MEDIA Initiative (Media Empowerment for Democratic Information Access)

Description

MEDIA Initiative (Media Empowerment for Democratic Information Access) is a project to strengthen the capacity of the independent media to play an effective role in Nepal’s emerging democracy through innovative applications of online and mobile phone based social networking software and tools; media monitoring mechanisms; the production and distribution of content to educate the public about independent media issues; a media defenders legal support fund; and training thousands of media workers on media law and rights and working in conflict-affected environments. By combining these innovative interventions we aim to strengthen the capacity of independent media to resist threats, to earn public and government respect by acting in the public interest and reinforce the media’s role as a strong foundation for Nepal’s fragile democracy. The Initiative objectives are to: 1) improve the professionalism and standards of Nepalese media workers 2) improve media coverage that is accurate, timely and transparent and 3) improve the security of media workers and societal and governmental respect for the vital role media freedom has to play in Nepal’s democracy. These objectives will be achieved through the following activities: • Providing training on media law and rights and working in conflict areas to more than 2,000 media workers including the 25-50 most-at-risk journalists through a unique and cost-effective cascading training model, that guarantees at least 40% participation from women and minority groups; • Production and dissemination of a TV documentary, 24 radio episodes and 24 print investigative pieces addressing threats to and the role of independent media in Nepal; • Two online and mobile phone based platforms to strengthen the professionalism and resources available to media workers and also to allow citizen journalists to directly publish accounts of newsworthy events; • Thorough media monitoring and analysis as a tool to expose corruption, undue influence or unprofessionalism (and to use the data collected to advocate for more reliable and accurate reporting on transitional issues); • Establishment of a Media Defenders legal and pro bono support mechanism connected to a legal referral system for journalists to ensure that journalists at risk are protected and those who perpetrate violence against the media are punished. The MEDIA Initiative is innovative in a number of ways by: (i) creating the first ever media legal defense fund in Nepal, putting those who harm or threaten media workers on notice that they can expect a concerted legal response; (ii) applying new media tools and the power of social networking to media freedom challenges in Nepal; (iii) using a range of transparency tools to enhance professionalism and ensure journalists practice within established professional Codes of Conduct; and (iv) an innovative approach to cascading training the Initiative will leverage available resources to provide training to thousands of Nepalese media workers. These activities are designed to be continued through a range of local structures after the completion of the Initiative ensuring sustainability. Together these elements will break the cycle of the abuse of media freedoms, allowing the media to be a true foundation for democracy in Nepal.

What do we deliver?

Through the two web sites we deliver content in different forms include audio, video, text, SMS, pictures etc. Additionally, in service part we deliver training to high-level and mid-career journalists on Media Law, Rights, Conflict Sensitivity and how to work in Conflict-affected environment. We produce radio program in weekly basis which talks about media security, safety and media code conduct. In this initiative one main service we are providing to journalist in legal aid to those journalists who are working at-most-risk environment. Likewise periodic review of media content and report dissemination based on the finding is also the service that MEDIA initiative is delivering.

Whom we deliver?

Every citizen of Nepal especially bloggers and young people and professional Journalist.

How is the project unique?

The project is unique in a number of ways: (i) it would create the first ever strategic media legal defense fund, putting those who harm or threaten media workers on notice that they can expect a concerted legal response; (ii) it would apply emerging technological tools such as Ushahidi and FrontlineSMS and the power of social networking to media freedom challenges in Nepal; (iii) the initiative would use a range of transparency tools to place an emphasis on the responsibility of media workers to ply their trade within established professional Codes of Conduct and (iv) through an innovative approach to cascading training the Initiative can provide training to thousands of Nepalese media workers, including women and those from minority groups. Together these elements will break the cycle of the abuse of media freedoms, allowing the media to be a true foundation for democracy in Nepal. The MEDIA initiative would tap into technologies that are available now and establish two innovative online and mobile phone based information sharing platforms – one for media workers and one for the general public. It will train more than 2,000 media workers, set up Nepal’s first ever legal resource facility for journalists under threat or who have been victims of violence or corruption, and educate millions of Nepalese on media rights through dozens of print articles, national radio program episodes and a national television documentary. By combining simultaneous unique interventions within the media sector and through the public, courts and government, the MEDIA Initiative will ensure that the decade long successful growth of independent media in Nepal is a foundation for growing stability, not a victim of the forces threatening to tear Nepal apart.

Contact

Equal Access Nepal
Binaya Guragain
Jhamsikhel Lalitpur Kathmandu Nepal 446010
URL/Website – http://equalaccess.org.np