strengthening african media: what does africa think gerry power director, research & knowledge...
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Strengthening African Media: What does Africa think
Gerry PowerDirector, Research & Knowledge Management
World BankWashington DC
February 22, 2007
BBC World Service Trust - Background
Realising Media’s Importance in Achieving Development and Good Governance
Media Development and Development Communications
40 countries
AMDI - Background
UK Commission for Africa Recommendation:
“independent media institutions, public service broadcasters, civil society and the private sector, with support from governments, should form a consortium of partners, in Africa and outside, to provide funds and expertise to create an African media development facility” --- Our Common Interest, April 2005
“What Role Can the Media Play in the Fight Against Global Poverty?”
BBC World Service Trust/DFID conference, November 2004
* * *
AMDI - Background
• Consultations• Research• Technical Workshop
Advisory GroupAmadou Mahtar Ba, AllAfrica,comLuckson Chipare, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)Wilfred Kiboro, Nation Media GroupArlindo Lopes, Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA)Moeletsi Mbeki, EndemolEdetean Ojo, Media Rights AgendaLynne Muthoni Wanyeki, FEMNET
Supported by: DFID, Gates Foundation, IFC, Irish Aid
African Media Development InitiativeAfrican Media Development Initiative
www.bbcworldservicetrust.org/amdi17 Individual Country Reports
AMDI Research countries
WEST Cameroon
Ghana
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Nigeria (hub)
Research objectivesQ: Understand what are the key changes/developments in the media sector?
Q: How have media development activities contributed to the development of the media
during this time?
Q: What contributions are likely to make the greatest impact on the development of the media
within sub-Saharan Africa in the future?
Research design 17 countries grouped into 3 regional hubs Intensive 2 day project briefing for country based researchers Matched sample profile country
STAGE 1: Media landscape desk research–Country statistics–Growth/proliferation of media–NGO media development activity –Observations
STAGE 2: In-depth audio-recorded interviews (300)–15 interviews in each of 17 countries with representatives from government, NGOs, private and state media, educationalists and commentators–15 continental interviews across 3 regions–12 international interviews–Transcribed and translated
EAST Ethiopia DRC Kenya Somalia Tanzania Uganda
SOUTH Angola Botswana Mozambique South Africa Zambia Zimbabwe
Media Landscape – Key Facts
General Observations
Generally low awareness of breadth and potential of media development activities
Widespread consensus and passion about priorities for strengthening the media sector
Acknowledgement that progress has been made on multiple fronts
Overall absence of coordination between stakeholders Data on media is lacking in quantity and quality
Evidence of effectiveness is generally not available
Small and unsustainable nature of current investment
Landscape – Key Facts
Radio is still the dominant media in the surveyed countries, with major growth in regional commercial radio.
Television is more widespread although growth is significantly less dramatic than that for radio. National state TV dominates, growth in pay-TV and satellite channels is reported.
National dailies and weeklies continue to dominate over regional outlets and remain concentrated in urban centres.
Significant increases in the numbers of journalists with a concomitant rise in amateur and untrained journalists.
Marginal increase in numbers of university media/journalism entities. Vocational training entities remains static.
Mobile telephone use has shown dramatic increases in every country far outstripping internet usage
Commercial Regional Radio stations increased in all countries with the exception of Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. In the DRC expanded from 8 in 2000/2 to 150 in 2004/5
State Regional TV in Nigeria has expanded from 58 channels in 2000 to 130 in 2004-6
Six countries report an increase in the number of national dailies and eight an increase in national weeklies, compared to 3 each for regional dailies and weeklies
Six countries report an increase of 50% or greater in the reported number of practising journalists over a five-year period
Twelve countries have three or more universities offering academic programmes in journalism
Eight countries report in excess of 2000 % increase in mobile telephone subscribers
Four Key Drivers
• Media Policy and Legislation
• Media Infrastructure and Investment
• Professionalisation
• Supporting Local Content Production
Media Policy and Legislation
Assessment of Current Status
Legislation which guarantees access to and freedom of information
Reform of laws regarding criminal defamation and insult
Laws that exist to enable media regulatory bodies to operate independently
Provisions that aim to secure the independence of publicly owned media
In countries such as Ghana and Nigeria legislation for access to information has been pending government approval for up to six years now
Repressive practices such as state-sponsored mechanisms for the sanctioning of journalists were still reported to exist in 8 countries (Angola, DRC, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia)
