Media in fragile contexts

Research and reports about the media operating in fragile contexts, crisis and emergencies.

Guide for risk management in the context of emergencies, armed conflict and crises (2025)

International Media Support

The intention of the Guide for Risk Management is to provide guidance and mitigation recommendations for social media platform companies. The guide offers a context-specific framework enabling social media platform companies to safeguard human rights in the Ukrainian information ecosystem.

URGENT: Understanding and Responding to Global Emerging News Threats

Courtney Radsch (Internews)

The full report is available here.

The multifaceted needs and structural constraints within which independent and public service-oriented media work require the media assistance community to take a holistic approach to supporting these partners that includes the provision of money, technical assistance and collaborative strategic programming and advocacy, while also improving the global enabling environment. This means addressing the role that US and European policies play in the global information ecosystem and adopting a more comprehensive approach to foreign assistance that includes domestic immigration and technology policy support.

UN Special Rapporteur: Disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression during armed conflicts (October, 2022)

United Nations

The full report is available here.

Disinformation and freedom of opinion and expression.pdf

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A report by UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression:

Emphasizing the vital importance of the right to information as a “survival right” on which people’s lives, health and safety depend, the Special Rapporteur recommends that human rights standards be reinforced alongside international humanitarian law during armed conflicts. She urges States to reaffirm their commitment to upholding freedom of opinion and expression and ensuring that action to counter disinformation, propaganda and incitement is well grounded in human rights.

She recommends that social media companies align their policies and practices with human rights standards and apply them consistently across the world. She concludes by reiterating the need to build social resilience against disinformation and promote multi-stakeholder approaches that engage civil society as well as States, companies and international organizations.

Mongolia: Journalists' Safety Survey (September, 2022)

Globe International Center

A summary of the study's findings is available here.

The GIC has released the results of a survey (conducted between November 2020 - March 2022) on the issues faced by media professionals in Mongolia. During the Covid-19 pandemic, in particular, the study reveals that journalists faced serious violations of their rights and freedoms while working in the field.

A total of 233 journalists and media workers from Ulaanbaatar and local television, newspapers, magazines, radio, FM and websites participated ... 47 percent of respondents said that their rights and freedoms were violated while undertaking their professional duties.

The results of a related study conducted by the GIC on freedom of speech and political rights in Mongolia are available here.

Blacked out: Media freedom under the Taliban (June, 2022)

DW Akademie- ELENA ZONDLER, MAHIA ALBRECHT, ALEXANDER MATSCHKE

The full report is available here.

"Recent results from a study by Afghan NGO Nai-Supporting Open Media in Afghanistan (Nai SOMA) and DW Akademie show the extent of the Afghan media sector’s breakdown.

During the research period in early 2022, the two organizations conducted a multilingual online survey, as well as semi-struc- tured focus group discussions with media professionals from different provinces in Afghanistan. Nine exiled Afghan journal- ists were also interviewed. They had fled to countries in Asia, Europe, and North America after the Taliban seized power."

Feindbild Journalist 6: Hatred on the doorstep (June, 2022)

European Centre for Press and Media Freedom, Media Freedom Rapid Response

The full report is available here.

"In January 2022 alone, 18 attacks were verified; in February, the number of recorded cases initially fell. The continuing increase in the number of cases is additional proof of the thesis of the Feindbild Journalist studies that journalists are fundamentally at risk everywhere and at all times when publicly and recognisably carrying out their profession in Germany."

Afghan Media Sector Faces Economic Collapse (Apr. 2022)

DW Akademie

Afghan media sector faces economic collapseDeutsche Welle

"Since August 2021, the Afghan media sector has faced a brutal clampdown by the new Taliban authorities. At least 50 journalists and media workers have been arbitrarily detained since the Taliban took power, as stated by Reporters Without Borders, and the International Federation of Journalists reported that at least seven journalists were killed within three months following the Taliban takeover.

Against the backdrop of a highly precarious situation for journalists, a severe economic crisis is unfolding within Afghan media houses, according to a survey on the current state of the media sector in Afghanistan conducted by DW Akademie and partner organizations."

Alongside the report on the collapse of the media sector in Afghanistan, DW Akademie organised, with Reporter ohne Grensen, a digital panel discussion.

This discussion, from the Media Freedom Talks series, "Journalism in Afghanistan six months after the fall of Kabul," addressed the situation of media freedom in Afghanistan and focused on the following questions:

Taliban restricted media coverage? What does this mean for the population's ability to obtain independent information? What are the prospects for Afghan media professionals living in exile?

Mapping Coalitions: Mapping out coalitions, collaborations, partnerships and networks for media and civil society in sub-Saharan Africa (April, 2021)

CHARM (Consortium to Promote Human Rights, Civic Freedoms and Media Development)- HARON MWANGI, MARTHA NJIIRI

The full report is available here.

"Despite their centrality in societies where civic space and freedom of expression are increasingly narrowing, the few civil organisations and independent media groups in sub-Saharan Africa work in silos, where their effort and energy are not harnessed to focus on pressing issues, and they often find themselves duplicating efforts and resources. They are therefore unable to address critical issues of human rights abuses, or contribute to guarding and expanding the freedom of expression necessary for democracy and social progress. Further, most of these organisations lack the capacity, skills and knowledge to focus on their agenda, because they have no space or forum to interact with similar organisations in the region and beyond who would inspire them to persevere."