Hate speech in fragile democracies and divided societies can have catastrophic consequences. In Kenya, an outbreak of violence after the December 2007 elections left at least 1,000 people dead in six months. Malicious propaganda was spread via SMS, blog posts, and local language radio. In Russia, laws designed to contain the use of hate language [...]

A new CIMA report, Throwing the Switch: Challenges in the Conversion to Digital Broadcasting, explores the consequences for democracy of the worldwide conversion from analog to digital television broadcasting. The report by John Burgess, a former Washington Post editor, technology writer and foreign correspondent, looks at how digital conversion has the potential to provide new [...]

Over 60 people attended CIMA’s dicussion on U.S. Private and Non-U.S. Funding of Media Development.  As both U.S. journalism and private foundations have entered a period of crisis, new avenues and approaches are being explored for the media development business model. Traditional foundations–especially those rooted in U.S. journalism companies–are cutting back on international funding, and [...]

Over 30 people attended CIMA’s discussion on increasing transparency in governance in the Arab world. Greater media freedom and access to information is a cornerstone to good governance and fighting corruption. There are generally accepted common core characteristics of freedom of information laws necessary for them to operate successfully: 

Presumption of openness to public information
Exceptions to [...]

Over 60 people attended CIMA’s discussion on digital media in conflict-prone societies. Digital media in conflict-prone societies have the potential to foster dialogue and peace or to fuel hate speech and violence. The rapid spread of digital-based communications and information networks is likely to have an effect on 21st-century wars, which increasingly center on internal conflict, disputed [...]

Over 30 people attened CIMA’s workshop on media literacy. The workshop was based on a new series of CIMA reports on media literacy: Understanding the News and Citizen Journalism by Susan Moeller and Empowering Youth Worldwide by Paul Mihailidis. A media literate population is crucial to sustaining democracy, yet few media development programs are specifically geared [...]

Over 40 people attened CIMA’s event on declining media freedom in the South Caucasus. Recent arrests of prominent bloggers in Azerbaijan, government control of TV stations in Georgia, and legal restrictions combined with continued violence against journalists in Armenia highlight the repressive media environment in the South Caucasus. Freedom of the Press, an annual survey of media [...]

Over 45 people attended CIMA’s discussion on freedom of expression in the Americas. Radio stations, television channels, and newspapers in several Latin American countries have been facing increasing opposition from their leaders in recent months.  In Venezuela, which has one of the most authoritarian governments in the region, legislation has been proposed to further restrict the country’s news [...]

Over 50 people attended CIMA’s discussion on Challenges to U.S. Government Support for Media Development. Media play a pivotal role in U.S. foreign policy—but U.S. funding doesn’t reflect this reality. There are significant resource shortfalls in government support of the media development sector. Too few media experts, not enough media know-how, and potentially problematic funding [...]

Over 80 people attended CIMA’s discussion on the monitoring and evaluation of media assistance projects. In recent years, the process of monitoring and evaluation of assistance projects, or M&E, has received increased attention from both donors, who want to know if their money has been well spent, and implementers, who want to know their programs [...]

IREX’s 2009 Media Sustainability Index for Europe and Eurasia provides an in-depth analysis of the strength and viability of the independent media sector in 21 countries of Europe and Eurasia during 2008 and shows trends in the media sector since 2001. To arrive at its rankings, the MSI considered a number of factors, such as [...]

The public critique of media through press councils and ombudsmen is a fundamental way for the public to criticize and challenge print and broadcast news coverage. A major question remains, however, as to whether these institutions are effective in raising journalistic standards, or if they too easily can become tools for governments to manipulate the [...]

Over 140 people attended CIMA’s discussion of the impact of new media during the Iranian elections. New technologies played a major role in the events leading up to and following the recent Iranian elections and should continue to have a tremendous impact. Social networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook, and blogging have changed the way Iranian [...]

According to Empowering Independent Media, CIMA’s inaugural report on U.S. media assistance to developing countries, free media play an integral role in fostering democracy and development, and have the ability to transform a number of critical areas, including government accountability, empowerment of women and minorities, and education. As governments and foundations have increasingly embraced the [...]

CIMA hosted a workshop on Thursday, May 28 on involving and empowering youth through independent media in developing and democratizing countries. The workshop explored the following questions: what media platforms do youth prefer and why? What is their level of access to these platforms? How do they use these platforms-as generators, consumers, or both? How [...]

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, online journalists in Malaysia report more freely than their traditional media counterparts, who are subject to strong governmental intimidation and restrictions. Internet publications, such as Malaysiakini, frequently cover stories on government corruption, minority rights demonstrations, and opposition parties. With well over half of the population accessing the Internet, [...]

In honor of World Press Freedom Day 2009, CIMA held a discussion on Capitol Hill about the safety of journalists worldwide. Congressman Adam Schiff made remarks on the importance of journalist safety, and speakers from the International News Safety Institute and the Committee to Protect Journalists addressed how attacks and threats against journalists are a brutal and [...]

In post-conflict societies, organizations such as Search for Common Ground and the U.S. Institute for Peace argue that an effective media development strategy is an integral part of creating an atmosphere where democratic processes can develop. The development of a pluralistic, independent, and economically viable media sector is critical to fostering long-term peace and stability. [...]

On March 17, 2009, CIMA hosted a discussion of press freedom in Sri Lanka.
Since the 1980s, the Sri Lankan government has been engaged in a conflict with various militant separatist groups from the country’s Tamil ethnic minority. According to Freedom House’s Freedom in the World 2008, the conflict has not only led to human rights [...]

A major challenge in developing countries is balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. According to the Millennium Development Goals, which the United Nations outlined in September 2000, achieving such a balance can help ensure political stability and promote a country’s peaceful transition toward democratic governance. The local media in these transitioning countries can play a [...]

Years ago, the notion of a business model for community media would have brought responses ranging from dismay to ridicule. Community media’s origins in political struggle, its community ownership structure, and its mission-to give voice to the voiceless, to provide an alternative to mainstream media, to place control of media in the hands of ordinary [...]

To listen to an audio recording of this event, please click here:
CIMA Liberia Workshop – 2-17-09

To download the report on this event please click here.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Goals of the workshop

To identify the needs and challenges of the media environment in Liberia;
To examine the media’s role in contributing to the country’s peace and reconciliation process;
To [...]

According to Soft Censorship: How Governments Around the Globe Use Money to Manipulate the Media, a new report published by CIMA and written by Don Podesta, moves by formerly authoritarian regimes toward greater pluralism have spawned an insidious form of censorship. In many such countries, manipulation of the news media now manifests itself as “soft [...]

The purpose of the discussion was to explore the following questions: Where and how are cell phones being used as a medium of communication for news and information? Who is using them to receive information? How are journalists and NGOs integrating them into their work? What are potential mobile technologies, and how soon will they [...]