Research Findings about Organisations Engaging in Media Assistance in the Fields of Journalism Training, Civil Society Support, and Good Governance

This literature review from Media Conflict and DEMocratisation (MeCoDEM) provides a systematic overview of findings on media assistance in the fields of journalism training, civil society support, and good governance. MeCoDEM is a research programme comparing and contrasting different types of democratisation conflicts across 4 countries: Egypt, Kenya, Serbia, and South Africa. MeCoDEM's overall goals are to: propose recommendations for conflict-sensitive journalistic practices and ethics; suggest communication interventions for governments and political leaders as to how to use strategic communication to moderate polarisation and enhance social cohesion; assist communities and political activists in adopting effective communication strategies to make their voice heard and to broaden participation; and provide knowledge and skills on the effective use of new information and communication technologies (ICTs) as tools for conflict prevention and conflict management. (See Related Summaries, below.) The review covers both academic accounts as well as "grey literature" from media assistance organisations (MAOs), democracy development organisations (DDOs), and public bodies in order to shed light on approaches, goals, and measures in media development practice. The authors also identify concrete reference points for future research activities towards developing an understanding of modern-day capacity building for journalists, activists, and governments in conflict arenas.

MeCoDEM acts on the assumption that the media cannot be sufficiently understood in isolation, but have to be seen as part of an arena of public communication that is occupied by multiple actors, each of whom is trying to shape the interpretations and outcomes of ongoing conflicts. Therefore, the project investigates how different conflict parties - governments, political parties, and political activists - communicate during conflict situations, as well as how and to what effect they use traditional journalistic media and new ICTs to achieve their goals. In that context, the literature review identifies relevant aspects to be investigated during MeCoDEM interviews with MAOs, DDOs, and policymakers. First of all, it looks at overall trends in development cooperation in order to carve out the territory MeCoDEM is addressing (Section 1). Thereafter, this review narrows its focus on media assistance in conflict-ridden contexts - in general (Section 2) and then specifically in the area of journalism training (Section 3), the area of skills development for civil society actors (Section 4), and the area of skills development for political leaders (Section 5). Each section outlines what is the state of current development cooperation in this area (implementation, lessons learnt etc.), what special challenges and opportunities there are, and how this relates to MeCoDEM's research interest in democratisation conflicts.

Selected points to emerge:

• In the area of theoretical trends in development cooperation, the shift in media development in the past few decades can be summarised as one that has moved from a rather technical and paternalistic "we know best" approach to a more holistic one that recognises local expertise and focuses on the contexts and the complexities of social change. In general, "participation" has crystallised as the preferred communication strategy by a number of international development organisations. The participatory paradigm envisages beneficiaries to be actively involved in project-cycle stages, while development specialists act as facilitators and equal participants, rather than decision-makers. (To what extent this paradigm holds also on a practical level is up to examination.)
• The reviewed literature differentiates between linear and relational approaches to development as regards overall trends in development cooperation. Today, conceptualisations of development as a linear process of cause and effect have widely been replaced by relational approaches which emphasise local expertise and the contexts and complexities of social change.
• The literature emphasises the importance of accounting for specific needs when it comes to media assistance in conflict-ridden contexts. The reviewed recommendations boil down to establishing communication between different actors (such as oppositional players or media and public professionals) and to institutionalising this communication in the form of round-tables, press conferences, or other modi vivendi of dealing with one another in a democratic way.
• Two aspects are salient throughout the reviewed areas "journalism training", "capacity building for civil society actors", and "capacity building for political leaders": The need for multi-stakeholder dialogue and an emphasis on creating awareness of the general value of communication. For example, multi-stakeholder workshops are put forward in the literature as a means to bring journalists, political staff, and civil society actors together against the background of a core lack of trust between these actors. The workshops are considered to be a way to provide room for these actors to develop an understanding of their distinct roles in a democracy and to develop respect for each other's expertise. However, the literature also highlights that a multi-stakeholder approach itself involves potential for conflict and thus requires much experience to ensure a non-confrontational working atmosphere.
• Differences across the reviewed areas seem rooted in the amount of practical experience gained so far with the respective group of beneficiaries. Future research is well advised to adapt its focus accordingly. Examining "best practices" is especially relevant when it comes to journalism training. An understanding of support offered to activists can be gained by identifying specific challenges to civil society organisations (CSOs). When it comes to capacity building for governments, it seems especially informative to address the standing of improved communication skills within established training structures.