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Developing Independent Media as an Institution of Accountable Governance
Box 6.2. Anticipating Change: Keep in Mind • Work with innovative local partners who stay abreast of changes in technology and apply them to the local environment. Do not prescribe how to achieve innovation or sustainability; rather, help partners learn to adapt to their environment. • In choosing the type of media to support, consider both the developments in worldwide media markets and local circumstances. Are the media of your choice likely to be overtaken by new trends in the foreseeable future? • Be aware that old and new media increasingly merge in permeable business models. Stay abreast of new business models. • New media enable citizen journalism. Provide training for citizen journalists as well as for professional journalists. • Be willing to tolerate some failure as the price of innovation in the digital media realm. Donors traditionally focus on measurable results and deliverables, but special funding mechanisms to encourage innovative pilot projects can deviate from traditional donor models. • If the population lacks access to new communication technologies, think about providing access as part of the program, or work with others who can provide access. • When introducing new communication tools into a community, do not prescribe how they should be used. Provide training and examples, and promote awareness of the tools, but let the community find its own uses. • Give people the skills to master the huge amount of information available through new media. Enable people to find and use relevant and valuable information. • Identify and use synergies between traditional media and citizen media. • Teach journalism trainees to use traditional as well citizen media as sources, because the quality of the content increases as the number of sources increases. Promote awareness of links between traditional and citizen media. • Educate local broadcasters about the meaning of convergence. In this education, always maintain a public interest perspective. • Include community radio in discussions about building a legal framework for convergence issues. • Because many telecommunication companies are internationally based, national-level responses to convergence may not be sufficient. Build international coalitions that will lobby for best practices. • Advocate for transparency and public participation in the matter of convergence. Ensure that the digital frequency allocation process remains corruption-free and focused on the public interest.
Donors should constantly be aware of the rapidly changing nature of the media landscape, which will have significant consequences for programs designed to support independent media. Flexibility and the willingness to tolerate some failure as the price of innovation are paramount, along with support for the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurialism of local partners. Because digital media have permeated the field of media development, activities that include a digital media component were included throughout “From Assessment to Program Concept.” However, these suggestions should be considered only as a starting point. In-country partner organizations and individuals will often have the freshest and most innovative ideas for working with technology to empower the media sector.