CIMA is pleased to release a new report, Libel Tourism: Silencing the Press through Transnational Legal Threats, which describes the legal risks that independent media worldwide face from libel and defamation suits.  This report by Drew Sullivan, a journalist, editor, and media development specialist, explains how lawsuits can force media organizations to censor themselves or limit the distribution of their news content, restricting freedom of expression and thus threatening one of the foundations of democracy.

Vested political, business, and criminal interests, especially in the developing world, are increasingly using the courts to redress alleged harms, punish journalists and scare off publishers.  Sullivan’s report describes the practice, known as “libel tourism,” of shopping worldwide for plaintiff-friendly courts. While the United Kingdom is currently the jurisdiction of choice for many plaintiffs, by publishing online, a media organization faces the risk of a lawsuit in just about any country. Given the wide variety of defamation standards, court practices, and freedom of speech standards, the risks are almost impossible to manage. Leveling the playing field requires the passage of laws in many jurisdictions, better standards and awareness of risks among journalists, and an industry-wide solution to the problems of insurance and legal defense. Read more »

Under Attack: Practicing Journalism in a Dangerous World examines the key issues surrounding threats to the physical safety of journalists, particularly in countries with hostile media environments. The report by Bill Ristow, a journalist and international journalism trainer based in Seattle, provides a clear look at the problem of violence against journalists and offers some potential solutions.

Drawing on the experience of press freedom experts, and the insights of some of those on the front lines of the violence, Ristow recommends more targeted coordination of efforts by international organizations, increased investment in safety training programs, and a tougher policy approach on the part of governments and multilaterals toward countries that condone journalists’ killings. Read more »

This report examines trends in non-U.S. donor financing of the media development and media for development sector. The report by Mary Myers, an expert on international media development with many years of experience in this field, surveys European and other governments and donors spending on international media development. It examines where the money is going, what types of media development programs are being funded and trends in terms of donor priorities and approaches. As the report makes clear, reporting standards and definitions vary widely from country to country, making precise comparisons difficult. However, the report provides a valuable resource by pointing how donors compare in the emphasis they place on media development out in general. Read more »

Throwing the Switch: Challenges in the Conversion to Digital Broadcasting explores the consequences for democracy of the worldwide conversion from analog television broadcasting to digital. The report by John Burgess, a former Washington Post editor, technology writer and foreign correspondent, looks at whether the creation of multiple broadcast channels will provide more openness and diversity on the airwaves. Alternatively, he asks, could it result in governments clamping down on critical broadcasters or loss of service? Burgess explores how media development organizations, broadcasters, regulators, and civil society groups can ensure that decisions on airwave space are made in a fair and open manner. Read more »

In this report, Anne Nelson, a former journalist now teaching at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, examines recent trends in private U.S. funding of media development projects around the world. While U.S. foundations have long funded both “media development” and “media for development” programs, recent political and economic trends have shifted the balance in favor of the latter. In addition, the recent economic crisis, which has exacerbated the precarious condition of  journalism in the United States, has led to retrenchment among many U.S. donor organizations.

 The report recommends that foundations continue their consultative processes and explore new avenues for media development. New foundations should be included in these discussions to stimulate ideas, and  U.S. foundations and implementers should try harder to think beyond their cultural context to include more new media technologies. 

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Throughout history, war has affected media, with conflict often creating an information void. In the 21^st century, media has begun to affect war more than ever before. Digital media technologies – particularly participatory, networked tools – have increased communication and information dissemination in conflict settings, affecting all sides and involving new producers of news coverage. These new tools can be used to foment violence or to foster peace, and it is possible to build communication systems that encourage dialogue and nonviolent political solutions. The international media development community must adapt its conflict-zone programs to fit a new media environment, designing projects that encompass digital media applications that encourage more open communities and states, provide venues for dialogue, and reduce control of information.

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A media-literate public is essential to building and sustaining a democracy of active citizens.  Effective free and independent media depend not only on skilled journalists but also on the knowledge of their readers. Media literacy training is a tool that the development sector can use to educate citizens to better understand the value of accurate and fair news.  This report, by Susan D. Moeller, director of the International Center for Media and the Public Agenda at the University of Maryland, explores why media literacy is crucial to many areas of development and how donors and implementers can coordinate their efforts and expand the field.

*This report is the first in a series of three on the status of U.S. and international understanding of and funding for media literacy.

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Citizen journalists are quickly becoming a potent force for creating, supporting, and building open and democratic societies. In countries where repressive governments limit the operations of professional journalists, citizen journalists are filling the gaps. Yet they often have no formal training or understanding of the essential roles independent media play in ensuring accountable and transparent government. This report, also by Moeller, makes clear that it is essential for citizen journalists    to learn and adopt standards of fairness, accuracy, and ethics through media literacy training.

*This report is the second in a series of three on the status of U.S. and international understanding of and funding for media literacy.

