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El estado del desarrollo de los medios en América Latina: Un informe regional

María Soledad Segura, Bianca Nadina De Toni

Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 38 pp.

"El informe analiza cómo las organizaciones de desarrollo de medios en América Latina están enfrentando los desafíos relacionados con la financiación, la equidad y la adaptación a contextos cambiantes. La investigación combina diez entrevistas semiestructuradas con referentes del sector, una ... more

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Principled caution: How AI is used in public-interest media in Asia

James Gomez

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 52 pp.

"In conclusion, this research has provided a systematic understanding of AI adoption within public-interest media across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. By identifying concrete areas for strategic intervention, this research seeks to strengthen ... journalistic quality and prepare the sector for an AI-integrated future. The findings reveal that the AI adoption is currently taking place within public-interest media, but it is one of “principled caution” where adoption is careful, selective and highly varied. This evolution unfolds within a structurally precarious media environment where AI regulation is often absent or actively restrictive. While adoption remains cautious to protect journalistic credibility from risks such as hallucinations and biases, newsrooms are increasingly embracing AI as a powerful toolset to alleviate severe capacity and resource constraints. Currently, organizations primarily utilize AI for assistive, routine tasks such as translation, transcription, summarization, and early-stage content ideation and the final language editing stage rather than for broader organizational transformation. The research highlights deep capacity deficits in the governance framework, institutional training, and leadership. These gaps often prevent individual AI literacy from translating into consistent, organization-wide policy formulation and enforcement. This challenge is further exacerbated by the funding instability and resource constraints that characterize the region’s independent media, restricting the long-term investment necessary for ethical and responsible AI adoption. Despite these legal, political, technical, capacity, and operational constraints, localized and innovative AI workflows are emerging. While AI has not yet generated entirely new, revenue-generating business models, strategic investments in customized AI infrastructures, such as in-house dashboards and media monitoring systems, present a critical pathway toward long-term operational resilience. To support this trajectory, the report recommends coordinated action among media organizations, governments, technology companies, donors and media development funders to invest in long-term AI capacity, governance frameworks, and secure technological infrastructure." (Conclusion, page 39) more

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Film for dialogue: Stories that inspire change

Kyle James

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 43 pp.

"[...] filmmakers in Global Majority countries face systemic barriers: underfunded training systems, limited production support and infrastructure, and distribution channels that rarely reach local communities. Working closely with partner organizations across Africa, Latin America and beyond, DW Ak ... more

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Periodismo comunitario y local en defensa de la Amazonía: Hoja de ruta para medios y organizaciones en la cocreación de estrategias comunicativas de impacto e incidencia
Key Guides

Rodrigo Villarzú, Matthias Kopp, Belén Pardo Herrero, Edilma Prada, Nathalia Salamanca Sarmiento, Jorge Guachamín, Lisseth Zhuma, Jorge Agurto

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 77 pp.

"En resumen: [esta publicación] es una guía de carácter práctico, una caja de herramientas metodológicas que ayuda a medios locales y comunitarios u organizaciones de la sociedad civil a diseñar en conjunto y colaborativamente, junto con otros aliados, procesos y estrategias de incidencia o im ... more

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The State of Media Development 2026: Funding, local ownership and adaptation in international media development

Ines Drefs, Rose Kimani, Dennis Reineck, Martin Scott

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 85 pp.

"With resources drying up, not least because the U.S. administration has pulled the plug on international development funding, a rise in authoritarianism and another large-scale tech reset looming with AI, media development organizations are struggling to meet the challenges. According to data colle ... more

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Safer platforms, stronger participation: Mapping gender-based violence online in Syria

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 57 pp.

"Findings show that Gender-Based Violence Online( GBVO) in Syria is normalized and systemic, not merely isolated incidents, functioning as a mechanism of social control that reinforces patriarchal power and restricts civic participation. It takes overlapping forms, including sexual blackmail, harass ... more

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AI in the media: Kenya and South Africa

Karen Allen, Herman Wasserman, Nande Mbekela

Bonn; Stellenbosch (ZA): Deutsche Welle DW Akademie; Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) (2026), 27 pp.

