INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SUPPORT Paving the way for good journalism ANNUAL REPORT 2017 2018

Published in Denmark by IMS in 2018

International Media Support (IMS) is a non-profit organisation that works to support local media in Contents countries affected by armed conflict, human insecu- rity and political transition . Across four continents IMS helps to strengthen professional journalism FOREWORD ...... 6 and ensure that media can operate in challenging circumstances . WHERE WE WORK ...... 8 mediasupport.org MEDIA GOES GLOCAL: LOCAL EXPERIENCES PROVIDE GLOBAL SOLUTIONS TO SAFETY ...... 11 facebook.com/InternationalMediaSupport twitter.com/forfreemedia CONNECTING WITH AUDIENCES THROUGH QUALITY JOURNALISM ...... 19

IMS editors: WOMEN IN MEDIA: FIGHTING TROLLS, NORMS AND THE OCCASIONAL BULLY ...... 27 Helle Wahlberg, Line Wolf Nielsen, Asger Gørup- Nielsen & Gerd Kieffer-Døssing THE CASE OF UKRAINE: COUNTERING DISINFORMATION ...... 32

Cover photo: Detained Myanmar journalist Wa Lone NEW VISUAL IDENTITY FOR IMS ...... 38 speaks to reporters while escorted by police to a court for his ongoing trial in Yangon on 20 April 2018 . A TRI-CITY CELEBRATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY ...... 40 Two Reuters journalists were arrested while inves- tigating a massacre of Rohingya Muslims, pushing FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 2017 ...... 42 ahead with a controversial prosecution that has sparked global outrage . Photo: Sai Aung Main/AFP IMS BOARD MEMBERS 2017 ...... 42

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA SUPPORT PAVING THE WAY FOR GOOD JOURNALISM

International Media Support is a non-profit organisation that works to support local media in countries affected by armed conflict, human insecurity and political transition .

We support the production and distribution of media content that meets­ internationally recognised ethical standards and work to ensure safe media environments with sound laws for journalists . We do this because citizens and leaders need information they can trust to make the decisions that ­develop their societies in a peaceful and democratic way .

mediasupport.org

Young girl in Hargeisa, Somaliland, accessing news and connections on Facebook, 2017 . Photo: Katrine Holt FOREWORD FOREWORD

