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Media in exile: Resilience mechanisms and survival strategies when covering Afghanistan and Myanmar

Karen Williams, Sandy Soe

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 46 pp.

"This study explores the resilience and success factors of exile media in Asia, focusing on Afghanistan and Myanmar — two countries where independent journalism has collapsed under authoritarian regimes. Once seen as regional media success stories, both nations have experienced drastic political s ... more

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The State of Media Development: Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Giorgi Jangiani

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 20 pp.

"The report highlights both urgent challenges and emerging opportunities in Eastern Europe and Central Asia — a region grappling with financial instability driven by the Russian war in Ukraine, political manipulation, declining support from tech platforms, and the potential loss of decades of accu ... mulated human and intellectual capital in the media sector. These challenges are further compounded by growing polarization, opaque platform-dominated markets, and increasingly repressive legislation. As a result, many media organizations are being forced into untenable choices between defending press freedom and investing in innovation and content production. Despite these pressures, the study emphasizes the resilience and adaptability of local media actors. Donor support remains meaningful in key areas such as institutional strengthening, coordination, research/learning and promoting local ownership. However, the report stresses that financial support alone is not enough — it calls for sustained, principled, and coordinated engagement. As one interviewee noted, “We don’t want to end up in a situation where we’re forced to sacrifice one principle over another — but in this region, that’s already happening.” While panic is not a strategy, inaction risks deepening the crisis. This report provides clear guidance for donors and implementers to reinforce media ecosystems and protect public interest journalism. If we were to summarize the key recommendations of this report, they would be: – Ensure sustainable core funding: Core support is essential to respond to crises and reduce reliance on politically influenced or commercially driven content. – Invest in long-term tech innovation: Fragmented, short-term digital investments fall short. Donors must coordinate support for scalable, sustainable digital strategies and help reclaim advertising revenue. – Address local media gaps: In many areas, television remains dominant while digital capacity lags. Fund initiatives that reinforce local democratic discourse and reduce polarization. – Strengthen legal and safety protections: Small and exiled media face legal threats and security risks. Long-term investment is needed in legal reform, journalist safety, and operational resilience. – Prioritize local leadership and inclusion: Donor reliance on international actors often sidelines capable local organizations. Local voices must be centered in strategy, funding, and implementation. Finally, it’s worth noting that the regional findings are based on a focused but insightful sample: 13 organizations from Eastern Europe and Central Asia participated in the survey (as part of the global survey), alongside 10 key informant interviews. Despite its limited scope, the report offers a solid foundation for future assessments and strategic agenda-setting in media development." (Conclusions and key recommendations) more

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The State of Media Development: Francophone Africa

Jean Claude Bitsure, Jean-Pierre Uwimana

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 22 pp.

"The African media sector embodies both remarkable potential and persistent fragility. Across the continent, journalists and media organizations continue to demonstrate resilience, innovation, and commitment to public interest reporting, and often in environments marked by political interference, ec ... more

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The State of Media Development: Middle East and North Africa

Samar Sabry

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2025), 25 pp.

"In light of the rapid changes in the political, economic, and technological landscape in the region, there is an urgent need to reassess the goals and priorities of media support programs in the MENA region, focusing on challenges, best practices, and providing effective recommendations. This also ... requires adopting a more coordinated and integrated approach between donors and local partners to ensure that support aligns with the real needs of media institutions and the communities they serve. This is considered the foundation for achieving sustainable impact, rather than relying on short-term or fragmented support that does not keep pace with local realities. Key recommendations 1. Risk assessment and compliance with local context: Develop proactive risk assessment systems that include early warning tools and analysis of the political context, with project designs aligned to the local and political conditions of each country. 2. Protect journalists and enhance their safety: Strengthen physical and digital safety through continuous training, provision of protection tools, and the establishment of technical and advisory support units in cases of targeting. 3. Sustainable and neutral funding: Provide core and long-term funding to ensure financial sustainability, while maintaining funding neutrality, and ensure fair distribution. 4. Adopt a comprehensive and integrated approach: Adopt strategies that consider all components of the media system, supported by thorough needs assessments and long-term monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure impact and sustainability. 5. Empower local partners: Enhance the active role of local actors and transform them from implementers to strategic partners in all stages of the project. 6. Build the capacities of local partners: Develop the skills and knowledge of local partners and researchers specialized in media development, integrate research and learning into projects. 7. Support emerging organizations: Continue funding and supporting small, locally impactful organizations, rather than focusing on large ones only. 8. Simplify administrative procedures: Reduce administrative burdens through standardized proposal templates and allocate a percentage of funding to administrative costs to ensure effective management. 9. Enhance coordination among stakeholders: Appoint national and regional media reform advisors and strengthen links between policymakers and media institutions to ensure synergy." (Conclusions and key recommendations, page 25) more

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Kenya Media Landscape Guide

London: CDAC Network; Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 31 pp.

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Financial transparency of media 2023

Nino Gelashvili, Mariam Pataridze

Media Development Foundation (MDF); Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 43 pp.