"This study shows that AI remains largely an underexplored, and often misunderstood, topic for journalism in South Africa and Kenya. Stories can be framed in overly positive terms, such as the potential AI holds for development and social change, or negative terms, by highlighting the extractive nat ... ure of big tech firms or the potential of AI to foster disinformation. Either way, these reports frequently lack a more nuanced understanding of the impacts of AI in African contexts. Fear of the impact of AI on the media workforce may also explain why reporters say they often face resistance by editors when seeking to get AI and tech stories commissioned. AI articles tend to be siloed and reactive, framed as business, security or technology stories. Seldom is AI presented in terms of its multidimensional, layered impact on society. Furthermore, the geopolitical aspect of AI rarely gets interrogated in mainstream media. Journalists interviewed for the study admitted that many of their stories were reactive, and identified areas where synergies could be harnessed from other parts of the world. On issues of AI and social media regulation, for example, where precedents have been set by countries such as Australia, South African and Kenyan media could use such precedents to develop locally focused stories. AI reporting often adopts a framing promoted by technology vendors who derive interest from presenting a one-dimensional, optimistic view of AI. The unintended consequences often go unreported unless supported by an investigation, such as the CCTV camera surveillance reportage by Swart referenced above. Furthermore, the topic is often presented through a Global North lens, with little contextualisation or interrogation of these issues from an African point of view amid resource and access constraints. This occurs against a background of under-developed policy frameworks for AI on the continent generally, and in newsrooms in particular. Consequently the playing field can be tilted in favour of AI and tech vendors who fill the vacuum with hyperbole and hype about what the technology is capable of delivering. At the same time, more nuanced and specialised reporting on AI is constrained by the familiar obstacles of journalism, such as lack of resources, over-stretched newsrooms and story competition. To enhance coverage of AI in Africa, a multifaceted strategy is needed. While training and AI literacy programmes can deepen the knowledge needed by African journalists to investigate the topic more comprehensively, increased investment in newsrooms can provide the structural support to provide more context-specific coverage of AI on the continent. Crucially, training and education of African journalists should be done from within the African context, as solutions cannot be imposed from newsroom contexts in the Global North." (Conclusions, page 21) more

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The value of journalism: Global evidence on why media matters to economies, national security and crises
Deep Insights

Mel Bunce, Beth Pearson

Deutsche Welle DW Akademie; International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM); UNESCO (2026), 17 pp.

"Economic return: Investigative journalism delivers strong returns. Every US$1 spent on journalism can result in more than $100 in savings to the public through reclaimed funds, improved public services and reduced corruption. Media freedom supports economic growth. A study of 97 countries has show ... more

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Protección para un periodismo comunitario y local en la Amazonía: Guía para investigaciones con enfoque de Acción Sin Daño en Colombia, Ecuador y Perú
Deep Insights

Rodrigo Villarzú, Matthias Kopp, Belén Pardo Herrero, Claudia Mejía, Edilma Prada, Nathalia Salamanca Sarmiento, Jorge Guachamín, Lisseth Zhuma, Jorge Agurto

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 54 pp.

"Al inicio del proyecto, cada una de las organizaciones involucradas diseñó sus propios protocolos de seguridad con la asesoría de organizaciones especializadas. La guía sistematiza dichas experiencias para proponer algunas recomendaciones sobre cómo diseñar estos protocolos desde la Acción S ... more

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Call for an increase of European support for journalism and free media worldwide

CFI; Deutsche Welle DW Akademie; Fondation Hirondelle; International Media Support (IMS), April 29 (2025)

"At this critical point in time, independent journalists, public interest media and civil society organisations in countries around the world need decisive support. They are directly and severely impacted by the current US administration’s decision to freeze financial support to independent media. ... more

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Estado del Desarrollo de los Medios: América Latina y el Caribe

Emy Osorio Matorel

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 20 pp.

"Los medios de interés público en América Latina y el Caribe son resilientes e innovadores, pero el entorno que los rodea sigue siendo frágil. Como ha mostrado este estudio, ninguno de los seis principios de la OCDE se cumple plenamente, con las mayores brechas en el financiamiento (apoyo de cor ... more

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Investigating AI datasets: A journalist's guide

Kathleen Siminyu, Christo Buschek

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025)

"Algorithms today are more complex than ever. With the rise of large language models (LLMs), they have become increasingly unexplainable and non-deterministic. Even experts often fail to understand why an algorithm yields a particular outcome. It is through the datasets used to train those algorithm ... more

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The State of Media Development: Latin America and the Caribbean

Emy Osorio Matorel

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 20 pp.

"Public-interest media across Latin America and the Caribbean are resilient and innovative, yet the enabling environment remains fragile. As this study has shown, none of the six OECD principles is fully met, with the sharpest gaps in funding (short-term, projectized support), donor coordination, an ... more

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Recommendations for strengthening Mauritania´s resilience against disinformation. White paper

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 18 pp.

