Media Matters: Perspectives on Advancing Governance & Development from the Global Forum for Media Development (original) (raw)
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Good governance is a real drive behind a country’s development. It protects the human rights, ensures the justice, maintains law an order and provides equal opportunities to the masses. It provides the fruits of progress and development to all and sundry. Participation, transparency and rule of law, are some essentials of good governance. It is a vital aspect at all levels of society and state. It makes the system of the state effective and efficient. Good governance is checked by some organs of the state. Media is one of them. In this paper we discussed about the definitions of media, mass media, governance, good governance and various aspects of it. The role of media is very crucial for good governance. Here the role of media on good governance is elaborately discussed. In preparing this paper I have took help of many books and internet. I want to convey my heartiest thanks to our honorable course teacher Sarder Kaiser Ahmed Sir for his valuable suggestion and advice. His nice explanation to the topics made us very much clear which helped us a lot.
Media and Development: The Dysfunctional Alliance
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This essay looks at the dysfunctional relationship between overall international development assistance and more specific support to the media sector. While the international donor community sees the potential of independent media in developing countries to contribute to societies' economic and social progress, international development policies rarely have a coherent, integrated approach to the media sector, and foreign assistance often fails to achieve its goal of helping countries create a sustainable, independent media that acts in the interests of society as a whole. Indeed, leaders of many countries have decided that media-and especially unfettered, independent media-is more likely to be an obstacle, at least to their political fortunes, than a support. The author proposes three ways that the international community could improve its work on media development and build stronger political commitment for independent media. First is strengthening country leadership and ownership of media development initiatives. This requires building local knowledge about the role of media in open societies and about how to manage a strong, independent media system. Second is integration of media development work within the broader development agenda, leveraging more of the $135 billion that donors spend annually on official development assistance. Third is improving data, diagnostics, and learning on the media sector, particularly in developing countries, and creating a better understanding of how countrylevel media sectors are evolving, and how they can be best supported.
Seminar, 2002
MODERN politics is largely a mediated politics, experienced by most citizens through their broadcast and print media of choice. Any study of democracy in contemporary conditions is, therefore, also a study of how the media report and interpret political events and issues, and how media itself influences the political processes and shapes public opinion. Thus, media has become central to politics and public life in contemporary democracy. Access to media is one of the key measures of power and equality. Media can shape power and participation in society in negative ways, by obscuring the motives and interests behind political decisions, or in positive ways, by promoting the involvement of people in those decisions. In this respect the media and governance equation becomes important. Media occupies a space that is constantly contested, which is subject to organizational and technological restructuring, to economic, cultural and political constraints, to commercial pressures and to changing professional practices. The changing contours of this space can lead to different patterns of domination and agenda-setting and to different degrees of openness and closure in terms of access, patterns of ownership, available genres, types of disclosure and range of opinions represented. Although it is intrinsically difficult to theorize about the complexities implied in this formulation, the implications of the empirical outcomes of the struggle over this terrain are crucial for the ways in which they help or hinder democratic governance. For this reason journalists and their audiences, when they first read, hear or see news, should always ask the irreverent question: 'Says who?' This may be bad news for the official managers of society, but it will be good news for democracy. In a democratic society, therefore, the role of the media assumes seminal importance. Democracy implies participative governance, and it is the media that informs people about various problems of society, which makes those wielding power on their behalf answerable to them. That the actions of the government and the state, and the efforts of competing parties and interests to exercise political power should be underpinned and legitimized by critical scrutiny and informed debate facilitated by the institutions of the media is a normative assumption uniting the political spectrum. It has been further remarked by Davis Merritt, in his work Public Journalism and Public Life that what journalists should bring to the arena of public life is knowledge of the rules – how the public has decided a democracy should work – and the ability and willingness to provide relevant information and a place for that information to be discussed and turned into
The Politics of Media Development: The Importance of Engaging Government and Civil Society
In the field of media development, the public sector is often viewed as a barrier to the development of independent and sustainable media. Although governments do frequently pervert and capture media sectors in countries around the globe, the enabling conditions under which media can achieve and maintain independence are nevertheless reliant on institutions of government. Therefore the media development community must rethink its approaches to public sector engagement in efforts to improve the environment for media systems in emerging and fragile democracies. This paper outlines the key role of political support, the need for more nuanced understanding of political context, and how donors and implementers can more effectively engage drivers of change in the public sector to build support for media and media development work.
