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 8 of 9
Source Year Country Organisation Author
The murder of Ján Kuciak and freedom of the press in Slovakia 2018 Slovakia Free Press Unlimited Free Press Unlimited
World Development Report 2017: Governance and the Law. Spotlight 12: The media 2017 Global World Bank Group World Bank Group
Internal Evaluation Pakistan Country Programme 2017 Pakistan Free Press Unlimited Schoot Uiterkamp, T.
In the Service of Power: Media Capture and the Threat to Democracy 2017 Global Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) Schiffrin, A.
Mid-term Performance Evaluation of United States Agency for International Development: Burma Civil Society and Media Activity 2017 Myanmar USAID Rizvi, J. et al.
Advocating for Openness: Nine Ways Civil Society Groups Have Mobilized to Defend Internet Freedom 2017 Global Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) Oh, S.
An Attack on One is an Attack on All: Successful Initiatives to Protect Journalists and Combat Impunity 2017 Global UNESCO/IPDC Kilman, L.
Tracker Registers Violence against Journalists in Nigeria 2017 Nigeria Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) Free Press Unlimited
Who Owns the Media in Bangladesh? 2016 Bangladesh Centre for Governance Studies Riaz, A. & Rahman, M.S.
The Right of Access to Information: Exploring Gender Inequities 2016 Global Institute of Development Studies (IDS) Neuman, L.
Final Evaluation – Strengthening Community Radio’s in Bangladesh 2015 Bangladesh Free Press Unlimited Sen, A.
Development Agenda: Considering the Dark Side of the Media 2015 Global Deutsche Welle Akademie Lublinski, J. et al.