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Cuaderno de la diversidad: Guía para integrar una perspectiva de género y diversidad en proyectos de cooperación internacional para el desarrollo

Annette Heidhues, Ginna Morelo, Vivienne Gager

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 28 pp.

"Integrar la perspectiva interseccional de género, entonces, nos permite desarrollar proyectos más sostenibles, romper con las relaciones de poder que existen, afinar más nuestra perspectiva de trabajo colectivo/co-creativo e incluir de forma activa un grupo más diverso (y así sus realidades en ... more

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Mapping out cross-regional expert exchange: A practical orientation to global peer collaboration and growth

Rune Meissel, Rose Kimani

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 15 pp.

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A feminist take on international media development: How media development projects empower women and marginalized groups

Miriam Küller, Alexandra Spaeth

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 34 pp.

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Radio Kwizera: Media development in crisis regions

Sheila Mysorekar

Deutsche Welle DW Akademie, March 12 (2024)

"Kwizera" means hope. Since 2020, DW Akademie has been supporting a radio station of the same name in northwestern Tanzania. It provides vital information to refugees and the surrounding communities." (Introduction)

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Diversity handbook: Guide for integrating a gender and diversity perspective into international development projects

Annette Heidhues, Ginna Morelo, Vivienne Gager

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 26 pp.

"Reducing structural gender inequalities and drawing a connection to other inequalities and discriminations of the beneficiary populations of international cooperations visible, enables more accurate and sustainable project responses. This guide was developed for DW Akademie projects and its partner ... more

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The Media Viability Manifesto: A Common Framework for Joint Action
Key Guides

Laura Moore, Elena Köhler, Clare Cook

Bonn et al.: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie; Media Viability Manifesto Initiative (2024), 33 pp.

"The Media Viability Manifesto (MVM) provides an urgently needed common framework for joint action from the global media development community. Its aim is three-pronged: To foster conceptual clarity, to strengthen strategic collaboration between multiple stakeholders, and to align practical implemen ... more

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MIL Heroes and Villains guidebook: Enhance your MIL workshops and trainings with a flexible storytelling approach

Joseph van de Port, Roslyn Kratochvil Moore, Susanne Glaeser

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 34 pp.

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Tackling Disinformation: A Learning Guide

Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024)

"Tackling Disinformation: A Learning Guide is aimed at helping those already working in the field, or directly impacted by the issues, such as media professionals, civil society actors, DW Akademie partners and experts. It offers insights for evaluating media development activities and rethinking ap ... more

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Beyond blended learning: Successful and effective strategies in a post-pandemic world

Erik Albrecht, Susanne Glaeser

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 14 pp.

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Press freedom and safety of journalists in Ghana 2024: An assessment based on the African Media Barometer

Gabriel Baglo

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 26 pp.

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Manifiesto sobre la Viabilidad de los Medios de comunicación: Un marco común para la acción conjunta
Key Guides

Laura Moore, Elena Köhler, Clare Cook

Bonn et al.: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie; Media Viability Manifesto Initiative; UNESCO IPDC (2024), 37 pp.

"El Manifiesto sobre la Viabilidad de los Medios de comunicación (MVM, por sus siglas en inglés) proporciona un marco común, urgentemente necesario, para la acción conjunta de la comunidad mundial de desarrollo de los medios. Su objetivo es triple: fomentar la claridad conceptual, reforzar la co ... more

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Detoxing information ecosystems: A proactive strategy for tackling disinformation

Steffen Leidel, Dennis Reineck

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 14 pp.

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How to enhance constructive public dialogue on social media in Uganda: Recommendations from a multi-stakeholder consultation workshop, in Kampala, Uganda, in November 2023

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 16 pp.

"In November 2023, DW Akademie brought together journalists, civil society organizations, digital rights experts, and media influencers for a consultation workshop in Kampala, Uganda. In the two-day event, hosted by Media Challenge Initiative (MCI), the diverse group collaboratively developed recomm ... more

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Manifeste sur la viabilité des médias: Un cadre commun pour une action conjointe
Key Guides

Laura Moore, Elena Köhler, Clare Cook

Bonn et al.: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie; Media Viability Manifesto Initiative; UNESCO IPDC (2024), 37 pp.

"Le Manifeste sur la viabilité des médias (MVM) établit un cadre commun, dont le besoin est urgent, pour une action conjointe de la part de la communauté mondiale du développement des médias. Son objectif est triple : Promouvoir une vision claire, renforcer la collaboration stratégique entre ... more

The Media Viability Manifesto: A Common Framework for Joint Action Key Guides

Manifiesto sobre la Viabilidad de los Medios de comunicación: Un marco común para la acción conjunta Key Guides

Manifeste sur la viabilité des médias: Un cadre commun pour une action conjointe Key Guides

The Media Viability Manifesto: A Common Framework for Joint Action
Key Guides

Manifiesto sobre la Viabilidad de los Medios de comunicación: Un marco común para la acción conjunta
Key Guides

Manifeste sur la viabilité des médias: Un cadre commun pour une action conjointe
Key Guides