constructive moderated discussion, Sema Kenya was able to make a distinct contribution at election time. This was delivered by presenting a diversity of topics, views and dialogue at a time when a majority of Kenyan media maintained a narrow election focus aimed at “keeping the peace” by avoiding sensitive issues such as ethnicity and land - key topics perceived to have contributed to the post-election violence in 2008.

Improving knowledge

Our findings show media can have a constructive and meaningful role even in challenging contexts. However there were other key questions we wanted to answer, such as the extent to which Sema Kenya contributed to increasing audiences’ knowledge on key governance issues. The same study, which included a nationally representative survey of the population aged 15 and above, showed that the vast majority (93%) who listened or watched the programme regularly (at least every other week) thought that Sema Kenya improved their understanding of key governance issues. But we wanted to go further to determine if the increase in knowledge was associated with the programme or with, for example, an already existing interest in politics amongst those audiences or level of education.

To be able to answer this question, we created a scale of knowledge based on four main governance themes that the programme tackled: unemployment, security, implications of the new constitution and implementation of the devolution. We looked at whether people who watched or listened to the programme regularly were also showing higher levels of knowledge, even when taking into account their gender, level of education, purchasing power, interest in politics or group membership amongst other factors.

Our analysis showed that regular exposure to Sema Kenya was indeed associated with an increase in knowledge of governance, while controlling for other factors. This is an important finding because it shows Sema Kenya had successfully achieved its key objective of encouraging dialogue and improving knowledge on the democratic processes affecting Kenyans, a feat especially significant in the context of constitutional changes in the way Kenya was governed from 2010.

What about accountability?

The evidence so far suggests that Sema Kenya has contributed to facilitating a national conversation about the key issues affecting Kenyans and to improving knowledge on key governance issues. But what about accountability?

The majority (94%) of Sema Kenya’s regular audiences agree that the programme has played a role in holding government to account. Our findings so far suggest that it has done so by empowering audiences to ask questions and by putting leaders’ answers and promises on the record. Jackie Christie’s latest provides vivid and inspiring examples of the contribution of the show on accountability.

While we know the show’s impact on our regular audiences, how did the programme influence leaders? In Sema Kenya’s third season, the research team were busy interviewing decision-makers, government officials and local influencers. Getting access to these people isn’t an easy task but we wanted to better understand whether and how the programme may have played a role in driving demand for accountability, improving responsiveness, the transparency in decision-making and, ultimately, the service delivery to improve people’s lives.

Visit the 主播大秀 Media Action website for more  or to keep up to date with the latest findings from 主播大秀 Media Action’s Research and Learning Team.

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As news came in earlier this month that the had taken Iraq's second largest city, Mosul, I turned on my TV and satellite box in London to see how Iraqi TV channels were covering the crisis. To my surprise, what I saw transported me back to my life in Iraq during Saddam Hussein's three wars. Once again, I saw a presenter on one of the pro-government channels wearing military uniform. Once again, I heard the popular chanting and poetry that the Ba'ath regime's propaganda machine had used to fill the airwaves. 

Media in Iraq is split across a sectarian and political divide. In response to the advance by ISIS, channels affiliated with the current Shia government have fallen back into such old habits, none more so than the publicly-funded broadcaster, the Iraqi Media Network.  

In an interview with the local Iraqi newspaper Alalem about his channel's coverage, Iraqi Media Network's head Abdul Jabar Al Shaboot said that "broadcasting patriotic songs, and national military anthems is something which any country will do in the circumstances. It's about winning hearts."

Following pressure from the Iraqi government, the Iraqi regulator, the Communications and Media Commission, has also overstepped its professional regulatory role and issued recommendations that the media should not publish photos, footage or statements from ISIS and that they should highlight the military achievements of the Iraqi army.

Some politicians have gone further by accusing anyone who is not pro-actively backing the government's battle for hearts and minds of supporting terrorism and "aligning" themselves with ISIS. The Iraqi government have come out in condemnation of pan-Arab channels such as the Saudi-backed Al Arabiya for using the expression "tribal rebels" rather than "ISIS terrorists" in their coverage.

