Media for Development in Africa
From SOUL BEAT AFRICA - where communication and media are central to AFRICA's social and economic development
In this issue of The Soul Beat:
* Assessing and Monitoring MEDIA DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
* Promoting GENDER EQUALITY in the Media
* Poll on CHILD PARTICIPATION IN RADIO CHILD PARTICIPATION IN RADIO
* The role of the media in PROMOTING DEMOCRACY
* HANDBOOKS AND MANUALS for the media
* JOURNALISM AWARDS for media
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This issue of The Soul Beat focuses on the role of media for development in Africa. It provides a selection of programme experiences and strategic thinking documents that look specifically at issues related to developing media systems in Africa, as well as at the role of the media in promoting gender equality, democracy, and economic development. It also offers a selection of toolkits and handbooks for the media and some development related journalism awards.
If you would like your organisation's communication work or research and resource documents to be featured on the Soul Beat Africa website and in The Soul Beat newsletters, please contact soulbeat@comminit.com
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MEASURING MEDIA DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
1. Media Sustainability Index 2008: The Development of Sustainable Media in Africa
Edited by Leon Morse
The 2008 Africa Media Sustainability Index (MSI) is the second such study of the region published by the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). The MSI is designed to provide an analysis of the media environment in 40 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa during 2008, with the hope of allowing policymakers and implementers to analyse media systems and determine the areas in which media development assistance can improve citizens’ access to news and information. The MSI also provides information for the media and media advocates in each country and region, reflecting what the authors consider expert opinions of media professionals in each country.
2. African Media Barometer (AMB) - Africa
The African Media Barometer (AMB) is designed to be an in-depth and comprehensive description and measurement system for national media environments on the African continent. Developed and co-owned by the German foundation Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), the AMB uses self-assessment based on African standards and a guided discussion among African experts to analyse the media landscape in a given country. The objective of the AMB is to assess the media landscape of a country over time to provide civil society with a strategic advocacy tool for media reform.
Contact fesmedia@fesmedia.org OR zoe@misa.org AND director@misa.org
3. Media Development Indicators: A Framework for Assessing Media Development
This paper has been prepared in order to define indicators of media development in line with the priority areas of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC): promotion of freedom of expression and media pluralism; development of community media; and human resource development (capacity building of media professionals and institutional capacity building). This set of indicators is designed for analysing the main aspects of the media ecology. It defines a framework within which media can best contribute to, and benefit from, good governance and democratic participation. The indicators are intended to enable stakeholders concerned with media development, and in particular local actors, to assess the state of the media within a given national context and identify the main gaps. They can thus serve as an instrument to guide the formulation of media-related policies and target development assistance efforts in this area.
4. Measuring Change: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in Media and Development Cooperations
Edited by A. Sofie Jannusch
This document, published in 2007, summarises the proceedings of the symposium "Measuring Change: Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation in Media Development" which focused on the utilisation aspect of evaluation in media development, including an emphasis on learning from monitoring and evaluation (M&E) experiences, to facilitate the improvement of existing projects and programmes at all levels, from planning to implementation and follow-up.
5. How to Assess Your Media Landscape
by Fackson Banda and Guy Berger
Commissioned by the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), this report from 2009 surveys some of the instruments available for assessing media development. It sets out advice around clarifying the purpose and focus of assessment, and how this impacts upon the issues around choosing, creating, and using tools for assessing some aspect of the media landscape.
6. Glass Ceilings: Women and Men in Southern African Media
Edited by Colleen Lowe Morna and Pat Made
The Glass Ceilings study is an audit of women and men in Southern African media houses. Spanning 14 countries over a year starting in July 2008, Gender Links (GL) conducted the study in partnership with a network of researchers, gender and media activists, and partners in the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) network as well as the Gender and Media Diversity Centre (GMDC). The study presents findings from 126 media houses. The study, which was published in 2009, found that, by and large, Southern African media is still dominated by men.
