Enabling environment for the media

Introduction

For independent news media organisations, journalists and journalism at large to function properly and survive economically, a number of conditions need to be met. These conditions can be grouped into three dimensions of the enabling environment for media and journalists. For many years these dimensions, in the analysis of Freedom House, consisted of the nationally-focused political, economic and legal enabling environment. But, increasingly, online communication platforms and technologies and innovations across borders as well as the online behaviour of audiences are impacting on the enabling environment for the media and the motivation and ability of states to regulate online.

This resource guide consists of three main sections. The first describes the three main pillars of the enabling environment for news media and journalists, with an emphasis on media viability and small and medium-sized media outlets. It will explore key concepts and issues of media law and regulation; main issues in the political environment that create or diminish space for media freedom and freedom of speech; and economic threats to and opportunities for media viability. A main theme throughout this section is how the enabling environment for the media has been dominated by tech giants, their influence on the platform economy and internet governance, and the struggle that existing regulatory and intellectual frameworks have to keep pace with this development.

The second section will look at the main multilateral and intergovernmental organisations as well as multi-stakeholder networks and platforms that serve as normative spaces and places for the enabling environment of the media. The third section will give an overview of advocacy strategies, toolkits and resources.

The resource guide does not attempt to include all possible considerations and developments within these sections. Instead, tries to strike a balance between general descriptions of the different phenomena and the responses of Free Press Unlimited and our partner network in our media development and advocacy work. It will make linkages to our combined track record and relevant evidence and literature that is being collected and expanded on a rolling basis in the evidence base.


Introduction to the enabling environment

Picture by ATMTX. Curves and Pillars, Russell Senate Office Building – Washington DC


Laws and regulations

Picture: Magna Carta

Analysis and comparison

Picture by Ramyar Jabar


Advocacy

Picture by Romy van den Boogaart

Evidence base: Enabling environment for the media

Found 100 Results | Page 3 of 9
Source Year Country Organisation Author
Weighing different paths to funding local news 2021 Australia, Sweden, United States of America Columbia Journalism Review Schiffrin, A.
Independent journalism in contexts of shrinking civic space 2021 Global, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia Free Press Unlimited Schoot Uiterkamp, T.
Media Law Handbook for Southern Africa: Volume 1 2021 Africa, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Limpitlaw, J.
Safety of Journalists and the Fighting of Corruption in the EU 2020 Denmark, Europe, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden Institute for Information Law (IViR), University of Amsterdam McGonagle, T. et al.
The Wisdom of the Crowd: Promoting Media Development through Deliberate Initiatives 2020 Ireland, Malawi, Mexico, United States of America Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) Matasick, C.
Reporting Facts: Free From Fear or Favour 2020 Global UNESCO Dragomir, M.
Crisis and Opportunity: How Independent Media Can Learn from the Pandemic 2020 Global Open Society Foundations Robinson, J.J.
COVID-19: The Role of Judicial Operators in the Protection and Promotion of the Right to Freedom of Expression 2020 Global UNESCO Barata, J.
Supporting Local Journalism in the Age of Covid-19 2020 United States of America Radcliffe, D.
2020 Annual Report: Dynamic Coalition on the Sustainability of Journalism and News Media 2020 Global Dynamic Coalition for the Sustainability of Journalism and News Media O'Maley, D. et al. (eds)
Media Turn to Engagement and Creativity to Confront COVID Crisis 2020 Global Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF)
Joint stakeholder submission UPR Nepal 2021 2020 Nepal Freedom Forum and Free Press Unlimited Freedom Forum and Free Press Unlimited