Uniting to protect good journalism

“Just breathe .” Those were the words of a good our part in the Global Network Initiative, a forum for colleague in response to the question of how he global ICT companies like Google and Facebook and survived almost two decades in prison under an human rights groups that holds them to account on authoritarian regime in Myanmar for practicing his freedom of expression and privacy issues . right to freedom of speech . His answer was simple, but powerful . Because in it lies the motivation of This year’s Economist Intelligence Unit’s Democra- the individual to power on and guard the human cy Index also speaks of a global democratic demise, rights that are his – and ours . Rights to freedom of pointing to dwindling popular participation in politics; speech, media freedom and access to information declining trust in institutions; and a widening gap be- that citizens of the world have gained and agreed tween political elites and electorates . These are all is- on collectively . Rights, which in 2017 – 2018 unfor- sues that balanced, reliable and critical media have a tunately appeared to be in recession, in develop­ role in addressing – the type of media and journalism Jesper Højberg, IMS Executive Director . Photo: Rasmus Steen ing countries and in some of the world’s oldest that IMS seeks to strengthen and promote . democracies . ­different approaches to journalists’ safety have and allies through media and new technologies, the Media freedom and the right to freedom of ex- In IMS we will continue to do our part in played out in seven countries around the world . work of IMS becomes even more important . As the pression cannot be viewed in isolation of the glob- looking outwards, to help protect and None of these approaches are a one-size-fits-all . case of Ukraine shows in this report, disinformation al risks our world faces today . In fact, these rights But what they do have in common is a compre- is indeed a key feature of hybrid warfare – but has are inherently born out of the regional and global strengthen the institutions of global co- hensive approach­ that involves actors from state also come to dominate media discourse . Promot- frameworks that emerged after the Second World operation that we are part of and which to local­ authorities, media and civil society . In this ing quality journalism and the environments that War: from the United Nations and the Universal year’s report, we look at how local experiences can enable this, as well as bolstering the mechanisms Declaration of Human Rights, to the Sustainable provide a global framework. provide input to global solutions in efforts to im- that seek to counter mis- and disinformation, can Development Goals . They define the standards by prove the safety of journalists . contribute to fighting this trend . which we abide and inform the goals for which we strive . But global wealth disparity and inequality, But good quality journalism faces a crisis in the Attention to the unacceptable plight of female However, to make significant impact, govern- interconnected with other factors such as migra- onslaught of disinformation, increasing villainiza- journalists in terms of safety and harassment as ment actors, tech companies, media, civil ­society, tion, conflict and anti-establishment populism are tion by power holders and extremist groups, falling well as online cyberbullying especially came to light and news consumers must unite in a ­concerted challenging the very core of these institutions . We revenues and radical changes in news consump- in the wake of the global #MeToo campaign . As our approach to safeguard the human rights and see a shift in the focus of governments from an tion in the face of new online platforms and social work with female journalists in countries like Jor- democratic development we have fought hard to outward-looking stance seeking global agreements networks . In this year’s Annual Report, we seek to dan, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Somalia shows, achieve . The time is not to look inwards, but to to a more inward-looking approach that seeks to showcase some of the innovative approaches em- harassment of female journalists within the ­media engage­ globally. protect internal domestic interests first . ployed by our partners in Asia, Africa and the Mid- sector cannot be understood in isolation from oth- dle East to grow and engage with audiences while er forms of gender discrimination in society . Harsh In IMS we will continue to do our part in looking ensuring quality content and financial sustainability . economic conditions with lower salaries for women outwards, to help protect and strengthen the in- and cultural barriers that do not support women in stitutions of global cooperation that we are part of Good, critical journalism may come at great cost media jobs are all factors that contribute to the vul- and which provide a global framework . We do this to the individual journalist . Already now, 2018 is set nerability of women in the journalism trade . There by working both at the local level and at the glob- to become a bloody year for journalists with multi- are however ways in which to push for change in al level . Our push to boost the UNESCO-led UN Plan ple, targeted attacks on media workers in especial- practice and behaviour, as we illustrate in this year’s of Action for the Safety of Journalists and the Issue ly Afghanistan, but also in other parts of Asia, the annual report . of Impunity through our Global Safety Programme Middle East and South America . IMS’ analysis in its and through an alliance of like-minded media free- publication Defending Journalism around national In a so-called post-truth era where information is Jesper Højberg dom organisations is one such example . Another is safety mechanisms and best practices shows how used to misinform, confuse or influence adversaries IMS Executive Director

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ARIJ: In 2017, Arab Reporters for Investigative Syria: Together with Syrian media partners, IMS de- Journalism (ARIJ) supported a total of 65 inves- signed and carried out the Syria In Depth journalism pro- Where we work tigations out of which 14 were cross-border . ject . Over six months, 16 Syrian journalists based inside Programme countries and countries with smaller regionally linked projects One story led to talks in the Lebanese Parlia- and outside Syria were trained and cooperated on inves-

These are countries with full-scale IMS programmes, as well as countries in which we ment to draft a new law to end child marriage . tigative stories on issues from corruption to environment had small-scale activities that are tied to our regional engagement in the Middle East and North Africa. with subsequent national and international coverage .

Eastern Europe, Middle East Aria Asia the Cauasus North Aria Central Asia Russia: In the lead-up to Russia’s 2018 1 Burkina Faso 6 Afghanistan 11 Russia 13 Algeria 11 2 Mali 7 Myanmar 12 Serbia 14 Egypt presidential elections, an IMS-supported team 3 Niger 8 Pakistan 15 Iraq monitored Russian media’s election reporting 4 Somalia 9 Phillippines 16 Jordan showing an imbalanced coverage in favour of 5 Zimbabwe 10 Sri Lanka 17 Lebanon 18 Libya President Putin’s government . 19 Morocco Tunisia: Le Syndicat National des 20 Palestine Journalistes Tunisiens (SNJT) has 21 Syria developed the ‘Collective Agreement 22 Tunisia Iraq: A continuous message of peace 23 Yemen for the media in Tunisia’, which, once is being spread by a Mosul-based media finalised, will provide a framework network (neproo .net/blogs) of 30 male