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At all levels of education, initiatives in media literacy are premised on teaching youth and young adults to consume media critically—from how media shape political messages to the increasing pervasiveness of advertising.  But the challenges to such initiatives are daunting. Schools need the necessary resources and educators the requisite expertise and training to teach media literacy.  Supporting media literacy education for youth can help prepare children and young adults for lives of active inquiry and give them a better understanding of the ties between information, community, and democracy. This report, by Paul Mihailidis, professor of journalism, media and public relations at Hofstra University, makes the case that as media become more central to the development of youth in society, funders should recognize that media literacy education for youth is an important part of democratic development.

*This report is the third in a series of three on the status of U.S. and international understanding of and funding for media literacy.

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In this report, Andrew Green, principal of DG Metrics, a consultancy focusing on applied research in U.S. foreign assistance, and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, assesses the U.S. government’s ability to support media development around the world. Green finds that while media play a pivotal role in U.S. foreign policy, there are significant resource shortfalls in this area. Too few media experts, not enough technological know-how, and potentially problematic funding mechanisms are just a few of the challenges facing the media development sector.

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This report examines how the communications landscape has changed over the past decade, and discusses new opportunities and restrictions for both print and broadcast media outlets and journalists.  Written by Karin Deutsch Karlekar, the managing editor of Freedom of the Press, an annual index that tracks trends in media freedom worldwide, this report recommends the promotion of a more open and diverse broadcast sector through the reform of licensing and regulatory frameworks accompanied by broader legal reforms, self-regulatory mechanisms, and training to improve professionalism.

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This report examines the methodology for measuring the effectiveness of media development programs among media development organizations. Written by Andy Mosher, a media consultant with 28 years of experience as a journalist and editor, this report traces the increasing use of monitoring and evaluation among practitioners in the media assistance community.

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The Center for International Media Assistance is pleased to publish One Size Does Not Fit All: Objectives and Priority Areas for Media Assistance in Different Societies, a thought-provoking paper that we hope will stimulate a lively and sustained discussion among media assistance practitioners.

One Size Does Not Fit All was written by Dr. Krishna Kumar, a senior social scientist in the Office of the Director of Foreign Assistance at the U.S. Department of State. Dr. Kumar has been involved at virtually every level of media assistance, principally with the U.S. Agency for International Development, during the democracy and governance sector’s expansion over the past two decades. He is the author of several books and journal articles on the subject. Read more »

This report examines the ways in which media around the world have attempted to regulate themselves. Written by Bill Ristow, a veteran journalist and international journalism trainer, Sword and Shield: Self-Regulation and International Media discusses the use of press councils and ombudsmen around the world. While nearly all such efforts officially espouse the same generalized high goal–raising the standards of media coverage, in part by giving the public a chance to criticize and question that coverage–there are significant differences among them in approach, scope, effectiveness, and, most significantly, independence.

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This report examines the use of money by governments to influence news coverage. Written by Don Podesta, a veteran journalist with more than 30 years’ experience at the Washington Post and other newspapers, this report explains that as formerly authoritarian regimes have moved toward more democratic societies, this insidious form of censorship has emerged on a global scale.

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CIMA’s 2008 Inaugural Report provides an in-depth assessment of U.S. international media development efforts, both public and private, and calls on future efforts to be more long-term, comprehensive, and need-driven. The U.S., through government and private sector initiatives, spends at least $142 million annually on media development efforts in countries around the world.

Recommending a more holistic approach, the report looks at the international media development field from a number of perspectives: 

• funding,
• professional development,
• education,
• the legal-enabling environment,
• economic sustainability,
• media literacy,
• new media, and
• monitoring and evaluation.

Empowering Independent Media is the culmination of CIMA’s work since its inception in late 2006, and draws upon its reports, working group discussions, meetings, and additional research on topics including:

• the public and private funding of projects,
• financial sustainability of independent media outlets,
• global investigative journalism, and
• community radio development, among others.

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Shanthi Kalathil, a media and development consultant, authored this report on new media. The report examines the implications of new information and communication technologies for the media-assistance field, and how these innovations can be incorporated into traditional media-development models.

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Ellen Hume, Director of the Center on Media and Society at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, drafted a report based on her extensive research and interviews as well as the first World Journalism Education Congress held in Singapore June 25-28, 2007.

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David E. Kaplan, an investigative journalist and media consultant, drafted this report based on a survey Kaplan conducted for CIMA, as well as interviews and research he carried out.  A related event was held on January 16, 2008 addressing the growth of investigative journalism centers worldwide.

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Written by Peter Graves, international media consultant, this report examines the cross-sector impact of media on political, social, and economic systems worldwide. The report provides examples of the benefits provided by independent media in a variety of settings.

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Authored by Peter Graves, international media consultant, and edited by Angela Stephens, CIMA senior coordinator, this report provides a snapshot of U.S. public and private funding of media development assistance across the globe.

Drawing upon the results of a 2007 survey designed by Graves and interviews and research, the report estimates that U.S. public and private funding of media development is at least $142 million a year.

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This report by veteran media trainer and development consultant Ann Olson discusses two important topics in the media assistance field:

• media literacy—educating the public about the function and responsibilities of the media and how to discern reliable from unreliable or biased news sources
• supporting organizations for media, including journalists’ professional associations

The purpose of the study is to explore the role of these organizations and media literacy in sustaining or strengthening independent media around the world.

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