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Strengthening Africa’s Media

STREAM 1: African Framework for the Development of a Sustainable and Pluralistic Media

STREAM 2: Report of the Findings of the Strengthening African Media Consultative Process

Context – Changes in the media and communications landscape:

Globalisation of democratisation in 3rd world

Liberalisation Privatisation and commercialisation of

state mediaCommunitarian agendaRe-regulation of media

Contemporary efforts at Media Development in Africa

Windhoek Declaration: May 3rd, 1991CfA – Commission for Africa (media as

an avenue for potential growth and development of Africa)

GFMD – Global Forum for Media Development (donor structures)

AMDI – African Media Development Initiative (Research 2000 – 2005)

STREAM 1

African Framework for the Development of a Sustainable and Pluralistic Media

Document formed by media lecturers, students, international foundations, World Bank, UN agencies, African Development Bank and even the Peace and Security Department of the AU.

40 African countries represented

Online dialogue and consultations

Main aims of the STREAM process

Agree on a shared understanding of state of media in Africa

Agree on concrete recommendations that will see more coherent and inclusive set of media development interventions in Africa

Major challenges facing African media

Media freedom Constitutions include freedom of expression But media regulation policies from colonial times still exist Governments have attacked media property – Zimbabwe* North African countries continue stiff control over information

and media distribution (e.g. web content control) In repressive regimes media is compromised. Bad

relationship with government. Policy

Issues surrounding defamation and legal protection of investigative journalists

No laws covering new technological environment

Major challenges facing African media...

Capacity and standards Can’t promote good governance if media practitioners do not adhere

to professional codes of conduct Low ethical standards Lack of computers and internet to access information and deliver

high-quality stories at low cost Sustainability

Small media in many regions are dependent on donor support – unsustainable

Lack of access to capital, poor financial practice Lack of quality and diversity of content

No high quality local content Advertisers pressure content choices Imbalance of programming (entertainment, religious, civic education,

public issues) East Africa*

Proposed actions to help develop a sustainable and pluralistic media

Freedom of expression and information Promote adoption of:

‘Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa’

International freedom of information principles and standards

National laws related to access to information, whistle blowing, protection of sources etc.

Support efforts to repeal criminal defamation and ‘insult laws’

Ensure protection of journalists Educate lawyers and judiciary on international

standards related to freedom of expression and information

Proposed actions to help develop a sustainable and pluralistic media…

Policy and regulation Identify poor national laws and promote laws that enable

rather than stifle the growth of strong, pluralistic and sustainable media.

Promote laws that diminish negative impacts of media concentration and promote fair competition and ensure diversity

Promote good corporate governance among African media enterprises

Advocate licensing of community broadcasters in Africa Promote transforming state broadcasters into public-service

media operating independently from state influence


Capacity-building Audit existing media training institutions in Africa – identify

problems, develop proposals Develop minimum standards for media training – continent

wide competency tests to increase academic recognition Promote in house training policies – continuous skills

development Strengthen links between media and media training industry Promote media exchange programmes and media networks Establish regional centres of excellence to overcome national

media capacity-building shortfalls Pool training expertise, resources and mentoring – widen

media access to cutting-edge training


Sustainability Audit all funds available to African media, ensure that

proposals for funding will ensure sustainable media Advocate for public funding to create community, local and

small media Research community media sector (help with strategy to

ensure effective and sustainable sector) Study the economic conditions (taxes on imports) and then

advocate for lowering/ waivering taxes Advocate removal of unfair competition from state media Advocate for recognition of media as a development sector in

its own right and attract investor funds


Professionalism and Ethics Develop way to monitor adherence to professional

media ethics Publicise norms and standards widely – help

ensure they are respected Encourage professional networks, forums to

strengthen media practices in Africa African Media Award to reward outstanding media

practice, entrepreneurship, innovation and public-interest journalism

Promote fair and equitable working conditions for women in African media


Content Ensure respect of cultural and linguistic diversity and promote

this Facilitate with audience surveys for relevant content Increase awareness of media responsibility to address

development challenges (health, governance, conflict resolution, peace building and globalisation)

Ensure production and dissemination of content reflects diversity of interests, opinions and voices of all social actors (incl. marginalised)

Promote use of ICTs to digitize and share content across continent

STREAM 2 (very similar to STREAM 1)

Meeting of African Journalists in regions to ascertain the priorities for strengthening media institutions in Africa.

African consensus Local understanding of context Evolving agenda of media development

http://www.uneca.org/africanmedia (UNECA and CfA)

Regions

Southern AfricaFrancophone West and Central AfricaAnglophone West AfricaEastern AfricaNorthern Africa

Synthesis of findings

Each region submitted:analysis of media practice, ownership,

training and supportproposals coverings policy and legislation,

infrastructure, content production, sustainability, plurality and diversity.

Key issue: Media Development

Not clear what development entails

Q: Development of …..?

A: 1) Independent media

2) State, public and private media

3) Communications

‘Media Development’ according to the Windhoek Declaration

Identify economic barriers to establishment of news media (in order to remove these things)

Train journalists and managers Remove legal barriers to formation of

journalists’ trade unions & associations Develop a register of available funds

for media and how to access it

Another issue – Regulation

Some countries’ media freedom has increased (SA, Namibia, Zambia & Malawi)

Other countries are concerned about media regulations (especially in North Africa – Tunisia, Egypt, Uganda)

Enhance media regulation

Supportive political environment (tolerance & media policy reform)

Supportive legal environment (freedom of information)

Enabling economic environment (media fund and supportive economic policies)

Enhanced associational infrastructure (unions and support for media professionals)

Media Production - Education is the key

Increase skills base of journalists and encourage critical thinking

Advocacy at higher educational institutions for a basic level of assessment for journalism qualification

Strengthen existing networks to support and increase exchange among media students and educators

Education…

Lobby African governments to increase budget for education (particularly media education)

Use databank of journalism educational institutions to research journalism education in Africa

Fund?

Through the discussions it was realised there was a need for a continent-wide media and communication support fund (African-led initiative)

While Southern Africa is ahead in terms of support mechanisms the rest of the continent is still lacking

Priority Areas for Intervention

Financing research into setting up a media and communication fund for Africa which willProvide financial support to mediaHelp with international lobbying and

advocacy to support media in AfricaMobilise resources for training and

education

Priority Areas for Intervention…

Supporting media training and educationStrengthening media support institutions

Instrumental in advocacy for policy regulation

Watchdog over the media to ensure media serve public interest

Supporting journalists’ unions and associationsDevelop professional identity

Final word to ECA and donors

‘Africans know their problems. They know what is possible. This is shared across all the sub-regions, from north Africa right through to southern Africa. They are aware that most of their problems are structural. They are also aware that they can be agents of change. With a little push of assistance, the possibilities for change are numerous, and the findings testify to that.’ ~ F. Banda

Documents

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