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 5 of 9
Source Year Country Organisation Author
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
Myanmar’s Media Response to COVID-19: A Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) Survey 2020 Myanmar Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF)
Declaration Global Partner Meeting (Prague 2009) 2019 Global Free Press Unlimited Free Press Unlimited
State of Internet Freedom in Africa 2019. Mapping trends in government internet controls, 1999-2019 2019 Africa, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA) Various authors
Pluralism in a Hybrid Media Environment from the User Perspective 2019 Europe Centre for Media Pluralism and Media Freedom Klimkiewicz, B.
Legal Responses to Online Harassment and Abuse of Journalists: Perspectives from Finland, France and Ireland 2019 Finland, France, Ireland OSCE - Office of the Representative on Freedom of the Media & International Press Institute McCully, J.
Conclusions of the Joint International Press Freedom Mission to Hungary 2019 Hungary Free Press Unlimited Schoot Uiterkamp, T.
Targeted, Cut Off, and Left in the Dark: The #KeepItOn Report on Internet Shutdowns in 2019 2019 Global Access Now Access Now
The Fight Against Impunity 2019 Global Free Press Unlimited Nijhof, S. & Pavicic, M.