[FoME] Publikation: Media in Sudan at a crossroads

[Christoph Dietz]

Media in Sudan at a crossroads: assessment and outline of a strategy for
media support
Copenhagen: International Media Support (IMS), 2007, 78 p.

Download: http://www.i-m-s.dk/uploads/documents/Sudan_webfinal2007.pdf

Independent media in Sudan still face severe challenges to pursue their
right to express themselves freely. Although the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement, ending the 21 year long civil war between North and South
Sudan, opened up space for a more democratic setup for media ownership
and practice of journalism, issues such as censorship, harassment and
persecution continue to challenge the media.

The report "Media in Sudan at a Crossroads" offers an assessment of the
media situation in Sudan, as well as the outline of a strategy for media
support in the coming years. It builds upon the "Media and Peace in
Sudan - Options for Immediate Action" report, which provided an
assessment as of August 2003 of the media and opportunities for media
development in Sudan, published by International Media Support.

Updating the 2003 findings, this new report describes and
contextualizes a series of challenges in bringing an environment
conducive to freedom of expression through the Comprehensive Peace
Agreement and the changes to the political framework in Sudan.

The report was produced in cooperation between International Media
Support (IMS), ARTICLE 19, the Association for Media Development in
South Sudan (AMDISS), the Khartoum Centre for Human Rights and
Environmental Development (KCHRED), Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) and the
Olof Palme International Centre (OPIC). 

A wide range of media practitioners and stakeholders contributed to the
report, including representatives from the Sudanese media and Sudanese
authorities, civil society organizations, religious and political
groups, as well as representatives from the donor community.

Through this comprehensive process IMS has strived to ensure broad
support in Sudan and internationally for the findings of the report so
that it may form a common ground for future media support in Sudan.

"The media will be a decisive player in Sudan's transition into a
democracy. It is our hope that the assessment provides a much-needed
overview of the media situation in the country and thereby strengthens
support to the media sector with the aim of developing an environment
conducive to media freedom" states Jesper Højberg, Executive Director of
International Media Support.

The report is published by International Media Support and funded by
the European Commission, Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.