Media development is an important aspect of democracy as it promotes democratic discourse through the support of independent and free media. Organisations and donors typically include support for media development as part of their overall democratic development support, and common methods for the development of independent media include journalist education and training, as well as support and advice for the strengthening of the business and legal environment for media outlets.

1. DEVELOPMENT?
What Is Media
Professor Jake Lynch
is a pioneer of peace journalism, whose work on
politics and world affairs is published regularly in
publications such as the Byline Times.

2. What Is Media
Development?
Media development is an im-
portant aspect of democracy
as it promotes democratic dis-
course through the support of
independent and free media.
O
rganisations and do-
nors typically include
support for media
development as part
of their overall dem-
ocratic development support, and
common methods for the develop-
ment of independent media include
journalist education and training, as
well as support and advice for the
strengthening of the business and
legal environment for media outlets.

3. Making the industry more sustain-
able, developing infrastructure and
monitoring development are all im-
portant factors of a media develop-
ment programme.
UNESCO Media Development
Indicators
UNESCO’s International Programme
for the Development of Communica-
tions has designed a set of media de-
velopment indicators for use in the
assessment of media environments
at the national level.
Used in countries around the world,
these indicators are applied to iden-
tify and assess the individual na-
tion’s needs in terms of media-relat-
ed policies, as well as being used to
improve the targeting of media de-
velopment efforts.

4. Professor Jake Lynch
For further information about media de-
velopment and peace journalism, visit the
blog of Professor Jake Lynch.