What are the insights of governance theory in the study of the media
This essay delves into the intricate world of media governance, exploring the insights provided by governance theory and the ways in which it can be supplemented by other theoretical approaches. Drawing on concepts rooted in international relations and political science, governance theory offers a comprehensive framework for understanding governance on a global scale, emphasizing cooperation and problem-solving without relying on a single governing authority (Rosenau, 1992). The essay begins by elucidating how governance theory has extended its influence into economics, with institutions like the OECD and the World Bank advocating for "good governance" principles in economic decision-making (Tambini, 2010). It then shifts its focus to the realm of media, introducing the concept of "media governance." In this context, "media governance" encompasses the intricate interplay of politics, policies, and polities within the media sector, shedding light on the complex dynamics at play (Puppis, 2008). The essay argues that democratic governance in the media, with its emphasis on civil society involvement and the rule of law, faces substantial challenges in the ever-evolving media landscape characterized by convergence and globalization. It explores the tensions between traditional regulatory frameworks and the complexities of modern media ecosystems. To address these challenges effectively, the essay advocates for a multifaceted approach that integrates insights from both governance theory and other theoretical perspectives. It delves into the role of democratic governance in enhancing regulation and government, emphasizing participation and inclusivity (Benz et al., 2007; Mayntz, 2004). Simultaneously, it highlights the multistakeholder approach and the need for collaboration among diverse stakeholders in media decision-making processes (Cammaerts, 2011). However, the essay acknowledges the limitations of these approaches and introduces the importance of understanding the political economy of the media. This perspective enriches governance theory by considering the economic interests and power dynamics that underlie media governance (Moore, 2019; Tambini, 2010). It delves into how capitalist systems often shape media systems and content creation, shedding light on market dynamics and their impact on media power and control (McChesney, 2008). The essay also underscores the significance of recognizing that media governance extends beyond statutory regulation, encompassing both formal and informal mechanisms involving diverse actors such as political figures, institutions, corporate interests, civil society, and transnational organizations (Freedman, 2008; Puppis, 2010). This broader perspective emphasizes management and accountability within the media industry, along with institutionalized relations between media and society. Therefore, by integrating political economy into governance theory, policymakers gain insights into structural inequalities and power imbalances within media systems (Helsper, 2021; Moore, 2019; Tambini, 2010). Throughout the essay, the Foucauldian lens is applied to understand power dynamics at play within media governance, revealing the need for decentralized decision-making and participatory processes (Foucault, 1976; Foucault, 1977).
Is There a Link Between Media and Good Governance? What the Academics Say
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CIMA is pleased to release a new report, Is There a Link Between Media and Good Governance? What the Academics Say, by Mary Myers, an expert on international media development. Does the existence of a responsible, balanced press improve governance and reduce corruption? Is the state more accountable in countries with a pluralistic media? Is the media democracy’s magic bullet? These questions are much debated, but in the media development-community the dominant view is generally “yes.” A free media system does indeed go hand in hand with good governance and democracy. But where is the evidence? Does this apply everywhere and in all circumstances? And what does the empirical research show? This report looks at the work of some of the most-quoted academics in the field of media and governance, with the aim of presenting some key issues about the connection between mass media and democracy in a brief and accessible way.
Media bodies in Malawi play their roles in dynamic and changing democratic governance situations. Whether their roles or approaches change or remain constant in response to changing governance situations is the question this paper attempts to answer. This paper thus evaluates the role of Umbrella Media Bodies in Malawi in Changing Democratic Governance Situations. Media Council of Malawi (MCM) and Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi are media umbrella bodies that provide mechanisms established in Malawi to improve public trust in the media, by demonstrating accountability, self - regulation and advocating for media freedom and free flow of information respectively. It follows that their credibility themselves is a crucial challenge. It is in a sense separate to the credibility of the media themselves, but no less important. Put differently, the councils can only do their job of boosting media credibility if they are themselves credible. Credibility applied to Media Council shall imply a number of things: their capabilities, capacities, integrity, reputation etc. It is important to carry out an assessment to determine these factors in the two institutions and fairly strengthen any existing gaps. If the gaps are observable there is a need for ffunctional review and capacity building of the two bodies.