Eight countries (Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe) do not have such legislation while the ones that do have regulatory bodies, they are state-run
Only 2 Ghana and South Africa appeared to have established provisions in place to secure the independence of publicly owned media
Assessment of Current Status
Provisions to support community or alternative media
Regulatory obligation for public or state broadcaster to fulfil a public service broadcasting remit
Regulatory obligation for commercial broadcaster to fulfil a public service broadcasting remit
Five countries (Angola, Botswana, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe) appeared to offer no provisions for, and had no legislation in place to support community or alternative media
Ten countries (Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Mozambique , Nigeria , Sierra Leone, Somalia and Zimbabwe) reported that there were no regulatory obligations for public or state broadcasters to fulfil a public service broadcasting remit
There are no regulatory obligations for private or independent broadcasters to fulfil a public service broadcasting remit in seven countries (Angola, Botswana, DRC, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia and Zimbabwe)
Advocacy – Future Priorities
Effective work requires engaging multiple stakeholders
Effective work requires engaging multiple stakeholders
Civil society activismPublic fora
Public debate
Civil society activismPublic fora
Public debate
MISAMISA
Transparent structuresand systems
Transparent structuresand systems
Governance andpractice
Governance andpractice
Broaden the debate at
multiple levels
Develop strong regional networks
Invest in organisational reform of state
media
Accountability of private media
NigeriaGhanaZambiaEthiopiaUganda
Zimbabwe
NigeriaGhanaZambiaEthiopiaUganda
Zimbabwe
Prioritise extreme
individual cases
Independent Regulatory Bodies –
Future Priorities
Agreement on their value in the coordination and implementation of compliance
Agreement on their value in the coordination and implementation of compliance
TrainingRegulating conduct
AccreditationPublic complaints
TrainingRegulating conduct
AccreditationPublic complaints
Code of conductGuidelines
Monitor performance
Code of conductGuidelines
Monitor performance
Strengthen existing bodies Create a new infrastructure
State Control – Future Priorities
Key barrier to media development is the control that states exert over media
Key barrier to media development is the control that states exert over media
Strengthen regulatory frameworks
Consistent Policy onAllocation of licenses
Protection of journalists
Freedom of expression and access to information
Media Infrastructure & Investment
Infrastructure
Poor state of media infrastructure universally acknowledged Equipment Maintenance Facilities Upgrading
Dearth of reliable information on media support agencies
- variability in numbers and ownership status of news agencies
- variability in the presence of media monitoring agencies
- poor market research infrastructure
- growing number of advertising agencies
“If your transmitter breaks down you can stay three months without working, the time to order and
receive a new transmitter…people could work on that type of technical
support” (Senegal)
Context
MEDIA ORGANISATION
EQUIPMENT NEEDS
FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY
INVESTMENT
NEWS AGENCIES, ADVERTISING AGENCIES, MARKET RESEARCH AGENCES, MEDIA MONITORING AGENCIES,
INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION COMPANIES
Investment – Future Priorities
Tailoring finance, and bridging the finance gap Return on Investment on a typical infrastructure investment (eg, a printing press) exceeds the normal lending cycle of local banks.
Improve utilisation of existing finance schemesLack of widespread awareness and/or utilisation of existing media financing schemes (eg, Southern Africa Media Development Fund).
Facilitate the funding of equipmentSupport physical media infrastructure through the provision, maintenance and upgrading of equipment.
Create mechanisms allowing organisations to share technical facilitiesSmaller enterprises could form networks or unions to share facilities (eg, transmitters).
Identify opportunities for collective purchasing of equipmentThe benefits of a more collaborative approach to the procurement of technology was also identified as a useful model that could be shared or replicated in other regions.
Support the upgrading of equipment and skillsFunding of ICT programmes is a priority in terms of supporting upgrade and improvement of infrastructure and to introduce or develop ICT skills among media practitioners.
Professionalisation
Context
Professional, ethical, management and technical standards remain disappointingly low
Three key factors contribute:- insufficient or poor quality training/training institutions- rapid growth of media in some countries- low salaries and status of journalism
A plethora of training initiatives is being carried out but too many are seen as ad hoc, lacking a strategic plan, insufficiently funded and too short-term
Future programmes need to be more relevant (culture-specific) and to include monitoring and evaluation
Professionalisation – Lessons Learned
Institutional InvestmentInvestment into quality schools/centres of excellence is a powerful tool. However more is not better as the overall increase in the number in schools is sometimes inflated by mushrooming sub-standard journalism schools.