Thematic countries and countries with short-term engagements that guarantees journalists’ rights . Original map: Mette Secher 1 and female journalists representing all These countries include those in which IMS was engaged primarily with thematic issues such ethnic and religious minorities . as safety of journalists or investigative journalism, and countries where we have short-term engagements. These countries are:

Cambodia, Colombia, The Gambia, Indonesia, Liberia, Kenya, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Turkey, Myanmar: The election of the first 1 Ukraine, Venezuela 1 1 6 ever Community Radio Council in the 19 0 Ayeyarwady region will help secure 16 8 better access to radio broadcasted 18 13 1 information for the region’s rural population . 3 3 9 1

10 Venezuela: IMS, together with the NGO Expresión Libre, has initiated a West Africa: Media and police dialogues series of dialogue meetings between organised by IMS and Media Foundation for government-friendly and opposition West Africa in Ghana (2016), Liberia (2017) media outlets to promote mutual and Sierra Leone (2018) to promote better ground for future news coverage . relations during elections resulted in a best practices report published in April 2018 . Pakistan: The Safety Hubs initiative for jour- nalists in Pakistan run by Freedom Network is expanding its base from five to eight press Colombia: IMS’s partner FLIP is Niger: IMS and CSC (le Conseil Supérieur de la clubs . The five clubs alone cover more than advo­cating for the need for media Communication) have secured the adoption of half of the country’s 20,000 journalists . houses in high-risk zones to a new law on advertising, which will be decisive Somalia: To help close the gender gap on incorporate safety protocols into their in how media can access advertising revenue . Wikipedia, nine new portraits of Somali business models . women with different expertise were made Afghanistan: Afghan Journalists Safety following a Women’s Day WikiGap event in Committee (AJSC) was named the Interna­ Mogadishu . tional Press Institute’s 2017 Free Media Pioneer for its work to support the Afghan journalist and media community .

Investigative journalism: New Google-­ Africa: The Migrant Voices project is training jour- supported digital platform developed with nalists from four African subregions in reporting on Danwatch strengthens reach of locally pro- migration issues, lending a voice to migrants . More duced investigative journalism by linking up the than 60 print, online, audio and video productions­ journalists with international media outlets . have been published .

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Programme countries and countries with smaller regionally linked projects These are countries with full-scale IMS programmes, as well as countries in which we had small-scale activities that are tied to our regional engagement in the Middle East and North Africa.

Eastern Europe, Middle East Aria Asia the Cauasus North Aria Central Asia 1 Burkina Faso 6 Afghanistan 11 Russia 13 Algeria 2 Mali 7 Myanmar 12 Serbia 14 Egypt 3 Niger 8 Pakistan 15 Iraq 4 Somalia 9 Phillippines 16 Jordan 5 Zimbabwe 10 Sri Lanka 17 Lebanon 18 Libya 19 Morocco 20 Palestine 21 Syria 22 Tunisia 23 Yemen

Thematic countries and countries with short-term engagements These countries include those in which IMS was engaged primarily with thematic issues such as safety of journalists or investigative journalism, and countries where we have short-term engagements. These countries are:

Cambodia, Colombia, The Gambia, Indonesia, Liberia, Kenya, Nepal, Sierra Leone, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela Safety of Journalists Media goes glocal: Local experiences provide global solutions to safety

