Media and Development - RNW - Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Another issue is the influx of non-media professionals into the world of media.
With the rising popularity of internet, the production and publication of news
and information is quite easy for almost anybody. Internet offers a cheap and
accessible platform, and a news site can be set up almost on an individual basis.
Citizens can take up a role as journalists and report directly on issues and events
that are important to them without mediation of a journalist or the risk of being
censored. This offers opportunities for development and social change. But at the
same time it may lead to a lowering of standards and to the undermining of norms
of ethical and professional conduct. It makes it harder for audiences to be able
to distinguish media with a serious commitment to inform and educate from less
serious and reliable media.
Reliability and accountability can be served with explicit ethical norms for media
and journalists, established in a Code of Conduct. In analogy with for example the
oil industry, media houses can formulate their core values and responsibilities
towards the society they serve, set up systems for accountability and in that
respect present themselves as ‘sustainable media’.
The main points of action suggested by this group were to:
· establish and exchange best practices for ‘responsible’ media: media that
recognize their impact on society and that can be held accountable for the
consequences of their programmes and publications
· develop business models for the setting up and running of independent media
organizations in developing countries and countries in transition
· develop standards and models for ‘sustainable media’, addressing issues as
accountability and transparency, responsible reporting.
2. Involving children and young people in media
Children and young people form a vulnerable group in developing countries. They
are dependent on adults for their access to the basics of life such as food, housing
and education. Educating and informing children is important to support children
and young people to take up their rightful position in society. For the development
of communities and societies the involvement and contribution of children and
young people is vital.
Media can play a role in this by empowering young people and children. Media
should be stimulated to involve children actively in the production of programmes
and the reporting of issues: to work with children, instead of reporting about children.
32 Media and Development | Chapter 6
Exploring options and opportunities 33