CIAO DATE: 05/2012
April 2012
National Endowment for Democracy
CIMA is pleased to release the second edition of its report, Empowering Independent Media: U.S. Efforts to Foster a Free Press and an Open Internet Around the World, edited by David Kaplan, an investigative journalist and media consultant. The report finds that U.S. efforts to bolster independent media and an open Internet overseas are having significant impact but face a lack of funding, growth in online censorship and surveillance, and rising attacks on journalists. Drawing on original research as well as CIMA's past reports, Empowering Independent Media examines seven core areas of media development: funding, digital media, sustainability, media law, safety, education, and monitoring and evaluation. It makes recommendations to strengthen independent media around the world, including: expand funding; increase coordination; build citizen journalist capacity; embed digital media and project evaluation into all programs; and put greater emphasis on business skills, legal issues, community radio, and investigative journalism.
Resource link: Empowering Independent Media: U.S. Efforts to Foster a Free Press and an Open Internet Around the World [PDF] - 2.5M