PartnershipsProfessional development programmes based on diverse partnership arrangements have been deemed effective thanks to the resulting customisation of training according to the needs of the cultural reality on the ground.
In-house trainingProfessional development deemed more successful when designed and delivered in collaboration with beneficiary media organisations. This adds value to the training because of the focus on media practices in the organisational context within which the journalist operates.
Multi-phased trainingOngoing, or multi-phased training has more impact, especially in conjunction with mentoring programmes.
Professionalisation – Future Priorities
Media organisations
POINTS OF ENGAGEMENTPOINTS OF ENGAGEMENT
Educational/Training Institutions
• Strategic professional development
• Management courses
• Training in specialist disciplines
• Incentivise trainees
• Retention programmes mechanisms
• Strategic professional development
• Management courses
• Training in specialist disciplines
• Incentivise trainees
• Retention programmes mechanisms
• Strengthen existing programmes through sharing good practice, harmonising curricula and updating courses and equipment
• Professional development for those delivering training
• Criteria for accreditation
• Strengthen existing programmes through sharing good practice, harmonising curricula and updating courses and equipment
• Professional development for those delivering training
• Criteria for accreditation
Evaluation mechanisms help course providers
and trainees to sustain skills, and determine
ROI
Evaluation mechanisms help course providers
and trainees to sustain skills, and determine
ROI
Supporting Local Content Production
Supporting local content production: issues
State controlled media delivers material which is too closely aligned to government/ruling party
Views of the urban elite over-represented in all media, but particularly commercial media
Community media caters for under-served groups but often lack long term sustainability
Capitalise on the national reach of the state broadcasters and stimulate in-house and local production through more creative
commissioning and funding processes
Local Content Production – Future Priorities
Media organisations are challenged to improve the quality and diversity of their
content to appeal to and grow their audiences
Media organisations are challenged to improve the quality and diversity of their
content to appeal to and grow their audiences
Foster local production skills
Quotas could be imposed to meet
a public service remit
Quotas could be imposed to meet
a public service remit
Content in local languagesFocus on issues which are
Culturally relevant
Content in local languagesFocus on issues which are
Culturally relevant
Wider range of content for development
issues
Produce compelling, entertaining content
Train journalists to widen theagenda with regard to
development issues
Produce compelling, entertaining content
Train journalists to widen theagenda with regard to
development issues
Support cultural identity
Facilitators and Enablers for Local Content Production
• Provision of equipment
• Training programmes
• News Agencies
• Market research
• Regulatory reform
• Monitoring
Principles, Identity and Organisation
6 Key Principles to Guide an Initiative
Develop locally or regionally defined agenda – framed and co- owned by participants and beneficiaries
Adopt a Needs-based approach – reflecting gaps and requirements
Apply a Collaborative approach – from the ground up
Embed sustainable objectives
Employ a reasonable timeframe – need to design projects for the long-term and avoid the ‘quick win’
Embed M&E – develop and use standardised methodologies
Widespread Endorsement of a Pan-African Approach
Benefits:
Create space for advocacy – benefits of international pressure
Shared learning – data gathering, good practice, success stories
Joint purchasing – regional purchasing power, harmonisation of trading practices
Integrated funding – strong regional economic leverage
Organisation Structure
No demand for a new organisation
African leadership is taken as a given
Autonomous funding structure
Secure funding and improve options
Establish criteria for donor coordination – holistic strategy
Avoid duplication at the point of delivery
Summary
Information deficit prevails across the sector Media outlets growing in diversity and number Inconsistent implementation and commitment to media legislation Low standards among media practitioners Poor equipment, facilities and technical support
Need for:- a more strategic perspective - a more holistic approach to strengthening the sector- greater recognition of the role of media in development- greater coordination by donors and delivery organisations- more production of content relevant to local audiences- more sustainable models of media development
“It is extremely important. You can’t talk about democratisation without media…. especially here in Angola where we still have to explain to the people that democracy is not an alien thing, but about participation in the business of the country, rights and welfare of the country. And this is achieved through information.”
(Luisa Rogerio, Secretary-General, Media Support: Sindicato dos Jornalistas de Angola, Angola)
Proposed Next Steps
Six Month Development Process to Produce Fully Designed and Costed Proposal:
• Pan African• Five Year Duration• Holistic/Strategic• Donor Money to Catalyse Sustainable Activity and Investment
Development Components:
• Technical Work to Mature Strategies and Interventions • High-Level Advocacy with Future Partners and Investors• Stakeholder’s Consultation