7. Roadmap to Equality: Voices and Views Radio Programmes
This 10-part series of radio reports, produced in 2009, addresses issues related to gender equality in Southern Africa, focusing on the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development. The series covers such issues as governance, gender budgets, gender violence, media, and education. The SADC Protocol Alliance produced these radio resources as part of their campaign around the SADC Protocol on Gender which is designed to encourage local action for ratification of the Protocol and to advocate for countries who have not signed to do so. Designed for use by presenters as discussion starters and launching points for talk show and call in programmes, the series and accompanying presenter's guide are designed to provide regional perspectives that can be adapted to local contexts.
See Toolkits and Manuals related to Gender below.
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PLEASE VOTE IN OUR POLL ON CHILD PARTICIPATION IN RADIO
How do you rate the success of current efforts to give children access to the radio airwaves in Africa?
Options:
* Good – most radio stations have at least one programme that is produced by children.
* Improving – the amount of radio stations that are accommodating child-driven programming is increasing.
* Bad – it is very rare for radio stations to have programmes run by children.
Click here and see the top right side of the page to vote and send comments.
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PROMOTING DEMOCRACY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
8. Africa Means Business - Africa
This pan-African media initiative was developed with local and international partners including Nairobi’s African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the African Media Initiative (AMI), the Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE) at the University of Oxford, the Financial Times associated Wincott Foundation, and the Thomson Foundation. According to the organisers, the project will establish up to four Africa Means Business Hubs located within media institutions (broadcast or print) or within existing journalism schools. Each will coordinate the development of finance, economic, and business coverage across the continent by building the capacity of economists to communicate information and the capacity of journalists to report on the economy, finance, and business issues.
Contact Janet Boston JanetB@thomsonfoundation.org OR Paddy Coulter paddy.coulter@oxfordglobalmedia.com
9. Independent Voices: Radio’s Role in Democracy and Development
According to the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA), 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. At a CIMA meeting in 2009, the "Developing Radio Partners" spoke about their projects and speakers examined radio’s role as a communication tool in promoting democracy and explored the following questions: How does radio play a fundamental role in democracy and development? How can civil society organisations tap into its potential more effectively?
10. Media Pluralism, Democratic Discourses and Political Accountability in Africa
By Wisdom J. Tettey
This document from 2008 is part of the publication of papers for a conference on “The Role of the News Media in the Governance Reform Agenda". Its purpose is to describe the media landscape of the previous two decades on the African continent. The document explores the extent to which Africa’s media have been able to achieve a balance between increased access to information and political pluralism and the danger of reinforcing the influence and protecting the interests of powerful elements in society to the neglect of the less powerful.
11. African Media and Investment
This report from 2009, commissioned by Diageo, a private drinks company, explores the link between business, media, and capital investment in Africa. Thirty-six investors with a total of around US$20 billion under management in Africa provided their views about African business media and how it informs their investment decisions. In addition, insight was also collected from senior business people whose businesses have a large footprint in Africa, and eight media houses including Reuters, BBC, Al-Jazeera, and the Economist. The report suggests that during the economic recession, marked by negative economic news on a global scale, the onus should be on African business media to report accurately the real changes taking place on the continent – high growth rates, increased capitalisation, and liquidity. The study makes the point that African business media both reflects and dictates investor sentiment and that to neglect the reporting of this news will greatly impact perceptions about the continent and investment flows.
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TOOLKITS AND HANDBOOKS FOR THE MEDIA
12. Civic Education for Media Professionals: A Training Manual
By Fackson Banda
As part of its efforts to strengthen the capacities of media professionals in developing countries, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has published this training manual, which looks at the relationship between media functions and active citizenship. The manual, which was published in 2009, focuses on the underlying nexus of democracy, development, and the media based on the fundamental principles of democracy and human rights. It recommends participatory, student-centred training techniques, and proposes a number of exercises aimed at stimulating student reflection and pointers for investigation designed to prod media interest in particular civic issues.