Seizing an opportunity to show loyalty to the government, channels such as Afaq TV or Al Ahad, are also now displaying their religious or ethnic allegiances. They have slipped into sectarian speech either directly or indirectly through on-air contributors.

In contrast, ISIS is using the latest media methods: have been created to spread their message and recruit new followers. 

While the Iraqi national media play their poetry and propaganda, it is images and statements by ISIS that are appearing in the main headlines of some local news agencies – and in the international media. 

As part of a wide-scale project, we at 主播大秀 Media Action have been working to improve the media landscape in Iraq and the provisions for freedom of information and freedom of expression, as well as supporting public service broadcasting that fulfils the needs of nation building.

In April this year, we introduced a new broadcasting code of practice which was signed off by the board of governors of the Iraqi Communication and Media Commission. This new code talk specifically about how to cover acts of terrorism and how not to slip into broadcasting ethnic or religious hate speech.  

With emotions running so high and the country in danger of fracturing deeply along a sectarian divide, it is perhaps more important than ever that regulators and public service broadcasters fulfil a professional role.

We hope to work closely with the regulator to bring it back to comply with these professional standards rather than fall back on the ways of the old regime in our digital age. A firm commitment to the new code of practice for broadcasters can’t come soon enough.

Consolidating Media Freedom is a strategic programme funded by the UK government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the United States government's Department for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour and EuropeAid.

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This year's World Press Freedom Day celebrations will focus on whether issues of media freedom can realistically be integrated into the post-2015 framework that will replace the current Millennium Development Goals.  Unesco hosts a conference on the issue on May 4th and 5th in Paris.

Some thoughts follow on the prospects for and obstacles to their inclusion, heavily informed by a panel 主播大秀 Media Action organised with the , the the and . The panel took place at a big interministerial shindig the two weeks ago in Mexico. 

First - a word on why anyone should pay attention to the role of media in the post 2015 development framework. 

Much is already on this, but the most succinct and compelling case was made by the on the post 2015 development framework.  The report urged a set of 12 new universal goals, the first of which is to end extreme poverty by 2030. Of the 11 other goals one is designed to "ensure good governance and effective institutions" key to which, the report contends, is to "ensure people enjoy freedom of speech, association, peaceful protest and access to independent media and information". It also suggested a commitment to "guarantee the public's right to information and access to government data". 

Obstacles remain

These recommendations have been seized upon by organisations like my own and there has already been by others.  Huge obstacles remain, three in particular:

The first is the vanishingly small number of governments who actively want any mention of media in the framework. Countries like China, India and Brazil, see a “governance” goal as distracting attention from core development concerns and suspect the West of wanting to impose conditions on development assistance.  The governmental champions for this issue appear as thin on the ground as a coat of paint.

The second obstacle is that of measurement.  Any goal featured in the post-2015 framework needs to have indicators against which to measure progress.  Creating a universally acceptable measure for “access to independent media” will be difficult.  This is an issue that I, among others, will be speaking on at the Unesco meeting. 

The third obstacle is that “media” has a bad reputation among development actors, a reputation that is not restricted to totalitarian regimes. This is partly a result of so few development agencies having departments who support the media and partly a product of the growing co-option of media by political, ethnic, factional as well as governmental forces and the sense among some development people that too much media does harm. 

People like me argue that this kind of co-option is precisely why truly independent media working in the public interest, rather than governmental or factional interests, need support and should be better integrated into development priorities. 

Governance and media

It was this issue, and the prospect of integrating media into the post MDG framework, which formed the focus of the Mexico panel.

Erik Solheim, chair of the argued that the importance of media to development was not in question.  “Media is extremely important, that you need media to put leaders to account, to discover corruption and so on. This is obvious”.  But, he went on, “if you look around the world today, while there is a huge number of decent good media, there is also a good amount of media that makes it more difficult for us to live together - more difficult for Christians to live with Muslims, more difficult for Muslims to live with Hindus, more difficult for Hindus to live with Sikhs [and we see this in many places]. We need to take this issue to heart.”