By Robert Shaw

Too often attempts have been made to unilaterally pushed for prosecutions in cases where journalists push safety policies and resolutions for journalists have been killed or attacked and in other ways im- from a global level down to the national one . Too proved security for journalists . often assumptions are made based on what should work as opposed to what does work . These countries still remain immensely dangerous­ for media practitioners . Many of the initiatives Here we take a critical look at one of the oldest na- featured have flaws . They struggle with a lack of tional safety mechanisms and one of the newest capacity and political will to address impunity, vola­ national safety mechanisms to see how the 21st tile political and security environments, weak or century global safety debate has evolved and how corrupt law and order institutions and divisions local experiences can and should lead this debate . within media communities, among other hurdles . But their accomplishments make the case that BRIDGING THE GAPS concerted efforts through national coalitions and With nine UN resolutions on the safety of jour- partnerships or under state-led safety mechanisms nalists and the issue of impunity passed over the can build a safer climate in which the media can past five years, the first steps have been taken to work . They exhibit a variety of good practices to in- In July 2017, International Media Support and the Afghan Journalists Safety Commitee and SEPAR International raise these issues at a global level, but still this is form comprehensive, action-oriented strategies for conducted a three-day ‘war reporters’ course . Afghan not translating into enough tangible action on the stakeholders to adapt . journalists were delivered a holistic curriculum that covered ground at national level . In fact, it took four years physical, medical, psycho-social and digital security . for HRC Resolution 33/21 to break new ground, by This comprehensive approach means involving a Photo: SEPAR International calling on States to take action on speci­fic issues wide range of actors from the state and the me- including arbitrary detentions, encryption, digital dia, but also building on a wide range of strategic security and gender-based attacks . UN Member­ measures – from short-term training activities to States now need to show their commitment to building national and regional safety alliances and ensuring these resolutions and monitoring reports state-led safety mechanisms – tailored to the lo- translate into operational change on the ground in cal context . Until recently, this has not been suffi- their respective countries, so that journalists may ciently recognised or pursued aggressively enough do their jobs as society’s watchdogs without fear- by neither the UN nor governments and interna- ing for their safety . tional media support organisations . Much of this work involves identifying constantly changing gaps As part of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of in these systems and working with local partners Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, IMS’ analy- to connect the dots so these gaps can be either sis in its recent Defending Journalism2 publication bridged or closed . around safety mechanisms and best practices, show how different approaches to journalist safety have RETHINKING THE COLOMBIAN “MODEL” played out in countries like Afghanistan, Colombia, Between 2015 and 2017, in Colombia, IMS’ long- Indonesia, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines . term partner the Fundación para la Libertad de Combined, the safety efforts in these countries Prensa known by the Spanish acronym, FLIP, have directly rescued more than 1,000 journalists ­decided to both break away from the much-touted­ menaced by terrorists, other armed groups, crimi­ state-led safety mechanism set up at the turn of nal networks and powerful individuals, many in the century and at the same time focus more on posi­tions of authority in their countries . They saved embedding safety within the newsrooms of the hundreds of others from prison or ­crippling fines, Andean country’s media .