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Media in exile: Resilience mechanisms and survival strategies when covering Afghanistan and Myanmar

Karen Williams, Sandy Soe

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 46 pp.

"This study explores the resilience and success factors of exile media in Asia, focusing on Afghanistan and Myanmar — two countries where independent journalism has collapsed under authoritarian regimes. Once seen as regional media success stories, both nations have experienced drastic political s ... more

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The State of Media Development: Anglophone Africa

Robi Koki Ochieng

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 21 pp.

"This study examines the status of media development in Anglophone Africa and specifically assesses adherence to the OECD’s six Principles that guide donor support for relevant and effective media development. The research draws on qualitative and quantitative data collected through surveys and in ... more

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Information in crisis: A critical challenge of our time Framing paper for the CDAC and fome Public Forum 2025

CDAC Network; Deutsche Welle DW Akademie; Fondation Hirondelle (2025), 4 pp.

"The last year has brought unprecedented challenges: dramatic funding cuts, acceleration of disinformation as digital platforms have scaled back fact-checking and content moderation, proliferation of AI, widespread undermining of humanitarian law, and shrinking civic space. The impact on communities ... more

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The State of Media Development: Francophone Africa

Jean Claude Bitsure, Jean-Pierre Uwimana

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 22 pp.

"The African media sector embodies both remarkable potential and persistent fragility. Across the continent, journalists and media organizations continue to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and commitment to public interest reporting, and often in environments marked by political interference, ec ... more

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The State of Media Development: Middle East and North Africa

Samar Sabry

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 25 pp.

"In light of the rapid changes in the political, economic, and technological landscape in the region, there is an urgent need to reassess the goals and priorities of media support programs in the MENA region, focusing on challenges, best practices, and providing effective recommendations. This also ... requires adopting a more coordinated and integrated approach between donors and local partners to ensure that support aligns with the real needs of media institutions and the communities they serve. This is considered the foundation for achieving sustainable impact, rather than relying on short-term or fragmented support that does not keep pace with local realities. Key recommendations 1. Risk assessment and compliance with local context: Develop proactive risk assessment systems that include early warning tools and analysis of the political context, with project designs aligned to the local and political conditions of each country. 2. Protect journalists and enhance their safety: Strengthen physical and digital safety through continuous training, provision of protection tools, and the establishment of technical and advisory support units in cases of targeting. 3. Sustainable and neutral funding: Provide core and long-term funding to ensure financial sustainability, while maintaining funding neutrality, and ensure fair distribution. 4. Adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach: Adopt strategies that consider all components of the media system, supported by thorough needs assessments and long-term monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure impact and sustainability. 5. Empower local partners: Enhance the active role of local actors and transform them from implementers to strategic partners in all stages of the project. 6. Build the capacities of local partners: Develop the skills and knowledge of local partners and researchers specialized in media development, integrate research and learning into projects. 7. Support emerging organizations: Continue funding and supporting small, locally impactful organizations, rather than focusing on large ones only. 8. Simplify administrative procedures: Reduce administrative burdens through standardized proposal templates and allocate a percentage of funding to administrative costs to ensure effective management. 9. Enhance coordination among stakeholders: Appoint national and regional media reform advisors and strengthen links between policymakers and media institutions to ensure synergy." (Conclusions and key recommendations, page 25) more

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Design thinking in media development

Yulia Alekseeva

Deutsche Welle DW Akademie, October 1 (2025)

"DW Akademie’s media development projects encourage participants to find fitting solutions to their problems. A design thinking process can guide them. Trainer Yulia Alekseeva explains what it takes to innovate." (Introduction)

Periodismo comunitario y local en defensa de la Amazonía: Hoja de ruta para medios y organizaciones en la cocreación de estrategias comunicativas de impacto e incidencia Key Guides

The value of journalism: Global evidence on why media matters to economies, national security and crises Deep Insights

Protección para un periodismo comunitario y local en la Amazonía: Guía para investigaciones con enfoque de Acción Sin Daño en Colombia, Ecuador y Perú Deep Insights

Periodismo comunitario y local en defensa de la Amazonía: Hoja de ruta para medios y organizaciones en la cocreación de estrategias comunicativas de impacto e incidencia
Key Guides

The value of journalism: Global evidence on why media matters to economies, national security and crises
Deep Insights

Protección para un periodismo comunitario y local en la Amazonía: Guía para investigaciones con enfoque de Acción Sin Daño en Colombia, Ecuador y Perú
Deep Insights