[fome] New report: "The State of Media Development"

Di Apr 15 16:55:26 CEST 2025

Dear colleagues from the fome list,
Where does media development stand as a sector of international development and where can it improve? The "State of Media Development Report" by DW Freedom, DW Akademie's media development think tank, addresses these questions and offers recommendations for media development organizations and funders. You can download the report here: https://akademie.dw.com/en/the-state-of-media-development-vis-%C3%A0-vis-the-oecd-principles/a-71897327
Report snapshot

  *
Financial support: Over 80% of media development organisations worldwide say public interest media need more funding.

  *   Administrative requirements: “We don’t typically have direct access to the donor, but the international media development organizations feel more comfortable giving us instructions rather than requesting changes from the donor. This is the problem.“ (Expert working for a Southern Asian media development organization)

  *   Effective coordination: 70% believe that there is no swift sector coordination in crisis.

  *   Analyses of the media and information environment: “I think that our sector is very good at the research side. It’s just not very good at the implementation side. I mean, I’ve read brilliant analyses of [media] landscapes, but don’t think that this research is often put into practice or used or taken any notice of.” (Media development consultant)

  *
Funding reaching local/regional organizations: 40% of the budget of international media development organisations is channelled directly to local/regional actors.

Background: State of media development vis à vis the OECD principles
In 2024, the media development sector has achieved an important milestone under the leadership of the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) and the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD): The Organization for Co-operation and Development (OECD) published the Development Co-operation Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment<https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/development-co-operation-principles-for-relevant-and-effective-support-to-media-and-the-information-environment_76d82856-en.html>.
Against this backdrop, DW Akademie's State of Media Development Report provides evidence on how the sector is faring. It drew on the six principles for relevant and effective media support outlined by OECD, such as: How well is the media development sector fulfilling these principles? Where is it making important contributions? And what points are in need of further improvement?
Insights based on 76 interviews and a sector-wide survey
To gather insights, an online survey was sent to all 203 GFMD member organizations and to additional partner institutions from the 11 largest international media development organizations. In total, representatives from 77 bodies took part (from 16 international, 21 regional and 40 national/local organizations).
Additionally, key informant interviews were conducted with 76 individuals who work in the sector. Interviewees included representatives of organizations based in countries across the globe as well as non-affiliated consultants with a good overview of the sector. Further details on the methodology can be found in the report's annex.
If you have any questions or remarks, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
All the best,
Ines Drefs

Dr. Ines Drefs
Senior Consultant
Policy and Learning | DW Akademie

DW (Deutsche Welle) | Voltastr. 6 | 13355 Berlin | Germany
T +49.30.4646.85921 | ines.drefs at dw.com

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