11 Safety of Journalists Safety of Journalists

According to the FLIP’s safety expert Jonathan fire, but not to prevent the next case from occur- Bock, global expectation continues to back some- ring and even less so to understand its causes,” what blindly the process, without any real critical says Bock . analysis . Little recognition has been overtly made that what worked in 2000 might not still work 15 LOCAL EXPERIENCES GOING GLOBAL or 20 years later . Taking time to step back and ask the right ques- tions about the right issues is key . Learning from In 2015, Reporters without Borders (RSF) and Fecolp- what works and what doesn’t work has to be the er called for an overhaul of the flawed mechanism­ litmus test for the international community . as part of the Periodismo en Riesgo (Journalism in “This is key, and we are convinced that the analy- Danger) campaign,3 joining the FLIP to pinpoint is- sis of local experiences is extremely valuable,” says sues of inadequate funding, corruption, bad deci- Bock . He explains that the kidnapping and killing sion-making, difficulties with evaluating risks and of two Ecuadorian journalists and their driver by choosing appropriate responses, and unjustified de- a FARC faction earlier this year in Colombia meant lays . But still, significant lessons remain unlearned that the first thing their Ecuadorian colleagues outside of Colombian circles . from the Quito-based El Comercio newspaper want to see are the lessons learned from the Colombian “The Colombian national mechanism inadvertent- and Mexican mechanisms to figure out what their ly showcased protection as a synonym for safety organisations have learned the hard way . without including the prevention or prosecution factors,” says Bock . “This meant that the Colom­ The FLIP has indeed helped other organisations bian design was copied and pasted into the Mexican ­figure out what really works and provided direct mechanism, replicating the same mistakes” . support to help their Somali colleagues in 2016 as they had just begun developing a new media indus- According to FLIP’s Jonathan Bock, a former try and media support safety mechanism . ­Semana magazine editor, the new approach of the “There was a time when there was no system gov- Pakistani journalists and politicians pray for the journalists who were killed in the line of duty as they mark World Press Freedom Day in Islamabad, Pakistan, 3 May 2018 . Photo: Sohail Shahzad/EPA UN Plan of Action4 is a game changer, not because erning the country, be it local, regional or federal . it contributes to better protection but because it The only thing you could deal with was clan mili- opens the global safety discussion to other ele- tias, warlords, pirates and terrorist groups like Al- ments such as justice and the importance of involv- Shabab,” says Abukar Albadri, programme advisor CASE | SAFETY HUBS – SAVING LIVES OF PAKISTANI JOURNALISTS ing other actors, such as the media itself . for the IMS-FOJO Somali Media Programme . “As a journalist doing your day-to-day work, you have to In mid-2017 a young journalist “I am alive today because of the arrested, and harassed . The level Since October last year, the FLIP has been trying to learn to survive within this mix .” based in Pakistan’s troubled tribal Safety Hub, which relocated me of impunity is high – only the renegotiate the basic premise of the mechanism to areas bordering Afghanistan was [within Pakistan] or I would have ­killers of two journalists have been anticipate risks and include judicial investigations LOCAL SAFETY TRAINING BUILDS TRUST confronted by a local cleric and been lynched for sure,” says the identified and convicted . and prosecutions . Over the past two years, IMS-FOJO has slowly but accused of being blasphemous journalist, who is unnamed in this “The Colombian mechanism became a body that surely worked with local and international part- in one of his reports . Blasphemy article due to security reasons . In 2015, IMS established Safety assigned security measures but did not investi- ners to build up trust across an extremely polarised ­carries a mandatory death penalty “My family did not have the re- Hubs at Pakistan’s five largest gate or work on prevention, a term that in terms ­media sector . Since 2012, when a new internation- under Pakistani law and even alle­ sources to resist [the local pres- press clubs whose members in of public policy had little meaning . By this I mean ally-backed government was installed, Somalia has gations can put lives in danger . sure against my alleged crime] total comprise of over half of the that the mechanism was designed to put out a been inching towards stability, but the new author- and there is no mechanism [in the country’s 20,000 journalists . Due ities still face a challenge from Al Qaeda-aligned Sensing trouble as an angry crowd tribal areas] that helps journal- to its effectiveness, another three ­Al-Shabab insurgents and ISIS . gathered near his house, he im- ists,” he adds . press clubs joined the Safety Hubs “In some of the regions, they control everything, mediately called the IMS-sup- Network in early 2018 . Manned by “There was a time when there and journalists simply cannot go there,” says Al- ported Journalist Safety Hub at Mashal Khan, a blogger in Mardan managers trained in rapid threat was no system governing the badri . “And even in the other regions they can still Peshawar Press Club close to the close to Peshawar, was lynched response, along with communica- reach and kill anyone and make threats,” he added . tribal areas where the hub man- and killed in April 2017 on blas- tion and logistics resources, the country, be it local, regional or “They target and threaten journalists that don’t ager, trained in threat response, phemy charges, which later were hubs have provided legal, medical, federal. The only thing you could tell the stories they want to be heard . And they kill promptly mobilized help to whisk proven false in court . and relocation assistance to over them if they resist .” him to safety to Peshawar . From 90 journalists so far . It is estimat- deal with was clan militias, here, the case was referred to the Pakistan is one of the world’s ed that the lives of at least 40 of warlords, pirates and terrorist To help mitigate this, over the past two years IMS Pakistan Journalists Safety Fund most dangerous places to practice these journalists have been saved and FOJO have trained over 300 journalists in tai- (PJSF), another IMS-supported ini­ journalism . Since 2000 at least 117 by relocating them from conflict groups like Al-Shabab.” lor-made safety workshops and Albadri says the tia­­tive, which urgently helped re­ journalists and media assistants zones and often imminent mortal – Abukar Albadri, programme advisor for the journalists have become very good at analysing locate him to another city at a safe have been killed . Over 2,000 have threat . IMS-FOJO Somali Media Programme physical and digital threats and monitoring risks . house where he remains . been attacked, injured, abducted,

