IREX
International Research & Exchanges Board

IREX Publishes Its First Media Sustainability Index

MSI 2001

IREX is pleased to present the Media Sustainability Index (MSI), which analyzes and measures the current status and sustainability of independent media systems in 20 countries throughout Europe and Eurasia 1. The MSI was designed in collaboration with USAID over the past year as a tool to measure the current state of media development, as well as assess changes in media systems over time. Research and panel discussions for the country chapters were undertaken in May and June of 2001.

Other Surveys and Research Studies of Media Systems
Several surveys and research studies have examined particular aspects of media systems, most notably the paramount indicator of a healthy media system, freedom of speech. The Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom House, and others have prepared widely used and respected surveys and reports on aspects of free speech. IREX and USAID often rely on these surveys for analysis and assessment, and we also drew on them in developing the MSI.

MSI: A Broader Tool for Assessing the State of the Independent Media
However, the healthy and sustainable development of free and independent media depends on more than just free speech. IREX and USAID determined the need to develop a broader tool-one that would help media development professionals assess the state of independent media in a given country.

  • The MSI seeks to measure these and other factors that characterize a sustainable independent media system.
  • Free and independent media must operate as sound businesses to avoid both the need for sponsors and patrons who may have political motives, and the possible capitulation to government pressure.
  • Media outlets and journalists must be supported by trade and professional associations that represent their interests and protect the values of free speech and independence.
  • Media outlets and journalists must employ sound professional and ethical journalistic and editorial practices to ensure the ability of citizens and policymakers to gather the information necessary to participate in democratic and free-market institutions.

MSI Model Applicable to Any Country in the World
IREX also designed the MSI to be applied to any country in the world. Countries with advanced independent media, such as the United States and many Western European countries, can be assessed with the MSI; so too can repressive states such as Belarus or states in Asia, Latin America, or Africa. This first iteration of the MSI was targeted at European and Eurasian countries where USAID has significant media projects.

MSI Methodology and Research Processes
Conducting the research and preparing the analysis for 20 countries was a difficult undertaking. For each country a panel consisting of representatives drawn from local media, NGOs, USAID, and other international or local media actors gathered to measure their country's performance against the MSI indicators. The moderator or an IREX representative wrote up the findings of the discussion panel; the analysis in this report is based on the moderator's summary. IREX field and DC media development staff also separately analyzed each country's performance against the indicators. The ratings of the discussion panel and IREX were averaged to obtain the scores contained in this report. We believe this approach provides a unique and comprehensive view of media development, combining the perspectives of media "insiders" in each country with those of international and local media development professionals.

1 Although Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo are legally part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, they were analyzed as distinct countries. Over the past several years, Kosovo has operated under UN supervision while Montenegro has operated as a separate country in many respects, including in its relations to media. This does not represent a political opinion on the current or future political status of FRY or its constituent members on the part of IREX or USAID.

Excerpted from the Introduction to the 2001 Media Sustainability Index.

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