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African Union Launches New Media Support Initiatives

An informal expert meeting on media and development hosted by the African Union Commission (AUC) and the European Commission (EC) in Addis Ababa, March 23-25 agreed a range of practical proposals in support of African media.  Participants representing journalists, media owners, media development practitioners, journalism schools and self-regulatory structures in Africa highlighted the important role the AUC can play in promoting media freedom and independent journalism in Africa.

The meeting launched the pan-African media network, a structure that aims to bring together the different players in African media. The GFMD’s African Forum for Media Development will facilitate operation of the network, which will be organised along sub-sectors of media development.

“The network builds on existing pan-African and sub-regional structures and aims to bring together the groups representing journalists, media owners, media development practitioners, journalism trainers, self-regulatory structures and advocacy groups. Together they can formulate a media strategy for Africa and do joint lobbying for support”, said GFMD Steering Committee Member Gabriel Baglo.

Secondly, it established a task force to develop terms of reference for a pan-African portal site. The African Media Initiative will facilitate the work of the task force.

“It is crucial that the portal site works with existing web-sites in Africa and aims to strengthen their work rather than duplicate it. There is a lack of information on African media, for instance, data on the national advertising markets, conditions of journalists, training opportunities and the portal site can fill these information gaps”, said AMI director Amadou Makhtar Ba.

The meeting called on the AUC and EC to provide the necessary funds and support to put the two initiatives into place.

AUC Chairman Jean Ping assured the meeting that the AUC supports the new initiatives within the AU-EU Partnership Strategy, notably in the area of good governance, democracy and human rights.

“Africa needs quality, independence and protection of media,” said Jean Ping. “And we need editors and journalists to follow their ethical principles.”

Participants reiterated their call to the AUC and EC to recognise media as a sector of development in its own right.

“Without structures within the AUC and EC that deal directly with media development and provide targeted support, it will not be possible to develop an effective media support strategy”, said GFMD director Bettina Peters.

The meeting was established as the consultative group on media development to the AUC and EC.  It was proposed that the group should meet at least once a year.

Finally, the meeting endorsed a proposal for the AUC and EC to work with UNESCO to organise the next World Press Freedom Day in Africa.  May 3, 2011 will mark the 20th anniversary of the UNESCO Windhoek Declaration and participants felt that this event should take place in Africa, should focus on future challenges and should further increase the involvement of the African Union in media development.