No News Is Bad News is a 5-year media development programme funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and implemented by Free Press Unlimited (FPU), European Journalist Centre (EJC) and 53 partner organisations in 17 countries. The three pillars of the programme are the enabling environment for independent media, the role of journalists as watchdogs, and the  sustainability of media outlets.

Key findings of the internal mid-term review are that: 1) partner capacity in policy change and advocacy has increased and the programme is having a positive impact on the enabling environment for media. We see positive changes in attitudes and practices of national governments; 2) the watchdog role of the media has been enforced effectively. In terms of local impact, we see positive changes in good governance, human rights and gender equality; 3) the sustainability of media outlets has not received enough attention, even though partner capacity in becoming sustainable has increased; 4) many partners are making efforts to train and employ female journalists and to develop gender-sensitive content. The mid-term review includes a review of the Theory of Change of the programme.

Authors: Saskia Nijhof, Dennis Bednar, Tim Schoot-Uiterkamp, Anna Gorter, and Michael Pavicic (all from the Knowledge and Quality Team of Free Press Unlimited)