# Lebanon
## Lebanon country report {% hint style="info" %} The following draft report includes policy recommendations on media viability based on a national consultation in Lebanon convened by GFMD in partnership with UNESCO's Regional Bureau for Education in Beirut, Samir Kassir Foundation’s (Skeyes) Center for Media and Cultural Freedom, and Maharat Foundation. {% endhint %} ### [**READ THE FULL REPORT ON THE LEBANON CONSULTATIONS HERE**](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dLnZmLkS8ybiPBCz26K7MhwENo7r5m7j/edit?usp=sharing\&ouid=102822672911138910905\&rtpof=true\&sd=true) {% embed url="" %} ## Agenda **Date:** January 18, 2023 **Time:** 09:00 - 14:00 **Venue:** UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Beirut, Bir Hassan, facing Cité sportive Camille-Chamoun, Beirut 11 - 5244, Lebanon **Organisers:** * [UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Beirut](https://en.unesco.org/fieldoffice/beirut/about) * [Global for Media Development (GFMD)](https://gfmd.info) * [Samir Kassir Foundation’s (Skeyes) Center for Media and Cultural Freedom](https://www.skeyesmedia.org/en/Home) * [Maharat Foundation](https://maharatfoundation.org/en) {% hint style="info" %} The roundtable is held in English without translation. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} It is advisable to wear masks for the safety of all amid the recent resurgence in covid and flu cases. {% endhint %} ### **Opening remarks by conference organisers (09:30 - 09:35)** ### **Roundtable 1 - Media viability: challenges and opportunities for the Lebanese media sector (09:35 - 11:00)** Moderator: Roula Mikhael, [Maharat Foundation](https://maharatfoundation.org/) Format: Contributions from UNESCO, Maharat Foundation, and the Samir Kassir Foundation followed by an open discussion. #### *Coffee break (11:00 - 11:15)* ### **Roundtable 2 - Role of non-media stakeholders: donor-media relations, big tech, and public sector reforms (11:15 - 12:15)** Moderator: Ayman Mhanna, [Samir Kassir Foundation’s (SKeyes) Center for Media and Cultural Freedom](https://www.skeyesmedia.org/en/Home)\ Format: Open discussion between donors, media support organisations, media organisations, tech industry representatives, and government institutions. ### **Policy recommendations for media viability in Lebanon (12:15 - 12:55)** Moderator: George Awad, [UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Beirut](https://en.unesco.org/fieldoffice/beirut/about) Format: Each participant will contribute recommendations on how to implement one or two of the policy options that have been discussed to improve media viability in Lebanon. ### **Conclusion (12:55 - 13:00)** #### *Lunch (13:00 - 14:00)* ## Literature review In addition to the [general literature on media viability, ](https://impact.gfmd.info/meetings/unesco-media-viability-jan-23#literature-on-media-viability)including [UNESCO's latest research and reports,](https://www.unesco.org/en/international-programme-development-communication/media-viability/resources) the consultation is informed by the following reports and studies specific to the Lebanese context: ### Regional and Lebanese resources on media viability {% hint style="info" %} [Media Viability Indicators Assessment Lebanon](https://akademie.dw.com/en/first-ever-media-viability-assessment-of-lebanon/a-58101358) by Deutsche-Welle Akademie (7 July 2021) {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} Report: [“Review of the Funding Landscape for Media Development Actors in Lebanon”](https://www.skeyesmedia.org/en/News/Reports/15-02-2022/9874) (GFMD, SKeyes Center and IMS, 15 February 2022) {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} Report: ["Sustainabilty and journalism support in Lebanon" ](https://lebanon-coordination.gfmd.info/resources/research-sustainability-journalism-support)(GFMD, 16 March 2021) {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} Report: ["Independent Media in Lebanon: An Economic Outlook"](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.skeyesmedia.org/documents/bo_filemanager/Independent-Media-in-Lebanon-An-Economic-Outlook-REPORT.pdf\&sa=D\&source=docs\&ust=1669748206192524\&usg=AOvVaw27jNPiu22irHqafOlxz8dv) (Skeyes, April 2021) {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} [Coordinating Media Assistance and Journalism Support Efforts report,](https://gfmd.info/engagements/consultation-coordinating-media-assistance-journalism-support/) (GFMD, SKeyes Center and IMS). Final version published in November 2022. {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} [Research Study: “Media and Information Landscape assessment in Lebanon”](https://maharatfoundation.org/en/milaresearchstudy) (Maharat Foundation, October 2021) {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} [Building Regional Strategies for Media Development in the Middle East and North Africa](https://www.cima.ned.org/publication/building-regional-strategies-for-media-development-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa/) (CIMA, March 2022) {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} [MENA: No Media Sustainability without Media Accountability](https://brost.ifj.tu-dortmund.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Press_statement__Media_accountability_in_the_MENA_region_-_Workshop_English.pdf) (2021) {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} [GFMD Report: Sustainability and journalism support in Lebanon](https://lebanon-coordination.gfmd.info/resources/research-sustainability-journalism-support) (16 March 2021) {% endhint %} {% hint style="info" %} ["Pour protéger les journalistes, il faut lutter contre l’impunité" ](https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1260541/ayman-mhanna-pour-proteger-les-journalistes-il-faut-lutter-contre-limpunite.html)(*L'Orient-Le Jour*, 4 mai 2021) {% endhint %} ## Survey {% embed url="" %}