Journalism, democracy & governance
Articles about the effectiveness of donor and foundation-supported journalism can support democracy & governance.
Media Impact Funders
Some highlights from the JFunders Conference on journalism and local democracy in the United States.
This session highlights two new collaborative initiatives working to elevate civic engagement and dialogue on the local level. Last year, Hearken launched the Democracy SOS program to serve 20 newsrooms investing in long-term change to their civic reporting. And the Lenfest Institute for Journalism recently launched a comprehensive effort in Philadelphia to catalyze broad community engagement ahead of the city’s 2023 mayoral election. The 19th’s Editor-at-Large Errin Haines moderates.
DW Akademie - JAN LUBLINSKI
In this interview for DW Akademie, Erich de la Fuente, professor at Florida International University, reveals the subtle ways in which journalists and media freedoms have been under increasing pressure in illiberal democracies:
What about individuals? In authoritarian states, individuals are being arrested or physically threatened. Are similar things going on in democracies?
In the more liberal ones, no. But non-physical harassment of journalists is the other part of this equation, which comes in the form of defamation or persecution online. Nobody is shutting down your media house. But there is a constant onslaught on journalists. Presidents in Latin America have been railing against the media for years — long before Trump did it.
Reuters
Journalists union says government critics blacklisted
New law imposes jail terms for 'false information'
President defends changes, says he protects freedoms
TV covers protests, satire survives, but fears persist
Democracy Fund- JOSH STEARNS, CHRISTINE SCHMIDT
This article summarises how journalism is good for democracy in the following points:
Strong local journalism means more people turn out to vote.
Thorough local journalism helps people be less biased when considering candidates.
Every dollar spent on local news produces hundreds of dollars in public benefit by exposing corruption and keeping an eye on government spending.
Quality local journalism can counter divisive national narratives that aim to stoke polarization.
Weak local journalism means fewer people vote.
Committee to Protect Journalists
"A Turkish court in the southeastern Diyarbakır city ordered the arrests of the 16 on Wednesday, June 15, according to news reports. The specifics of the charges are unclear after another court issued a gag order on the investigation, but all 21 detained journalists and media workers were questioned about their journalistic activities, according to independent news website Bianet, which cited Resul Tamur, a lawyer representing the 16 arrested."
Project Syndicate- JOS MIDAS BARTMAN
"National leaders who attack independent media attract most of the attention. But powerful authoritarian subnational elites, and a local political milieu that all but guarantees them impunity, pose the deadliest threat to journalists."
EUIdeas- GIDEON SARPONG
"The increasing turn to social media platforms for news has not gone unnoticed by autocratic leaders around the world today, whose hold on power depends on the ability to silence dissent, muzzle truth-telling and censor independent news media. That is why content moderation policies must be designed with protection of human rights and press freedom in mind. Otherwise, such policies can have devastating consequences for democratic movements and media under autocratic regimes."
International Press Institute - VEERA NIKKANEN, HELSINGIN SANOMAT FOUNDATION, JOURNALISM FELLOW AT IPI
Since the elections in Belarus, "over 130 journalists have been sentenced to detention for different periods of time, according to information gathered by the Belarusian Association of Journalists." Thus, the "international community must keep focus on the continuing crackdown on independent media in Belarus."
NiemanLab- JOSHUA BENTON
"Public broadcasters are part of a nation's media-political system- but they're also the result of it. More public funding of media would do some wonderful things on the ground to create more informed and engaged communities."
CIMA- KATE MUSGRAVE
"Time and time again, would-be-autocrats seek to methodically dismantle press freedom and independence as an early step towards power. Analysis of this trend bolsters a growing international effort to support and safeguard independent media as a strategy for revitalizing democratic progress."
LatAm Journalism Review- LEONARDO COELHO
ELRHA- DR. EMMA HEYWOOD (SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY), DR LASSANÉ YAMEOGO (CNRST-OUAGADOUGOU) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FONDATION HIRONDELLE/STUDIO YAFA IN BURKINA FASO
"Humanitarian practitioners and policymakers should not simply use the radio to bombard top-down messages produced by outsiders. Involving the target listening community in the production and dissemination of messages, for example through interactive programmes, will improve the uptake and implementation of public health recommendations."
Center for International Media Assistance- DAMON WILSON, NICHOLAS BENEQUISTA
“At a moment of existential threat to independent media in many countries, the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to two of the world’s bravest and most committed journalists—Maria Ressa of Rappler, and Dmitry Muratov of Novaya Gazeta—sends an important message. For the sake of democratic societies, a free press and access to trustworthy information must remain sacred.”
CIMA - ALEKSANDER DARDELI (IREX)
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - JAMES DEANE
"Governance strategies have been generally poor at integrating media and communication issues into their analysis, research and strategic plans. This article considers the reasons for this, some of which are rational. It argues that the impact of changing media and communication landscapes on governance outcomes is increasing, that the way in which the media is conceptualised in relationship to governance needs a rethink and that governance policy needs to find better ways of prioritising it."
Development and Cooperation - ALEXANDER MATSCHKE
Matschke sets the stage by breaking down the evolution of media development programs over the past thirty years, as the ad-hoc training of journalists approach has shifted to more systematic programs that deal with the media environment as a whole. (CIMA)
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