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The business of independent Myanmar media post-coup: Experimenting with business models inside the country and in exile

Jane Madlyn McElhone et al.

Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2024)

"More than three years after the coup, a significant majority of the 40 senior media executives interviewed for this report say they are still dependent, partially or fully, on grants to run their operations. While they cannot control the external factors impacting on their work, be that the conflic ... more

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The Role of Media: Driving Change Towards the SDGs

New York: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2022), 18 pp.

"In the following brief, we encapsulate those findings and present the relationship between media and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the struggle to achieve Agenda 2030 takes on ever greater urgency, the role of independent media in achieving the SDGs is crucial. Not on ... more

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Portfolio Review 2021

New York: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2022), 19 pp.

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Business Truths That Matter ... or "Questions We Should Constantly Ask to Arrive at the Truth"

Koreel Lahiri

Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2021), 27 pp.

"Media is a business, and just like any business, the fundamental skills one needs remain pretty much the same – these range from the reason you became an entrepreneur to critically analyzing your market to knowing your audience and knowing how to make the business sustainable. The best way to arr ... more

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Myanmar Media's Response to COVID-19

Thal Nyein Thu, Jane Madlyn McElhone, Tessa Piper (eds.)

New York: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2020), 41 pp.

"In June 2020, MDIF conducted a survey of 36 Myanmar media outlets to gather information about the impact of COVID-19 on their businesses between March and May. They represent a mix of national media, as well as local media from the ethnic states and regions. Their operations are of various sizes: t ... hree media have 70-150 staff, 7 have 20-69, and 26 have 1-19. All the media surveyed felt the impact of COVID-19 almost immediately. Not surprisingly, as this has generally been the experience of media worldwide, commercial revenue decline was often dramatic: half of the survey respondents reported more than a 75% drop in income. Thirty-two of the 36 respondents had advertising revenue prior to the start of the pandemic, and all of them reported that it was negatively affected. All 19 media with print products were obliged to either reduce or even halt production. In response to collapsing revenues, 31 of the 36 survey respondents instituted spending cuts between March and May including, in some cases, cutting salaries and staff. Even as they reeled from the economic impact, Myanmar media also had to adapt their working environments. All the media surveyed quickly instituted work from home practices or else established social distancing in their offices and provided protective equipment for their staff. At the same time, more than half of the media reported having to contend with safety and security challenges. These came in the form of restrictions on movement, websites being blocked, on and offline surveillance, staff harassment and arrests. In common with media in other countries, one bright spot in this bleak picture has been audience growth. MDIF’s survey found that almost all media saw both their digital audiences, and audience engagement, increase. This had a positive knock-on effect for the media, with 30 respondents reporting that during this period they were able to strengthen their digital skills and knowledge due to the increased focus on their online content. The good news that 21 of the 31 respondents that sought emergency funding during the survey period obtained it, is tempered by the reality that the impact of COVID-19 has been deep and will be long lasting. The future for media in Myanmar is precarious." (Introduction) more

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Good for Business: Creating Inclusive Media Businesses in Myanmar
Top Insights

New York: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2020), [31 pp.]

"Our inclusion survey, conducted with 35 private media outlets operating in Yangon and in seven ethnic states and five regions, provides up-to-date inclusion and gender data about the sector. Among the findings: while many women work in media (they represent 33% of the combined staff of the 35 outle ... more

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Myanmar Media's Response to COVID-19: A Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) Survey

Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2020), 39 pp.

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Impact Dashboard 2020

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2020), 50 pp.

"Starting with support to media companies in countries transitioning from communist systems to free markets back in 1996, to being at the forefront of investing in digital news and information startups in emerging and frontier markets in 2019, MDIF has invested in 119 independent media businesses ac ... more

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Using WhatsApp for Radio
Key Guidance

Clémence Petit-Perrot, Linda Daniels

Cape Town: Children’s Radio Foundation (CRF); Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2019), 43 pp.

"This toolkit is structured around providing practical examples and tips for integrating the WhatsApp platform into four key areas of a radio station’s life: listener engagement, community journalism, research and data collection, and extending or replacing the FM broadcast. It is geared towards r ... more

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The Business of Chin Media: News Audiences Challenges Survival
Top Insights

New York: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2019), 90 pp.

