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Dear colleagues,
As we embark on a new year, it's time to reflect on our collaborative achievements in 2023 and outline our ambitious plans for 2024.
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GFMD's impact in 2023: in numbers and quotes
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In 2023, GFMD welcomed forty-two new members to our community of journalism support and media development organisations. Here's what our members say:
“GFMD is a great network which allows you to connect not only the media development [but also] with regional and international organisations that share the same interests with you. They supported us to connect with some of the international NGOs that we found really challenging to connect with.” - Maryan Seylac, Executive Director of the Somali Media Women Association
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The best ways to stay connected with us:
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In 2023, GFMD joined several open letters to EU policymakers to strengthen media freedom and ban spyware, moderated the session on Perspectives of the Media on UNESCO’s Guidelines for regulating digital platforms, joined RSF and 15 partners to launch the Paris Charter on AI and Journalism, and aimed to foster collaboration among members through the EU Media Advocacy Working Group.
But one of the biggest achievements of the last year was the launch of the Tech and Journalism Crisis and Emergency Mechanism together with a coalition led by the Lviv Media Forum.
“Amidst the complex landscape of today's media environment, the launch of the Tech and Journalism Crisis and Emergency Mechanism (T&JM) stands as a beacon of resilience. In times of war, the synergy between technology and journalism becomes pivotal, and this initiative serves as a vital lifeline for the media in Ukraine.” - Alyona Nevmerzhytska, CEO of Hromadske.
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In collaboration with the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA), GFMD IMPACT has taken on a leadership role in informing the process to renew principles on effective support to media and the information environment at the OECD's Development Assistance Committee's Network on Governance. The Principles aim to provide clear operational guidance as to the ways in which Overseas Development Aid addresses challenges to public interest media and the information environment. Learn more about the process here.
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Ukrainian, Russian, Arabic and Romanian translations of the MediaDev Fundraising Guide were launched in 2023, bringing the total number of Guides up to seven.
“Thank you for the extremely useful and detailed guide in Ukrainian. We have already shared the link on our resources and will recommend it during our events. As we provide help for local media in resuming their work, your guide would be very helpful for our organisation." - Lina Kushch, First Secretary, National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.
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Maryan Seylac, Executive Director of the Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA), shares insights into SOMWA's fundraising journey, emphasizing the valuable assistance provided by GFMD's MediaDev Fundraising Guide.
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Looking ahead to 2024
In 2024, GFMD is committed to building on the momentum of the past year and expanding our impact on media development globally. Below you will find our key priorities for the year ahead and how to get involved:
📅 Regional meetings
Looking ahead, the GFMD team is planning in-person and online regional meetings. GFMD will organise two regional meetings in the first half of 2024 to provide a platform for members and partners to learn from each other, explore new ways to collaborate and nurture constructive dialogue with policymakers and donors:
Context: GFMD held a meeting for members and partners working in the Middle East and North Africa (read the MENA report here) at the ARIJ Forum in Amman, Jordan on 30 November.
Get involved: All GFMD meetings are co-designed and implemented in partnership with our members. If you are interested in hosting or contributing to any of these meetings please contact the GFMD Secretariat.
📣 Policy and Advocacy
In collaboration with our members and partners, GFMD will organise policy and advocacy meetings at least every 2 months. These will focus on upcoming opportunities leveraging GFMD’s observer status at Unesco and the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), including the UN Summit for Future in September 2024.
GFMD will also continue to facilitate conversations to address the different advocacy opportunities related to media in the EU, with a primary focus on the development of the proposed regulation of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA).
Get involved: You can find here a link to a short concept note of GFMD’s Digital Learning, Policy and Advocacy Plan, which outlines our overall plans in these areas over the next few years. If you are interested in contributing to any of these meetings, please reach out to us.
🌐 GFMD IMPACT
Building on our work with members and partners in Palestine, Sudan, and Ukraine, GFMD will continue to convene our community in times of crisis. This year we will be expanding these efforts to further deepen collaboration between our members as well as joint advocacy to donors and policymakers.
GFMD IMPACT will also continue to implement best practices in funding for journalism including Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment and GFMD's Code of Practice.
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🤖 Open Society AI in Journalism Futures 2024: The Open Society AI in Journalism Futures project aims to kick-start a global public conversation that focuses on the long-term, structural implications of AI on the information ecosystem.
More context: To answer questions and drive engagement on AI-driven innovation and its impact on journalism, Open Society will host an AI in Journalism Futures convening in Italy on April 15-16, 2024, and are inviting participants to share their visions of an AI-mediated future. Learn more here.
How to engage: Applicants should submit their visions of an AI-mediated information ecosystem, which they call “mini-scenarios,” in 300 words or less following the criteria provided in the full application guidelines before 23 February 2024.
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📝 Second Global Call for Research, with Emphasis on Global South Regions: The International Observatory on Information and Democracy invites you to contribute to building the IPCC for the information space by submitting existing research through their contribution portal or by getting in touch directly via email.
More context: The Observatory invites researchers, scholars and academics to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on critical research related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), media in the digital age, data governance and mis/disinformation – the thematic areas of the three current Research Assessment Panels. Learn more here.
How to engage: Contributions should be submitted using the provided template and emailed to observatory@informationdemocracy.org by 15 April 2024. Submissions must be in English, French, Spanish or Portuguese.
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📅 Partners for Democracy Day 2024: The Global Democracy Coalition is organising its second Partners for Democracy Day, scheduled for March 19, 2024. Event proposals will be accepted from February 2 to March 5, 2024.
More context: Limited grant funding is available for GDC members, and requests will be accepted until 12 February. While applying for funding is optional, self-funded and self-organized events are encouraged. Learn more here.
How to engage: If your organisation would like to host an event under the umbrella of Partners for Democracy Day 2024, please fill in the following form.
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Are Donors Taking the Journalism Crisis Seriously? An Analysis of Official Aid to Media 2010–2019 (February 2024). In CIMA’s latest report, Mary Myers and Heather Gilberds analyze trends in official aid flows to the media from 2010-2019. They highlight that, despite increased attention in recent years to media development and press freedom as priority areas of international cooperation, a substantial increase in foreign assistance to the media sector has yet to be seen.
How Not To Regulate Disinformation: The 2024 General Elections And The Misregulation Of Disinformation (February 2024). This Bolo Bhi's report examines Pakistan’s regulatory response to disinformation in view of the general elections scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024
Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2024 (January 2024). Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism published its yearly report on the issues that will shape journalism in the year ahead. Authored by their Senior Research Associate Nic Newman, the report is based on a survey of 314 news executives from 56 countries.
Crucial year for media and “Big Tech” (January 2024). Almost one-third of the global population will cast their vote in 2024. Authored by Ranga Kalansooriya, this IMS article explores how media will be able to preserve and uphold democratic values.
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WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
Our HELP DESK uses a network of experts and resources brought together by the GFMD IMPACT team to respond in a timely fashion to requests from donors, media development and journalism support practitioners and policymakers. Email helpdesk-impact@gfmd.info for more information and to submit a request.
ABOUT GFMD IMPACT
GFMD's International Media Policy and Advisory Centre enables informed, evidence-based decisions about media development and journalism support strategies, programming, funding, and advocacy. Learn more about GFMD IMPACT
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