12 13 Safety of Journalists

Afghan journalists stand in front of the broken glass of a shop at the site of a suicide bombing in Kabul, Afghanistan, 29 August 2017 . Photo: Rahmat Gul/AP

more so than for the media industry itself . At a ­global level, the debate often centers on the idea that the industry doesn’t want to invest in safety and this as- sumption leads to the analysis that journalists don’t have the means to apply safety measures or make use of safety mechanisms because no formal safety protocols exist within their media houses .

In the case of Colombia this assumption doesn’t hold up against what actually works . “We’ve learned that it was a misconceived idea that the media industry doesn’t want to develop inter- nal safety protocols,” says Bock . “To presume that media owners simply don’t want to put hard cash into newsroom safety is largely false .” “From big national outlets based in the major cities of Colombia down to small news outfits and com- munity radios in high risk border zones, over the past two years we’ve seen that owners do want to put money into safety,” said Bock .

So far, seven of seventeen media outlets have ­successfully begun the process of restructuring their “To presume that media owners ing safety alliances to state dialogue and safety without leaving anyone behind .” This is not easy in a internal machinery from corporate governance to training in Somalia,” details Albadri . “We made sure country like Somalia where clan politics alone set the differential risk analysis and physical/digital security . simply don’t want to put hard cash that these trainings were also tied into work build- inclusive bar quite high . “They want to be involved, to know what the UN into newsroom safety is largely false ing up greater understanding between journalists safety plan is all about and who is doing what in- and the local authorities . Unlike the 90s when no Ironically, Albadri explains that much of the success ternationally on journalists’ safety,” says Bock . “The [in the case of Columbia].” trust existed, we worked with reporters to help of the local safety system in Somali comes down to industry’s interest is real, and this is about finally – Jonathan Bock, FLIP safety expert them understand that they could be independent keeping out of the media limelight and just getting realising that much of the issue of prevention and and still have a good working relationship with on with things slowly but surely . protection of journalists is in their own hands .” the government, in particular the federal security “The SMSJ [Somali Mechanism for Safety of Jour- During the 2012 presidential and parliamentary ­forces . Now the journalists can move with less risk nalists] will get some coverage, but we try not to CRACKING THE IMPUNITY NUT elections in Somalia, more than eleven radio sta- and cover more than before . Now, unlike before, overdo it given there are a lot of sensitivities,” he However, along with prevention and protection, tions were shut down by the government and local they know what to do and how to survive” . says . “We also make sure that the core of the work the crucial elements of prosecution and impunity authorities for reporting stories on the elections . is done by Somalis and that’s why the local safety remain a major challenge for the media sector . Eight journalists were arrested and six were killed . Somali local media dynamics are very complex and training is organised and moved forward by local “Without an investigative arm or an ability to Four years later in the run-in to the 2016 presiden- thorough risk assessments around the media and partners and local journalists . In this way, ultimate- ­punish the intellectual authors of the crime, the tial (which was in the end postponed until 2017) and political situation need to be carried out before ly they help themselves and we’re just there [in the UNP [Colombia’s National Protection Unit or UNP parliamentary elections not one media house was inte­rnational organisations try to provide support . background] to support them . The local partners as its known by its Spanish acronym] evades dealing shut down and no journalists were killed . “Many of According to Albadri, this doesn’t always happen . need to be empowered and have as much owner- with the underlying issue or threat,” details Bock . the journalists we trained were frontline election “Since 2015, we’ve waited patiently until all local ship of the process as possible,” says Albadri . “Keeping journalists on a protection payroll for reporters,” says Albadri . partners were on the same page and happy with the more than ten years is not a solution .” safety mechanism,” he explains . “Before moving we LOCAL MEDIA INDUSTRIES WANT TO “We got support from our Colombian colleagues at make assessments of the ever-changing political and INVEST IN SAFETY To tackle this issue, the FLIP decided to focus on the FLIP as well as partners from Afghanistan to safety context using information from all sides . We FLIP’s safety expert Jonathan Bock agrees that supporting the case of journalist Luis Antonio Per- support us and learn about what works from build- try to stay on top of change and involve everyone ownership­ of the safety process is key and none alta Cuéllar, who was murdered in February 2015

