"New fields of action have emerged for those working in Germany’s development cooperation activities that are focused on media. Development cooperation can help new media become an established instrument used by civil society actors who are informed and monitoring political developments. This form of citizen journalism promotes political involvement. In addressing new media through development cooperation, it is critical that quality standards of the media are raised through targeted training and professional development for those citizens who create media content. In addition, individual users – the consumers of the information – should be trained to become media competent. In this way, political participation can grow sustainably. One example is support of citizen journalism, an important form of media, particularly in authoritative states. New media can serve not only as instruments but also platforms for a “constructive dialogue” between the state and civil society, creating spaces of interaction that are critical for effective development cooperation. Besides multilateral development cooperation, bilateral development cooperation can create incentives for partners from the private sector to invest more into technology transfer in developing countries, thereby helping to close the digital divide." (Page 2)