Nancy Lindborg,
made a strong connection between why USAID was supporting independent community media in Sudan to efforts to prevent ethnic conflict.  “We have often very quickly invested in supporting the revitalization of community radio …as people I met a couple of weeks ago in South Sudan said, people don’t want to get engaged in ethnic war. They are hostage to the messages they are receiving right now.”

She argued that some of South Sudan’s leaders were preaching hate. ”We are trying very hard to put another narrative out there, but it is just very difficult when you have such a collapsed environment. So the urgency in any of these conflict environments, alongside the humanitarian immediate approaches is to as quickly [as possible] stand up the media capacities.”  She insisted that “USAID takes an approach that sees democracy, rights and governance as central to the development agenda. And that included media, media is the bloodstream that moves information around and enables citizens to be active and informed participants. It’s both programmatically integrated as well as focused on [building media] capacity - it is absolutely central to our approach.”

Social contract

David Hallam, the lead for the UK for the post 2015 process stressed why the UK believed that freedom of the media was such an important part of any future development strategy.  “The reason we think this is so important is that it goes back to a fundamental belief that the social contract between the citizen and the state is central to state stability, and state stability is central to development. The way to build the social contract between the citizen and the state has to involve a free and independent media that can enable that contract to be built up.”

Hallam also argued that, fundamentally, issues of governance were what people around the world were asking to be included in the post 2015 framework.  “I’d suggest looking quite closely at the My World survey. This is an opportunity for people around the world to vote about what they think are the most important things to prioritise in the post-2015 development goals”, he said. “So far about 1.6 million people have voted – and the findings are really interesting. The top four issues are education, health, jobs and honest and accountable government. Honest and accountable government comes above food security, water, climate change, environmental issues, and I’m not saying any of those issues aren’t important, but consistently around the world, the fourth issue is honest and accountable government – and media has a central role in promoting that.”

Weak democracy – weak media

Nor is this an issue confined to the West. The vast majority of signatories to the Global Forum for Media Development’s (GFMD) on this issue came from organisations in developing countries.  Jaime Abello Banfi, Director General of the Gabriel Garcia Marquez Foundation for Journalism in Colombia and a GFMD steering committee member, reinforced this arguing that media freedom, as well as the ethical conduct of the media were key concerns in Latin America.  His organisation works to promote ethics in journalism and ethical debate “I think that media is like life, with good and bad sides,” he said, “media reflects the country, and if there is corruption in the country then there will be corruption in the media. If there is weak democracy, then media will be also weak”

Ultimately, there was a consensus in this panel that the role of media was of increasing importance if future development goals were to be met.

“There can be no doubt about the centrality of media in the development debate”, said Erik Solheim of the OECD DAC. “We would be very happy to provide a space for that debate, to invite as many stakeholders as possible, certainly donor agencies and our members but also media from nations where there are difficulties.” He also argued that development agencies should be more concerned when journalists are attacked, arguing that “we should support all those brave journalists, including your Al Jazeera colleagues Cairo.  Peter Greste from Al Jazeera is a really great journalist; he and his two colleagues are in prison in Cairo just because they wanted to promote the best sort of journalism.”

The final word went to David Hallam of the UK’s Department for International Development (which provides support for 主播大秀 Media Action’s work), who argued that if media were to be reflected in the post-2015 development framework, it would need a stronger advocacy effort. 

“There’s quite a strong movement for a goal in the post-2015 development framework on good governance and effective institutions, and within that for a target on free media”, he argued, reflecting that British Prime Minster, David Cameron had co-chaired the UN High Level panel report. “We all have a role to play: for those of you in governments, what are you doing to make sure that your representatives in NY are arguing strongly for this goal and target? And for those of you who aren’t in governments, what are you doing to ask your government whether they are supporting this goal in NY? So there is a real opportunity here if we can secure this as part of the next development agenda, then we can start to make sure that development agencies, governments, international organisations, are really focusing on support for a free media internationally.”

The Mexico panel suggested there is more support for this issue than is sometimes assumed and case from around the world for access to independent media to be integrated into the post 2015 framework is building.  Next week’s Unesco conference promises to strengthen it further – but there is clearly a very long way to go.

