URGENT: Understanding and Responding to Global Emerging News Threats

Abstract

Understanding and responding to global emerging news threats has never been more urgent. The global COVID-19 pandemic intensified a decade of pervasive democratic erosion and closing civic space that has put inexorable pressure on independent media around the world already struggling to figure out models of sustainability in the platform era. The overthrow of elected governments in Afghanistan and Myanmar and the Russian invasion of Ukraine propelled an unprecedented exodus of journalists that strained existing support mechanisms while underscoring the need for more strategic support from the foreign policy establishment and coordination by the international community. The findings and recommendations in this white paper are based on extensive multimethod research grounded in the perspectives of media workers in three types of contexts: countries where pressure is building, where a fast pivot to worsening situation triggered a crisis, and journalists in exile and the countries which host them. It also draws on ethnographic research and a wealth of information produced by the media assistance and scholarly communities. This white paper seeks to help the media assistance community learn and understand what type of support independent media partners on the ground need and use that information to recalibrate support to match evolving dynamics. It identifies acute needs of journalists and media in these situations, as well as longer term and structural needs.

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.

The media assistance community must figure out how to enlist the support of the diplomatic and policymaking communities to provide more meaningful, if politically difficult, support. The status quo is insufficient to meet these challenges and unlikely to support what media and journalists need to be viable or sustainable in the medium to long term. Without bold strategies, more money, and a collective infrastructure for research and development, independent public service media could wither away in many countries. The resulting news deserts will mean a less informed public, less accountable people in power, and less democratic governance.

Keywords: Media assistance, media development, journalism, exile, platformazation, content moderation, safety, press freedom, media freedom