Globe International NGO in cooperation with Mongolian Journalist`s Association, Press Institute, Transparency Fund and School of Journalism of the Mongolian National University and with the support of the UNESCO, Beijing Office and The Asia Foundation will develop a comprehensive analysis of the national media landscape in Mongolia on the basis of the Media Development Indicators (MDI) endorsed by the Intergovernmental Council of the IPDC in 2008. These indicators, that cover all aspects of media development, are currently being applied in various countries worldwide to identify their specific needs in view of guiding the formulation of media-related policies and improving the targeting of media development efforts.
Within the framework of assessing media development, the team will carry out research and conduct field study among local media organizations, professional associations, academics, government representatives and NGOs in order to gather information on all aspects of the media situation in Mongolia.
The assessment will be reviewed at the National Conference to be held in September, 2013, including stakeholders representative across the media sector, the national government and legislators, and the civil society and will result in a set of evidence-based recommendations to strengthen the development of free, independent and pluralistic media in Mongolia.
Back in 2007, UNESCO had supported the development of the “Mongolian Media Landscape: Sector Analysis” in 2007. Many are the new challenges since 2007: switch-off to digital-broadcast, creation of a second PSB channel, piloting of community media etc. And many are also the opportunities: development of the broadband infrastructure, as well as Mongolia moving from being a low income country into becoming a middle-income one. It is therefore urgent to re-assess the media development of Mongolia against the MDIs and to develop a comprehensive updated review and evidence-based recommendations. It is also crucial that the draft media development assessment is reviewed in a participatory manner by stakeholders representative across the media sector, the national government and legislators, and the civil society at a consultation meeting, which will provide final input to the media assessment report.
The Media Development Indicators (MDI) is geared to assessing media development at the national level and suggests five major categories of indicators that can be used to analyse the media development of a country. Each category is broken down into a number of component issues which in turn contain a series of broad indicators. Finally there are means of verification and potential data sources identified.
The five principal media development categories are:
CATEGORY 1: A system of regulation conducive to freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity of the media: existence of a legal, policy and regulatory framework which protects and promotes freedom of expression and information, based on international best practice standards and developed in participation with civil society.
CATEGORY 2: plurality and diversity of media, a level economic playing field and transparency of ownership: the state actively promotes the development of the media sector in a manner which prevents undue concentration and ensures plurality and transparency of ownership and content across public, private and community media.
CATEGORY 3: media as a platform for democratic discourse: the media, within a prevailing climate of self-regulation and respect for the journalistic profession, reflects and represents the diversity of views and interests in society, including those of marginalised groups. There is a high level of information and media literacy.
CATEGORY 4: professional capacity building and supporting institutions that underpins freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity: media workers have access to professional training and development, both vocational and academic, at all stages of their career, and the media sector as a whole is both monitored and supported by professional associations and civil society organisations.
CATEGORY 5: infrastructural capacity is sufficient to support independent and pluralistic media: the media sector is characterised by high or rising levels of public access, including among marginalised groups, and efficient use of technology to gather and distribute news and information, appropriate to the local context.
More info at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0016/001631/163102e.pdf