"This report analyses the Chin media sector. It is based on research conducted by MDIF from late 2018 through December 2019, as well as a quantitative and qualitative survey conducted by Myanmar Survey Research (MSR) in May 2019. The report provides data on the Chin media operations themselves, as w ... more

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Impact Dashboard 2019

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2019), 50 pp.

"In 2018, 92.5 million people received their news from MDIF clients, 51.9 million online and 40.6 million through traditional media. After five years of working with MDIF, client reach increased on average by 191.1% (a median of 33.2%). In 2018, MDIF clients generated $355.2 million in revenues, wit ... more

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Media Capture in Europe

Marius Dragomir

Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2019), 25 pp.

"The collusion between the political class and media owners [in Central and Eastern Europe] has reached unprecedented levels, leading to a phenomenon known as media capture, a situation where most or all of the news media institutions are operating as part of a government-business cartel that contro ... more

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Best Practices for Data Journalism
Key Guidance

Kuang Keng Kuek Ser

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2018), 51 pp.

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Facebook News Feed Changes: Impact and Actions

Ross Settles

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2018), 27 pp.

"An MDIF analysis of the impact of Facebook’s Q4 2017 “Explore” News Feed test showed a steep decrease in traffic for test market publishers versus traffic changes for publishers in nearby regional markets. This report will explore the impact of the Explore changes in emerging markets, discuss ... more

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Case Studies on Paywall Implementation: Gazeta Wyborzca and Malaysiakini

Marius Dragomir, Dumitrita Holdis, Ian M. Cook

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2018), 27 pp.

"When Wyborcza.pl was launched back in 2008, besides its quality, one of the best things about it was that its content was freely accessible. Once the paywall was up in 2012, the publisher had to find a way to present this content differently. According to Bregula, this was the most important task w ... more

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Launching a Paywall: What You and Your Team Need to Know
Key Guidance

Tomás Bella

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2018), 39 pp.

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An Unfavorable Business: Running Local Media in Myanmar's Ethnic States and Regions

New York: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2018), 66 pp.

"Myanmar’s local media outlets face a variety of internal and external obstacles hampering their prospects for sustainability. Key among these today, and the focus of this report, are the business realities that every media outlet must tackle." (Introduction)

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Introduction to Podcasting
Key Guidance

Quick Overview

Erkki Mervaala

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2018), 39 pp.

"The purpose of this guide is to be an introduction to podcast production and monetisation, helping you through the basics of creating and launching a podcast - from recording and editing to distribution and promotion. Additionally, it will explain how to find and use the metrics and analytics to ma ... more

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Practical Guide to Product Management in Digital Media
Key Guidance

Derrick Fountain

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2017), 47 pp.

"This guide is intended both for new product managers and those who want to develop into product leadership roles as well as media executives and managers who want to gain an understanding of the product management function and how it can benefit their organizations [...] This guide is structured ar ... more

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Media Development's Role in Social, Economic and Political Progress

New York; Prague: Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) (2014), 7 pp.

"This review presents evidence to suggest that independent media play a critical role in improving governance and reducing corruption, increasing economic efficiency and stability, and creating positive social and environmental change. The media provide information to actors throughout society allow ... more

Good for Business: Creating Inclusive Media Businesses in Myanmar Top Insights

Using WhatsApp for Radio Key Guidance

The Business of Chin Media: News Audiences Challenges Survival Top Insights

Best Practices for Data Journalism Key Guidance

Launching a Paywall: What You and Your Team Need to Know Key Guidance

Introduction to Podcasting Key Guidance Quick Overview

Practical Guide to Product Management in Digital Media Key Guidance

Good for Business: Creating Inclusive Media Businesses in Myanmar
Top Insights

Using WhatsApp for Radio
Key Guidance

The Business of Chin Media: News Audiences Challenges Survival
Top Insights

Best Practices for Data Journalism
Key Guidance

Launching a Paywall: What You and Your Team Need to Know
Key Guidance

Introduction to Podcasting
Key Guidance

Quick Overview

Practical Guide to Product Management in Digital Media
Key Guidance