14 15 Safety of Journalists Safety of Journalists

According to Bock, in February 2018, a court in CONNECTING THE LOCAL AND NOTES Florencia, the capital of Caquetá, handed down a GLOBAL AGENDAS Defending Journalism, a global 1 HRC Resolution 33/2 The safety of journalists (2016) . sentence of 58 years and three months against the Both the UN Plan of Action and IMS acknowledge study by International Media 2 International Media Support (2017) . Support was launched in man who shot Peralta . “This is a milestone in the that the task is complex and that relevant actors 3 FLIP (2015) . November 2017 and analyses history of crimes against journalists .” need to develop strategies, which are comprehen- 4 UN Plan of Action on the safety of journalists and the issue of the efforts to safeguard He explains that while it’s not a silver bullet response, sive and able to address the complexity of threats journalists in seven countries impunity (2012) . where environments of conflict but it does show how simple deficiencies within the against journalists . These range from reactive 5 CPJ (N .A .) . and instability challenge the state system can be resolved and critical cracks start measures, from assistance to journalists in distress, 6 OHCHR (2017) . ability of journalists to produce to appear in the unbreakable wall of impunity . to preventive measures, such as advocacy, training critical, in-depth journalism . “I don’t see this success as a coincidence and it and particular focus on ending impunity through ­certainly gives us a way forward,” says Bock . effective judicial measures . BIBLIOGRAPHY Still, for this comprehensive approach to work it is CPJ (N .A .) 50 journalists killed in Somalia [Online] . Available from: In Somalia, even the prosecution of individual cases key that a constant back-and-forth connection is https://cpj .org/data/killed/?status=Killed&motiveConfirmed%5B%5D=- is very difficult . maintained between national and global agendas . Confirmed&type%5B%5D=Journalist&cc_fips%5B%5D=SO&start_ year=2007&end_year=2018&group_by=year [Accessed 22 May 2018] . “The judicial system in Somalia is not yet well estab­ lished,” says Albadri . “Not many cases have been FLIP (2015) . Colombia . Programme for protecting journalists needs overhaul . [Online] . Available from: https://flip .org .co/index .php/ ­investigated and brought to justice .” By connecting safety into the wider en/public-statements/item/1818-colombia-programme-protect- in the southern town of Doncello in Caquetá state . Over the past decade, CPJ reports that at least 50 jour- ing-journalists-needs-overhaul [Accessed 22 May 2018] . 5 global agenda, the recommenda­ “We took the case from the very beginning, design- nalists have been killed in Somalia in the line of duty . HRC Resolution 33/2 The safety of journalists (2016) . [Online] . Avail- ing a strategy that includes legal representation, “There’s not much we can do here unless the police tions stress the need for countries able from: https://documents-dds-ny .un .org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/ advocacy and research, which can be a formula that or judiciary release the reports of the investigations G16/226/24/PDF/G1622624 .pdf?OpenElement [Accessed 22 May 2018] . guarantees the greatest possible pressure for the to the media house or the family of the journalist to develop their own safety State to ensure justice,” says Bock . in question,” says Albadri . International Media Support (2017) . Defending Journalism: How ­mechanisms to protect journalists national mechanisms can protect journalists and address the issue of impunity . [Online] . Denmark: International Media Support . Available and end impunity. from: https://www .mediasupport .org/publication/defending-journal- ism/ [Accessed 22 May 2018] . This underscores the importance of the latest UN OHCHR (2017) . UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the position in June last year,6 where UNESCO and the Issue of Impunity . [Online] . Available from: http://www .ohchr .org/EN/ Issues/SafetyOfJournalists/Pages/SafetyOfJournalists .aspx [Accessed CASE | MEDIA AND POLICE: A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP OHCHR, with input from CSOs working on the safe- 22 May 2018] . ty of journalists, amongst these IMS, issued action-­ UN Plan of Action on the safety of journalists and the issue of im- During elections both media and A report published in May 2018 by oriented recommendations to ensure States deliver punity (2012) . [Online] . Available from: http://www .unesco .org/new/ security forces play important IMS, MFWA and ECOWAS gathers tangible results around the protection of journalists . fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CI/CI/pdf/official_documents/UN-Plan-on- roles . Unfortunately, there is often the best practices and results of the By connecting safety into the wider global agenda, Safety-Journalists_EN_UN-Logo .pdf [Accessed 22 May 2018] . an inability for the two parties to dialogues . During or following the the recommendations stress the need for countries fully appreciate the function of one elections in Ghana in 2016 and Li- to develop their own safety mechanisms to pro- another . In a West African context beria in 2017 there were no reports tect journalists and end impunity for crimes against this has too often resulted in clash- of election-related attacks of jour- them . Here, States will need to boost their own es and mutual distrust with the nalists (at the time of writing there internal lines of communication as well as work media viewing the security forces was no data available on ­Sierra closely back and forth with both the media industry as oppressors of free speech and ­Leone), and in Liberia both the me- and civil society . the security forces seeing the me- dia and the police noted that the dia as reckless and with no regard elections had been more transpar- for the security of the state . ent than previously . In Ghana, there have been calls to replicate the di- Voters and soldiers argue on the military presence at the To improve this problematic rela- alogue forum across the country polling stations in Freetown on 31 March 2018 during tionship, IMS together with Me- to ensure that police and media the second round of Sierra Leone’s presidential elections . ABOUT THE AUTHOR Photo: Issouf Sanogo/AFP dia Foundation for West Africa nationwide were on the same page . Robert Shaw works as Global Safety (MFWA), and in cooperation with Programme (GSP) manager for IMS . He is a ECOWAS, initiated police-media di- Sulemana Braimah, Executive Di­ safety specialist with 15 years of experience alogue sessions in connection with rector­­­ of MFWA, says of the project: One of the future practices sug- supporting journalists at risk . An Irish former the elections in Ghana (2016), Libe- “With better mutual understand- gested by a Ghanaian police of- investigative journalist, Robert Shaw also ria (2017), and Sierra Leone (2018) . ing, security forces can carry out ficial as an outcome of dialogues has extensive experience reporting on conflict The goal was to get the two par- their mission of maintaining pub- was that police corps should have and humanitarian beats, with a focus on ties to talk and build mutual un- lic order while respecting freedom a dedicated media engagement Latin America . derstanding for one another’s roles of expression and the safety of strategy and personnel to handle in securing free and fair elections . journalists .” media requests .

