Survey on Indigenous Peoples and the Media

UNESCO is calling on Indigenous-led media organisations to take part in a global survey designed to gather data on the state of media at the service of Indigenous Peoples.

This initiative aims to assess how Indigenous-led media uphold Indigenous Peoples’ rights to freedom of expression and access to public information, while promoting diversity of opinion, peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding in society.

Following an extensive literature review and outcomes from the consultative meetings organised throughout 2023 and 2024, UNESCO is launching a global survey to collect evidence on how Indigenous Peoples’ media operate, provide information and media services to a wide range of audiences, and collaborate with each other and with mainstream media in different regions of the world.

The survey focuses on the organisational level of the Indigenous-led media sector and is divided into the following parts: general information, ownership, recognition, governance, funding, editorial policies, content production and dissemination, digital transition, operations and management practices at workplace, and final recommendations. The survey takes 20 minutes to be completed and is available in English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Portuguese.

By sharing their perspectives, respondents will play a crucial role in advancing media development for the benefit of Indigenous Peoples and society at large, and in ensuring that Indigenous voices are part of the democratic conversations. The results will inform the study and support the consolidation of recommendations for action to advance the implementation of Article 16 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Participation guidelines

The deadline for participation in this survey is September 30, 2024. For more information and to submit your inputs, please click here.