Developing Independent Media as an Institution of Accountable Governance: A How-To Guide

From the World Bank's Communication for Governance and Accountability Program (CommGAP), this resource is designed for those seeking to enhance good governance by designing programmes to support independent media. It explores the whys, hows, whens, and whats of supporting the development of independent, pluralistic, and sustainable media.

The guide is the second stage of a project by CommGAP to examine the linkages between the media and governance reform. The first stage of this process produced Public Sentinel: News Media and Governance Reform, an edited volume that explored key issues surrounding the role of the media in democratic governance and the policy interventions that might facilitate this role. This how-to guide represents the second stage of that process, which is meant to bridge the gap between theory and practice. To inform this handbook, CommGAP held a number of working group meetings in Washington, D.C., United States, and London, United Kingdom, with senior media development experts.

The resource introduces the fundamentals of media development, provides ways to conceptualise and analyse the sector, and helps guide programming based on political economy analysis as well as individual country context. It also includes ideas on monitoring and evaluation of media development programmes, suggestions for conflict environments and new media, and links to further resources.

Specifically, contents include:

• Target Audience for the Toolkit
• Media Development: A Key Part of Governance Reform
• Grasping the Fundamentals: Building Blocks of an Independent Media Sector
• From Assessment to Program Concept: Political Economy Analysis
• From Concept to Design: Putting the Program Together
• Other Factors to Consider
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Finding What Works
• Practical Considerations for Donors: Getting the Work Done
• Resources
• Appendix A. Sample Assessment Questions
• Appendix B. Sample Indicators for Media Development Programs
• Appendix C. Sample Terms of Reference for Media Development Consultant
• Index

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