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

MSI Middle East & North Africa 2005

The MENA MSI was supported by:

• US Agency for International Development (USAID)
• US State Department’s Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)
• United Nations’ Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Introduction

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.

• Read MSI MENA Introduction (HTML)
• Download the MSI MENA

Executive Summary

The first MSI for the Middle East and North Africa shows a region not yet advanced toward a robust, independent media sector, but it clearly detected the signals of change. The roadblocks are painfully evident in, as an example, the rebuilding of the Iraqi media. Although the absolute controls of the previous regime are gone, the MSI panelists said, not only do political leaders not understand the principles of media freedoms but citizens also do not understand the importance of media independence or act to defend it.

• Read MSI MENA Executive Summary (HTML)
• Download the MSI MENA Executive Summary (PDF)