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Conclusion of the Asia Forum for Media Development 2010

The last session of the Asia Forum for Media Development 2010 which took place on April 15th and 16th in Jakarta closed his door.

Many issues were discussed : media media self-regulation, the problem of self-censorship, what contribution internet-based media and blogging can make to increasing the information space in Asia, monitoring and evaluation of media development programmes, fundraising and sustainability strategies for media NGOs, the GFMD media development map and the GFMD Code of Practice for Media Assistance Organisations

The region is still facing great challenges concerning press freedom. Nevertheless it has seen improvements through Internet and the web-based medias. Bloggers are now playing a crucial role in countries like China. the digital divide in the Asia-Pacific région has to be taken into account. Countries like Cambodia still not well connected start now to use the internet as a tool for media literacy and information.

Participants to the Asia Forum for Media Development came up with several propositions to provide a common standard among media development organisation.
“it has brought at one table media development practitioners of different “nationality”, open to discussion for media development in Asia” said Yadaab Bastola, Unseco. “It has really given me the border idea to replicate in Nepal for media development in Nepal in the post conflict situation.”
Participants expressed their concern regarding donors and the way to apply for a project.

The difference between Media development vs media for development was largely discussed during the Networking sessions of the last day.

This raises challenging questions for the media development sector. For example said john Wallace, “Should media development organisations broaden their mission to take in civil society development work – helping NGOs/communities be more effective in taking part in public debate and being heard in the media”.

Participants came up with the conclusion that medias could be use as a tool in order to help civil society but in the meanwhile Media development has to be considered a a sector as such with his own needs different from the development issues.

You’ll find the conclusion of the 2nd Asia Forum for media development HERE.