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Call for an increase of European support for journalism and free media worldwide

CFI;Deutsche Welle DW Akademie;Fondation Hirondelle;International Media Support (IMS) (2025)

"At this critical point in time, independent journalists, public interest media and civil society organisations in countries around the world need decisive support. They are directly and severely impacted by the current US administration’s decision to freeze financial support to independent media. ... more

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Mind the Gap! 18th fome Symposium 2024. A critical review of common practices and strategies in International Media Assistance

Michel Leroy, Anja Wollenberg, Sofie Jannusch (eds.)

Forum Medien und Entwicklung (fome) (2025), 35 pp.

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Media development pathways: A case study of the Media Institute of Southern Africa

Susan Abbott

London: University of Westminster, Doctoral Thesis (2025), 222 pp.

"The purpose of this research project is to contribute to the academic and practitioner understanding of how donors impact the development of media systems in developing and transitioning countries. The study reflects on the evolution of donor strategies in media development over the past 30 years s ... ince 1989, highlighting several key trends [...] Early optimism about democratic transitions has waned, with media development now seen as a rescue operation. A clear definition of ‘democracy’ has become blurred, with autocrats co-opting the term, leading to growing scepticism about its true meaning. The cynicism about democracy is joined by a sense of naïve expectations in that donors once believed that funding free and independent media would automatically strengthen other democratic institutions. This assumption has been challenged as reality proved more complex. When it came to specific feedback on donor strategies, respondents shared that donor funding initially supported traditional media infrastructure. With the rise of the internet and digital media, strategies shifted to support the digital transformation of journalism. Respondents also note that donor strategies have often shifted with geopolitical interests, leaving media development in regions like Eastern Europe and Southern Africa in flux. Wars and political changes have diverted funds and attention, impacting the sustainability of media projects. There is criticism that donors lack a coherent long-term strategy or clear goals for media development related investments. Many rely on Western NGOs to devise strategies, leading to concerns about the effectiveness and sustainability of these efforts. Overall, the research undertaken underscores the need for more stable, well-defined, and strategically coherent donor approaches to support independent media development effectively. Finally, the study relayed concerns from local stakeholders that they feel there is a pressing need to localise practices and prioritize localisation to enhance long-term impact and sustainability. This dissertation focuses on the post-1989 context, which was significant for the spread of democracy following the fall of the Berlin Wall, the breakup of the Soviet Union, and the end of apartheid in Africa. This period, often called the third wave of democratisation, was marked by a belief in the inevitable spread of democracy and liberal democratic order. My research connects media development theories with practical applications in specific contexts examining how donor strategies affect journalism and press freedom, informed by scholarship on liberal democracy. The qualitative research, based on interpretivism/constructivism, probes donor impact on media space and evaluates program success, contributing to a theory of change in media development. The comparative research and grounded theory approach led to the development of a case study about the Media Institute of Southern Africa. Findings and analysis are drawn from the perspectives from donors, program beneficiaries, implementers, academics, and experts. The research interprets the legacy of donor-supported media development in the context of democratisation efforts by Western government aid agencies and foundations." (Abstract) more

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Crisis in Journalism: The Impact of the US Government Funding Cuts on Global Media

Rafiq Copeland (prep.)

Internews Europe (2025), 12 pp.

"In FY2024, the US Congress approved $271.5 million in foreign assistance through the US State Department and USAID in the category of “Independent Media and Free Flow of Information”. Of this, an estimated $150 million directly funded journalism and media support, with the remainder supporting ... the wider information ecosystem and enabling environment through related topics such as freedom of expression, technology policy and digital rights (often with significant overlap between programming). In 2025 and beyond, the vast majority of this funding will disappear – potentially for good. The sudden revocation of funding has dealt a devastating blow to local media outlets, forcing many to shut down or drastically reduce their operations. This has cut off crucial financial support and resources, leaving journalists without the means to continue their vital work when they need it most. The media outlets that have been most reliant on US Government (USG) funding are those operating in the world’s most challenging and volatile environments – conflict zones, authoritarian regimes, disaster-affected regions and underserved communities where access to reliable information can be a matter of life and death. In these contexts, other business models, such as advertising or subscriptions, are often non-existent or unreliable. And it’s not just media organisations that have been devastated by these cuts – associated support organisations, such as unions, training institutions, legal services, and advocacy bodies, have also been severely impacted. Many of the global media outlets that received USG funding have had to immediately cut staff and reduce coverage, while almost all face reduced ability to operate, and uncertainty around longer-term viability. For media operating in high-risk or authoritarian contexts, funding cuts have dramatically increased their vulnerability, not only by weakening operations but by exposing them to greater legal and physical threats. As “lawfare” tactics like defamation suits and restrictive media laws rise, so too do coordinated attacks on journalists’ digital and physical safety – deliberate efforts to silence dissent and suppress democratic discourse. While some partners have been able to temporarily maintain operations, without new funding, the resulting reduction in capacity looks set to deteriorate further." (Overview, page 2) more

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Urgent call for governments, multilateral institutions, and philanthropies to support independent media and journalism

Brussels: Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) (2025), 3 pp.

