"This document examines how media policy can be adapted to developing countries affected by crises and war. Based on the outcome of discussions at a workshop, areas the document covers include: the role of the media in fragile states; training journalists; media challenging the state. Recommendations include: customise the media development strategies to context, i.e. undertake a detailed diagnostic analysis of the complex political, economic and social background of the country, as well as of the nature of conflict, and the structures of government and citizens' participation before and after a war, or period of violent conflict; recognise that the development of an open and free media environment, like other liberal projects, requires the presence of a strong state which includes, among other features, a well functioning legal and judicial environment that is able to apply checks and balances; support research that examines the role of media in both state unraveling and state reconstruction, as well as the specific historical evolution of media in fragile states including particular experiences of violent conflict and war, and encourage the development of regional networks of local media researchers." (ELDIS website)

Workshop held 21 and 22 March 2005, at the London School of Economics and Political Science