Satellite dishes on Egyptian rooftops/photo: Rasmus Steen, IMS

In October, IMS will embark on the third phase of its media cooperation programme in the Arab region and Iran. Despite declining media freedom in the region, the cooperation has so far managed to expand the boundaries of free expression through support of youth television and training of media professionals in film-making and investigative journalism

IMS’ Media Cooperation Programme (MCP), which started in 2004 and is funded by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to build relationships and foster inter-cultural understanding between media professionals in Denmark and the Arab region as a means to benefit both media environments. The next phase, which runs from 2009-2011, will focus on enhancing media freedom, improving media standards and connecting media workers in the Arab region and Denmark.

Professionalism the main challenge for Arab media

The media environment in the Arab region has been changing slowly, defying the expectation that new satellite channels and the Internet and new media would offer more choice, alternative information and encourage reforms in the media sector. A recent study[1] shows that higher professional standards are hampered by the narrow choice of media genres, lack of documentation and poor access to information. The study carried out among 600 journalists across the region revealed that a full 71 % saw ”professionalism” – followed by ”government control” as the most significant challenges to journalism in the region.

- Thora Gehl, Programme Coordinator of IMS’ Arab Programme said:

- Media can serve as a platform to promote public debate, transparency, accountability and respect for a diversity of views and

opinions. International Media Support’s strength is that our activities link media professionals from the Arab world with media professionals from Denmark in areas where both parties have an interest in collaborating and exchanging ideas.

Flagship projects with Arab media

The third phase of the Arab programme will see some of IMS’ flagship projects continue to inspire creativity and strengthen capacity of journalists, film-makers and editors both in the Arab region and in Denmark.

In fall 2009, Danish film students from the National Film School of Denmark and Lebanese film students will visit each other’s countries, meet leading media professionals and develop film projects in an effort to enhance their skills and broaden their knowledge of film-making techniques. Further to this, a film fund  (Screen Institute Beirut Film Fund) is about to be launched which will provide small grants, access to technical equipment and training of film-makers in the Arab region.

IMS also plans to support media monitoring carried out by the Arab Working Group of up to six elections taking place over the next three years in the Arab region and Iran. By monitoring media during elections, the Arab Working Group,  a coalition of human rights NGOs from 10 countries in the Arab region, aims to improve reporting of elections and promote general awareness of the role of media in society.

The Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) network is another successful venture which IMS will continue to support and develop. The network comprised of media professionals from the Arab region and Denmark offer coaching and funding for in-depth journalism projects to support and promote independent quality journalism. The programme plans to gradually expand its operations from Syria, Jordan and Egypt to Palestine, Yemen and Bahrain.

Support for media organisations that protect and defend media freedoms in the Arab region will also be a priority in IMS’ programme over the next three years. Enhancing the capacity of institutions such as journalist unions is crucial, as they are pressure points for furthering media reforms in the region.

Young people key players in media development

Continued support for youth TV production in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria and exchange visits of national broadcasters between the three countries will also be high on IMS’ agenda. The youth TV programmes provide young people with new platforms for expressing themselves.

- Many of our activities in the Arab region are targeted primarily at young people up to 24 who make up one third of the population in the Middle East, says Thora Gehl.

- They are a social force to be reckoned with and key to the development of media in the Arab region.

 For more about International Media Support (IMS) and IMS Media Cooperation Programme in the Arab Region and Iran 2009-2011, please see http://www.i-m-s.dk/media-and-dialogue

[1] Pintak and Ginges, “Inside the Arab Newsroom – Arab Journalists evaluate themselves and the competition”, Journalism Studies, April 2009