"The recent U.S. government decision to suspend foreign assistance has abruptly halted key grants and programmes that have been essential in sustaining global development, cooperation, and supporting international peace and security and human rights efforts worldwide, putting in jeopardy the ability ... more

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Reimagining Funding for Journalism: Key Takeaways from IJF 2025

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) (2025)

"At the International Journalism Festival (IJF) in Perugia this year, journalism funding and sustainability took centre stage. International funders, media leaders, and innovators grappled with the urgent question of how to keep independent journalism not just alive—but thriving—in an era of shr ... more

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Media Assistance: Mind the Gap! A critical review of common practices and strategies. Presentations

Dortmund: Erich-Brost-Institut;Forum Medien und Entwicklung (fome) (2025), 202 slides

"This is a compilation of the presentations at the fome conference on "Media Assistance: Mind the Gap!" from September 30 – October 1, 2024, in Dortmund." (commbox)

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A moment of truth: Securing the survival of independent journalism

Paris: International Fund for Public Interest Media (2024), 57 pp.

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Google Scholar (6)

WorldCat (7)

What Can We Learn From the Short History of Independent Media in Serbia? Radio B92, George Soros, and New Models of Media Development

Janet Steele

International Journal of Press/Politics, volume 29, issue 3 (2024), pp. 646-666

"Radio B92 was an iconic independent media institution in Serbia. Founded in 1989, B92 provided Belgrade listeners with subversive rock music, high-quality journalism, and independent perspectives on politics in the former Yugoslavia. An early adapter to the internet, B92 has been credited with spar ... more

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Mapping ODA to media and information environment integrity
Top Insights

Laure-Hélène Piron

Paris: OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) (2024), 105 pp.

"Interviews with 25 officials from development ministries and agencies and media experts, and a review of over 100 documents, confirmed that development partners are aware of the pressures faced by traditional and new media, and how the information environment can influence their wider democracy and ... more

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EU Funding Opportunities: News Media Organisations

European Commission (2024), 4 pp.

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The Role of Media Festivals in Strengthening Independent Media. Media Festival Briefing

Sameer Padania

International Media Support (IMS) (2023), 25 pp.

"Festivals taking place across the Global South are attracting increasingly global attendees. This brief discussion paper looks at four diverse examples of such festivals – Media Party in Argentina, Festival 3i in Brazil, Splice Beta in Thailand, and the Africa Media Festival in Kenya – and seek ... more

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Long-Term Financial Support for Ukrainian Media and Journalists

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) (2023), 4 pp.

"To ensure that Ukrainian media move from mere survival to long-term vitality, we propose a comprehensive strategy encompassing the following five pillars: 1. Innovative funding mechanisms; 2. Prioritisation of local-level media; 3. Constructive enabling environment; 4. Professional development; 5. ... more

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Understanding and Responding to Global Emerging News Threats

Courtney C. Radsch

Internews (2023), 109 pp.

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Principes pour un soutien pertinent et efficace aux médias et à l'espace de l'information

Paris: OECD (2023), 14 pp.

External Link (9)

Google Scholar (8)

WorldCat (8)

In-Between Journalism and Media Development: Negotiating Journalist Safety within Decolonising African Contexts

Viola Candice Milton, Winston Mano

In: Decolonising Journalism Education in South Africa: Critical Perspectives

Ylva Rodny-Gumede; Colin Chasi; Zubeida Jaffer; Mvuso Ponono (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2023), pp. 163-186

"Media development has long been a staple in Africa and literature about its conceptualisations, practices and impact abound. One defining characteristic of this literature is that it focuses primarily on media development’s impact on the media’s ability to resist penetration by the state. This ... more

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Compilation of Briefing Papers on the Media Sector Development in Ethiopia

Abdissa Zerai, Elsabet Samuel Tadesse, Haron Mwangi, Teshager Shiferaw, Tewodros Negash

PRIMED;International Media Support (IMS) (2023), 64 pp.

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Google Scholar (8)

WorldCat (7)

The Media as a Tool of International Intervention: House of Cards

Nidžara Ahmetaševic

New York: Routledge (2023), xiv, 116 pp.

"This book explores the role of external powers and international organisations in media assistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Through analysis of key documents, media reports and interviews with key participants it examines the main actors, their roles and the way in which they influenced the media ... more

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The state of media development: Global evidence on relevant and effective media support
Top Insights

Ines Drefs, Rose Kimani, Dennis Reineck, Vera Freitag, Nick Benequista

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2023), 81 pp.

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Transforming Media Development: Recommendations for Effective Funding and Collaboration
Top Insights

Brussels: Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) (2023), 12 pp.

"This report draws on the feedback of media development actors to present a set of recommendations for both donors and implementing agencies. These include proposed improvements to the development and roll-out of funding programmes as well as measures that can be taken by both parties to introduce m ... more

Mapping ODA to media and information environment integrity Top Insights

The state of media development: Global evidence on relevant and effective media support Top Insights

Transforming Media Development: Recommendations for Effective Funding and Collaboration Top Insights

Mapping ODA to media and information environment integrity
Top Insights

The state of media development: Global evidence on relevant and effective media support
Top Insights

Transforming Media Development: Recommendations for Effective Funding and Collaboration
Top Insights