control of donors that affect the media environment. Russia, Belarus, and Uzbekistan all have had excellent donor-supported media development programs yet have seen steady declines in MSI scores - these are largely due to government choices and beyond the control or scope of media development programs. Croatia has witnessed improvement over the last several years in the MSI score, even after most donor assistance ended. The MSI does point to the success of donors’ earlier work in supporting sustainable institutions, improving standards, and developing a constituency for media freedoms that set in motion a process of improvement driven from within. The MSI also shows that the durability of changes in a country needs to be considered. As discussed above, Russia has seen a decline in MSI scores. Yet, several years ago it seemed to be on a path, if at times halting, towards a developed and independent media market. However, it has slid backwards over the past several years due largely to increasing government pressure on media outlets and journalists. The MSI has also captured many of the nuances in this regression since it treats media as a system of interrelated components – it shows how the business of media has not been sliding backwards as a whole and has in fact improved, even as free speech and plurality is rapidly declining in the media and supporting institutions are being pressured. All components do not necessarily move in tandem.
The MSI has proven a remarkably resilient tool for measuring media systems. It does not claim to be a perfect measure but rather seeks to be transparent in its methodology and data in applying greater methodological rigor to what many believe to be an essentially subjective process - media development. Its transparent methodology, narrative discussion, and annual application allows donors, media development professionals, and policymakers to use the results in assessments, monitoring and evaluation while also allowing them to challenge results, discuss data, and review those contributing to the published results. It has not imposed a US view of a media system nor a general Western view of media. Rather, it has proceeded from basic principles of journalism - primarily professionalism, independence, and plurality of sources.
MEDIA MATTERS SECTION 2: How Media Matters: Measuring its Impact
CONCLUSION
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