Media Sustainability Index (MSI) - Middle East & North Africa (MENA)

Introduction

Download MSI MENA 2005:

• Introduction
• Executive Summary
• Methodology
  

Policymakers, development specialists, and civil-society leaders and professionals in transitioning countries increasingly recognize the state of media as a key element of the development agenda, not only in the democracy and governance sectors but also in such fields as economic growth, poverty reduction, health, youth, and gender.

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. With the generous support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the first MENA MSI provides critical benchmark data and probing analysis of evolving media systems in the 18 countries of the region.

Policymakers, development specialists, and civil-society leaders and professionals in transitioning countries increasingly recognize the state of media as a key element of the development agenda, not only in the democracy and governance sectors but also in such fields as economic growth, poverty reduction, health, youth, and gender. The MSI is designed to assist in advancing development in all these areas by analyzing the elements of each country’s media system and highlighting where intervention can be most effective in promoting a sustainable and professional media system.

The debut MSI for the MENA region provides a starting point for an ongoing assessment. For most of the media professionals who participated in their country panels, this was their first opportunity to evaluate the complex array of elements that comprise a media sector. In some countries, direct or more subtle pressures on moderators and panelists required that the process be conducted “virtually” rather than through an actual, on-the-ground panel. Given the eclectic blend of media in the MENA region, the differing pace of media development, and the novelty of the process, we believe that with each subsequent publication of the MSI we will gain valuable, comparative data within each country and across the region as a whole.

IREX would like to thank all those who contributed to the publication of the Middle East North Africa Media Sustainability Index 2005. Participants and moderators for each country, listed after each chapter, provided the primary observations and analysis
for this project. In many cases, their involvement represented a public commitment to press freedom and a stronger media sector. At IREX, Theo Dolan, Drusilla Menaker, and Mark Whitehouse provided analytical and editorial support to the project. IREX field staff and partners in the region provided either logistical support or participated in panels as members or moderators. Theo Dolan managed the overall implementation of the project.

Mark Koenig at USAID and Jacquelyn Johnstone at the US Department of State provided important assistance for the study. Both individuals and their organizations are essential supporters of independent media and advocates for the MSI as an
analytical tool for development professionals.

Additionally, UNESCO provided support for implementing the MSI in Iraq on both the national and regional levels.

We hope you will find this report useful, and we welcome any feedback.

Sincerely,

Mark G. Pomar
President, IREX

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