Reports

Working Group Reports

CIMA convenes working groups to investigate issues in media development and make recommendations. Working group participants include media assistance practitioners and funders, government officials, academics and other experts, who present a wide variety of perspectives.

CIMA issues reports and recommendations based on working group discussions and other investigations. These reports are intended to provide policymakers, as well as donors and practitioners, ideas for bolstering the effectiveness of media development.

Community Radio: Its Impact and Challenges to Its Development:
CIMA organized a working group on October 9, 2007 that discussed the issue of community radio development. [view report]

Media Assistance: Challenges and Opportunities for the Professional Development of Journalists : CIMA organized a working group on July 25, 2007 that discussed the issue of professional development of journalists. To view the report on this working group, click here. [view report]

Media Law Assistance: Establishing an Enabling Environment for Free and Independent Media to Flourish: CIMA organized a working group on May 18, 2007 that explored the legal enabling environment for independent media. [view report]

Toward Economic Sustainability of the Media in Developing Countries: CIMA organized a working group on June 22, 2007 that discussed the issue of media sustainability. [view report]

Research Reports

CIMA commissions reports on important issues in the field of media development.

Scaling a Changing Curve: Traditional Media Development and the New Media: Shanthi Kalathil, a media and development consultant, authored this report on new media. The report examines the implications of new information and communication technologies for the media-assistance field, and how these innovations can be incorporated into traditional media-development models. [view report]

University Journalism Education: A Global Challenge: Ellen Hume, Director of the Center on Media and Society at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, drafted a report based on her extensive research and interviews as well as the first World Journalism Education Congress held in Singapore June 25-28, 2007. [view report]

Global Investigative Journalism: Strategies for Support: David E. Kaplan, an investigative journalist and media consultant, drafted this report based on a survey Kaplan conducted for CIMA, as well as interviews and research he carried out. [view report]

Independent Media's Vital Role in Development: Written by Peter Graves, international media consultant, this report examines the cross-sector impact of media on political, social, and economic systems worldwide. The report provides examples of the benefits provided by independent media in a variety of settings. [view report]

U.S. Public and Private Funding of Independent Media Development Abroad: Authored by Peter Graves, international media consultant, and edited by Angela Stephens, CIMA senior coordinator, this report provides a snapshot of U.S. public and private funding of media development assistance across the globe. Drawing upon the results of a 2007 survey designed by Graves and interviews and research, the report estimates that U.S. public and private funding of media development is at least $142 million a year. [view report]

The Role of Media-support Organizations and Public Literacy in Strengthening Independent Media Worldwide: This report by veteran media trainer and development consultant Ann Olson discusses two important topics in the media assistance field: media literacy—educating the public about the function and responsibilities of the media and how to discern reliable from unreliable or biased news sources—and supporting organizations for media, including journalists’ professional associations. The purpose of the study is to explore the role of these organizations and media literacy in sustaining or strengthening independent media around the world. [view report]

Event Reports

CIMA organizes roundtable discussions on the status of media in various parts of the world. These events are summarized in brief “snapshot” reports.

The State of Media in Sudan: On September 12, 2007, CIMA and the NED’s Africa Program convened a discussion on the status of media in Sudan. Approximately 50 representatives of international organizations, media development implementers, Sudanese and international journalists, the Government of the Republic of Sudan, and the Government of Southern Sudan came together to discuss the current status of the media in Sudan. The discussion centered on print, broadcast, and new media throughout Sudan, including Northern Sudan, Southern Sudan, and Darfur. [view report]