13. Getting the Balance Right: Gender Equality in Journalism
This handbook, published by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in 2009, is written to give added argument and dynamism to gender equality campaigns that the IFJ believes should be taken up in every newsroom to fight against discrimination and champion journalistic standards. The handbook is an illustrated guide and resource for journalists to equip them with information for an understanding of gender issues in their work. It is designed for media organisations, professional associations, and journalists' unions seeking to contribute to the goal of gender equality.
14. Reporting Gender Based Violence: A Handbook for Journalists
Published by Inter Press Service (IPS) Africa in 2009, this handbook for reporters is designed to encourage and support sustained media coverage of gender-based violence (GBV) beyond the annual 16 Days of No Violence Against Women and Children. The handbook is divided into twelve sections which each include an overview of a key issue, some facts and statistics, and a sample feature article to provide an example of best practice and/or what to consider when writing about GBV.
15. Contemporary Issues in South Africa Toolkit: A Toolkit for Journalists
by Tanya Farber
This book, published by Open Society Foundation (OSF) in 2009, is meant to inspire journalists to generate high quality media content on a range of crucial topics that are part of South African society and to enhance journalistic story research. The book covers eight different topics including economic recession, economic poverty, food security, water issues, rural issues, xenophobia, gender issues, and children’s issues. According to the publishers, these chapters are not intended to provide reporters with in-depth information on any single topic, but rather are designed to provide building blocks on a variety of themes and to assist journalists in seeing each story they tackle through a variety of "lenses".
16. HIV/AIDS Reporting Manual
This guide, published by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) in 2009, has been designed for journalists who are covering the global HIV/AIDS epidemic for the first time and for those who have covered it previously. The material in this edition covers a broad range of subjects, including the challenges of reporting on HIV/AIDS, treatment and prevention strategies, key figures in the struggle against HIV/AIDS, and global efforts to finance the campaign against HIV/AIDS. Information is included about the political and social aspects of the epidemic intended to provide journalists with guidance about navigating these issues.
17. Investigative Journalism Manuals
by Gwen Ansell
The Investigative Journalism Manuals, conceptualised and produced by the Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR) in partnership with the University of the Witwatersrand and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, include strategies, tactics, techniques, and methodologies designed to enable journalists to dig deeper, unearth more truth, and expose as much injustice as possible. The manuals, which were published in 2009, consist of eight downloadable PDF chapters and are designed for practical use as self-study guides that can be reviewed by chapter, depending on what kind of advice and tips one is looking for in a specific situation. The manuals may also be used by trainers and include trainers’ notes.
18. A Touchpad to our Future: An Election Resource for Journalists
This document, published by the Open Society Foundation for South Africa in preparation for the 2009 national and provincial elections, is an empowerment and information guide for community or mainstream journalists from the print, broadcast or on-line media. It aims to build journalist's capacity to effectively prepare for, monitor, and report on the 2009 elections, while also educating voters on elections and democracy.
Go to the Awards section to view the full listing which include these related to media and development:
19. IWMF Journalism Awards
Deadline: March 5, 2010
The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) seeks nominations from around the world for its Courage in Journalism Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award. These awards honour women working in the news media who have demonstrated extraordinary strength of character in pursuing their profession under difficult or dangerous circumstances.
20. WASH Media Awards
Deadline: April 1, 2010
The Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) are inviting entries in the third WASH Media Awards competition. The competition is open to journalists in developing and developed countries who publish or broadcast original investigative reports on issues relating to water supply, sanitation, or hygiene (WASH) in their countries.
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Related previous issues of The Soul Beat include:
The Soul Beat 105 - The Role of Journalism in Development
The Soul Beat 88 - Media Development in Africa: POLIS
The Soul Beat 61 - Media and Development in Africa
Click here to view all archived editions of The Soul Beat Newsletter.
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