UNDP–GFMD-SFCG Webinar: Media actors and the (de)construction of the ‘other’ (Oct. 2024)

Media actors and the (de)construction of the ‘other’: Exploring insights from HDR 2023/24 for innovative governance programming

Date: Wednesday, October 30th, 2024

Time: 9:00-10:30 EDT | 14:00-15:30 CEST | 16:00-17:30 PM Addis – Amman - Istanbul

Read key insights from the meeting here

Read our full interview with Sandra Fontaine, Program Manager at Fondation Hirondelle, and Oleksiy Soldatenko, co-founder and Programs Director at the International Institute for Regional Media and Information (IRMI) as they discuss their new sociological study titled “Reconnecting Audiences: Understanding the Role of Local Media in Promoting Social Cohesion.”

Organisers

• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

• Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)

• Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

Target Audience

• UNDP Governance and Human Development communities of practice

• UNDP partners at country level, especially in the governance area

• GFMD and SFCG partners

• Academia and civil society organisations working on democracy related topics

Objective

This initiative is part of the webinar series “2023/2024 Human Development Report and innovative governance programming”. This webinar is the first one of a series that will explore concrete steps and entry points to turning the HDR recommendations into action on governance initiatives in the field, accelerating development work towards regions. Other topics covered by the series are: “Measuring polarization”, “Deliberative democracy” and “Public Communication and (de)polarization for breaking the gridlock”.

The webinar “Media actors and the (de)construction of the ‘other’: exploring insights from HDR 2023 for innovative governance programming” explored the opportunities and challenges of partnership with media actors as a way to reducing polarisation and promoting more constructive citizen dialogue. It presented the concept, methods, and inspiring examples for building innovative partnerships with media for strengthened governance practices. The event was jointly organised with the Global Forum for Media and Development and Search for Common Ground. With impactful activities on media development in different countries, both organisations have been playing a leading role in recent years in promoting innovative approaches for partnerships with media for improved governance. As such, they represent critical partners in this space.

Learning Goals

1. Discuss the concept of media development in the context of HDR recommendations

2. Learn how partnerships with media can be strengthened to enhance citizens trust on public institutions, reducing polarization and strengthening democracy

3. Amplify/resurface concrete applied country examples on media development to promote innovative governance practices