The Role of Media in Creating Inclusive, Just and Peaceful Societies: Guidelines for SDC Media Assistance
Key Guides
Bern: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) (2020), 41 pp.
Contains illustrations, glossary pp. 38-39, bibliogr. pp. 40-41
Other editions: also published in French
"The guidance aims to give SDC staff and members of the Democratisation, Decentralisation and Local Governance (DDLG) network an updated view on media development – a field that is still relatively new and for which there is more and more demand. The guidance provides an overall understanding of the media sector and its reference framework, as well as needs assessments for various media types, information on SDC’s approach to media assistance, and a range of media interventions (including in specific contexts). It also offers guidance on how to assess and mitigate risks and how to monitor and evaluate media work. The document is structured in nine chapters, the core being chapter 6, ‘Designing interventions’. This sets out six ‘segments’ of the media through which SDC can intervene (individual journalists, media outlets, media institutions, economic and technological factors, political and legal environment and safety, and social beliefs/cultural values). For each segment, the chapter gives a short introduction to the topic, describes potential interventions, and discusses issues to keep in mind." (Introduction, page 4)
1 Introduction, 4
2 Significance for SDC, 6
The media as an important pillar of a democratic society -- Responding to pressing challenges
3 The global reference framework, 9
4 Media types and environments, 10
Different types of media -- The media environment
5 SDC’s approach to media assistance, 12
6 DESIGNING INTERVENTIONS, 15
Guiding principles -- Six segments of intervention -- Individual journalists -- Media outlets -- Media institutions -- Economic and technology factors -- Political and legal environment, and safety -- Societal beliefs and cultural values -- Pay attention to the audience and to media literacy
7 Media support in authoritarian regimes or conflict-affected contexts or humanitarian crises, 30
8 Risks and mitigations, 32
9 Monitoring and evaluation, and impact, 34
Annex 1 Checklist for analysis of media sector and audience, 36
2 Significance for SDC, 6
The media as an important pillar of a democratic society -- Responding to pressing challenges
3 The global reference framework, 9
4 Media types and environments, 10
Different types of media -- The media environment
5 SDC’s approach to media assistance, 12
6 DESIGNING INTERVENTIONS, 15
Guiding principles -- Six segments of intervention -- Individual journalists -- Media outlets -- Media institutions -- Economic and technology factors -- Political and legal environment, and safety -- Societal beliefs and cultural values -- Pay attention to the audience and to media literacy
7 Media support in authoritarian regimes or conflict-affected contexts or humanitarian crises, 30
8 Risks and mitigations, 32
9 Monitoring and evaluation, and impact, 34
Annex 1 Checklist for analysis of media sector and audience, 36
