IREX
International Research & Exchanges Board

MSI Overview

IREX’s Media Sustainability Index (MSI) provides in-depth analyses of the conditions for independent media in 76 countries across Africa, Europe, Eurasia, and the Middle East. Since the Eurasian MSI was first conceived in 2000, in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the MSI has evolved into an important benchmark study to assess how media systems change over time and across borders. Since 2006, IREX has also produced an MSI for the Middle East and North Africa, with support from USAID, the US Department of State’s Middle East Policy Initiative, and UNESCO. In 2007 IREX launched the Africa MSI with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency, the World Bank Institute, and USAID. 


MSI 2008

MSI Europe and Eurasia 2008:
The Development of Sustainable Media in Europe and Eurasia

The MSI 2008 provides an analysis of the media environment in 21 countries of Europe and Eurasia during 2007 and together with previous versions shows trends in the media sector since 2001. Since the MSI was first conceived in 2000 and launched in 2001, in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), it has evolved into a key benchmark study to assess how media structures change over time and across borders.

MSI Africa 2006-7
The Development of Sustainable Media in Africa

Radio in Guinea

The first edition of the Africa Media Sustainability Index (MSI) represents the third region covered by the MSI, after its 2001 introduction to Europe and Eurasia and its introduction in 2005 to the Middle East and North Africa.

The Africa MSI has shown the durability and applicability of the objectives and indicators designed for the original MSI. Minor changes in the panelist and moderator instructions ensured our results embrace uniquely African features, including the prevalence of radio—notably community radio—found in many countries.

MSI 2005 - MENA

MSI Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

Drawing on its unique experience in developing a successful Media Sustainability Index (MSI) for Europe and Eurasia over the past five years, IREX is now expanding its in-depth analysis of the conditions for independent media to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The first MENA MSI provides critical benchmark data and probing analysis of evolving media systems in the 18 countries of the region.


Methodology

The MSI assesses five “objectives” in shaping a successful media system:

  1. Legal and social norms protect and promote free speech and access to public information.
  2. Journalism meets professional standards of quality.
  3. Multiple news sources provide citizens with reliable and objective news.
  4. Independent media are well-managed businesses, allowing editorial independence.
  5. Supporting institutions function in the professional interests of independent media.

These objectives were judged to be the most important aspects of a sustainable and professional independent media system and served as the criteria against which countries were rated. A score was attained for each objective by rating seven to nine indicators, which determine how well a country meets that objective. The objectives, indicators, and scoring system
are presented below. More about MSI Methodology

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