This is the summary of an independent evaluation of the 5-year ‘No News Is Bad News’ programme (2016-2020), funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Strategic Partnership funding instrument ‘Dialogue and Dissent’. The programme has been implemented by Free Press Unlimited and the European Journalism Centre, and over 90 partner organisations (during the lifetime of the programme). Local partners included media outlets (both online and offline), media support organisations (such as journalists associations and unions), press freedom advocates and research centres. NNIBN was composed of 21 country programmes and an international programme. The long-term desired outcome is for “media and journalists, as independent players in civil society, to constitute a diverse and professional media landscape and function as change catalysts”.

The programme focussed on three intermediate outcomes (IOs):

• IO1: An enabling environment for the media is established, conducive to freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity
• IO2: Media serve the interests of the public and act as a watchdog on their behalf
• IO3: Journalists and media actors work professionally and are effective and sustainable

Two core themes, Gender Equality and Safety of Journalists, were integrated across the three desired IOs. The international programme focuses on: international advocacy for safety of journalists and access to information; gender mainstreaming; and innovation.