Key Recommendations

General Recemmendations

1. Promote Long-Term Funding Strategies:

• Transition from short-term, programmatic support to long-term, flexible, and sustainable funding to foster resilience and growth in regional media ecosystems.

• Provide core funding rather than restricted grants to enable media outlets to adapt to evolving challenges.

1. Strengthen Regional Coordination:

• Establish platforms or groups (e.g., a revived GFMD coordination group) to enhance collaboration among donors, implementers, and local stakeholders across the MENA region.

• Facilitate shared lessons and best practices to address overlapping issues in countries like Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.

1. Develop Emergency Media Support Mechanisms:

• Define "emergency media support" to encompass operational costs, journalist safety, and content production during crises.

• Establish funds dedicated to supporting independent media during emergencies, particularly in conflict zones.

1. Enhance Advocacy and Policy Engagement:

• Advocate for the integration of media support in humanitarian aid, emphasizing the role of information access as a critical humanitarian need.

• Push for policy changes, such as the decriminalization of defamation laws and improved media governance frameworks

1. Combat Misinformation and Harmful Narratives:

• Equip media professionals and humanitarian organizations with tools and expertise to identify and counter media manipulation and disinformation.

• Develop national media literacy programs to empower individuals and communities to navigate the information landscape effectively.

Country-Specific Recommendations:

Palestine:

1. Establish the Palestine Media Fund:

• Support the creation of a unified structure to regulate media practices, improve media freedom, and coordinate funding efforts.

• Leverage international expertise (e.g., IFPIM) to strengthen governance, transparency, and capacity-building.

1. Restore and Sustain Media Funding:

• Resume interrupted grants with a focus on long-term, flexible financial support to reduce reliance on politically conditional funding.

• Establish a UNESCO-led international fund to address damages in Gaza's media sector, estimated at $25 million.

1. Support Journalist Training and Safety:

• Provide technical training in digital and social media skills, AI applications, and content creation.

• Supply protective equipment and legal resources to safeguard journalists operating in conflict zones.

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Lebanon:

1. Invest in Independent Media Ecosystem:

• Transition from thematic training to core funding that supports long-term growth and sustainability of platforms like Megaphone.

• Leverage Lebanon’s position as a hub for regional journalism to promote cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing.

1. Reform Donor Support Models:

• Shift away from one-size-fits-all donor programs led by external trainers. Focus instead on locally contextualized and needs-driven initiatives.

• Support advocacy efforts to decriminalize defamation and slander laws, bolstering journalist protection.

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Syria, Jordan, and Iraq:

1. Develop Contingency Plans:

• Establish hybrid operational models that include both local and diasporic media teams to enhance resilience in conflict zones.

• Provide emergency funding mechanisms for rapid responses to crises and enable media outlets to maintain operations.

1. Enhance Journalist Safety:

• Update security tools and mechanisms to address evolving threats, moving beyond basic protective equipment.

• Offer specialized training in areas like open-source journalism and securing anonymous reporting.

1. Support Post-Conflict Media Development:

• Revisit initiatives like the Syrian Media Incubator project to prepare for media rebuilding and governance post-conflict.

• Advocate for donor flexibility in compliance conditions to accommodate the complexities of operating in conflict regions.

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Sector-Specific Priorities

1. Training and Capacity Building:

• Invest in skill development for journalists, particularly in investigative journalism, human rights reporting, and digital media.

• Support academic initiatives to enhance research, media education, and curriculum development.

1. Media Literacy and Public Engagement:

• Implement national media literacy plans targeting schools, municipalities, and diverse communities to combat misinformation and promote informed public discourse.

1. Support for Women and Marginalized Groups:

• Address the specific needs of women journalists and marginalized communities in media projects to ensure inclusivity and equity.