News was a vital link for my wife and me. She is Ukrainian, desperate to know what was happening and how family were coping.

Through the internet we were able to access Ukrainian TV channels and news services. It gave me a chance to see how some of the journalists I had worked with over the years were coping.

主播大秀 Media Action is currently working on a journalism mentoring project in Ukraine, the latest in a number of large-scale activities carried out since 1996.

One of our trainers, Valentina Samar caught my attention as she delivered a live report from Crimea. I watched as she described the tense events on the Peninsula, now controlled by pro-Russian troops.

I was impressed by her careful language and use of local knowledge to create a picture of what was happening. I first met Valentina in the late 90s when we worked on a 主播大秀 World Service Training Overseas project designed to counter hate speech against Crimean Tatars.

Our paths crossed again when she became one of our local trainers as we worked on transforming the university journalism curriculum, in particular with the main university in Kyiv, but also in Uzhhorod and Crimea鈥檚 Simferopol.

The tensions around that time, fuelled by coming elections and rows over land, in many ways feed into the current crisis.

There have long been challenges and surprises working in the region, with the underlying political tensions sporadically bubbling to the surface. 听In 2003 主播大秀 Media Action set up Top Media in Odessa, a media support project offering legal advice and training. When the EU-funded project closed two and half years later, a journalism student burst into tears in my office, apologising for spying on us for the SBU 鈥� the former KGB.

It was a sensitive time; we were being monitored as a result of the scandal following the kidnap and murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze. There were concerns that, as a 主播大秀 entity, we might encourage coverage of the story in ways the then authorities would not like.

Back in the current crisis, Andriy Kulykov, another trainer we worked with, a former 主播大秀 journalist and now one of Ukraine鈥檚 leading talk-show presenters, has also been at the heart of events.

He took a brave step of broadcasting his programme Svoboda Slova (Freedom of Speech) not in Ukrainian, but in Russian 鈥� an attempt to reach out to all sides.

He has also used his 主播大秀 journalism training and experience as a trainer with Media Action, to maintain balance during his on air interviewing..

And for me, as a listener eager to know the latest, I am grateful to those who worked on projects with me over the years, who maintain the editorial standards we have promoted and kept me in touch with how my family鈥檚 life is being affected 鈥� now and in the uncertain future Ukraine is facing.

听

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We facilitated a unique meeting with the Parliamentary Media and Culture Committee and the Board of Governors of the Iraqi Media Network who met for the first time to discuss, with our advice, the future of the IMN, the development of a truly Iraqi public service broadcaster and how this would be reflected in new laws that should be passed.

However while all of this was taking place, civil war is currently raging in the province of Anbar, threatening once more to alter of course of planned elections in April.

For the resilient residents of Baghdad, meanwhile, daily life goes on. 

Consolidating Media Freedom is a strategic programme funded by the UK government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the United States government's Department for Democracy, Human Rights and Labour and EuropeAid.

 

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Electoral transparency

Critics of the government have also used social networks to attack the authorities' decision not to create an electronic voters list. 听

Islamic Rebirth Party analyst Hekmatollah Sayfollahzadeh told me via Facebook that an electronic electoral roll would have made it easier to register voters and could prevent fraud and increase transparency during the election.

In the days before the election, this issue has gained even more attention online. Human rights activist Fayzinissa Vahidova wrote on Facebook: "For the first time after since the collapse of the Soviet Union, I received an invitation letter to election. However, they brought invitations even for my children, who study abroad and can go to a Tajik embassy to vote. They even brought invitations for a person who hasn't been a Tajik citizen for more than a decade."

Boycott call

In the run-up to this election, therefore, social networks have allowed opposition activists to reach out to voters within and outside Tajikistan.

Dadajan Atavollayev, dissident journalist and leader of the opposition Vatandar Movement, said, "If each labour migrant calls back to his family in Tajikistan and asks five other members not to participate in election or vote against Mr Rahman, it would be a real blow to Mr Rahman鈥檚 government."

Tajikistan's migrants are their families' real bread earners and economically, they could be major players in the country. But we shall have to wait and see how, through social networks, they could also start to flex their political muscles.

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