16 17 SUSTAINING QUALITY JOURNALISM Connecting with audiences through quality journalism

By Michelle Betz

“If journalism serves a core democratic function, optimised for them and read only about their spe- without which democracy itself is all but inconceiv- cific interests .5 This democratisation of information able, then journalistic excellence must also factor is essentially a positive development, but can have into the quality of democracy .” 1 great negative consequences if it runs unchecked . The fact is that quality and news media are becom- Journalism’s crisis of credibility, public trust and ing more vulnerable to manipulation and capture .6 rele­vance continues to threaten fact-based, quality journalism more than ever . But what is quality jour- One might also ask whether quality journalism is nalism, why the crisis, and how can media devel- losing ground to niche or stakeholder-driven media, opment organisations support partners to ensure which Mark Lee Hunter defines as: “media created that they reconnect to audiences around the world, and controlled by communities of practice and in- particularly in conflict-affected environments or terest” and stakeholders as “people who affect or those with closing space? are affected by issues and organisations .”7 Howev- er, if we revert to this article’s definition of quali- Defining quality journalism can lead to substantial ty in that it represents the ability of journalism to debate . However, for the purposes of this article we fulfill its functions of serving the public, there is no believe that “quality represents the ability of jour- reason that niche or stakeholder-driven media can- nalism to fulfill its functions” 2. And those functions not be considered quality journalism – as long as it include serving the public as watchdog and provid- serves the public . ing a public forum for discussion . Quality journalism is also fact-based and fact-driven . Also pertinent is the issue of objectivity . Bolette Blaagaard, for example, notes that “journalistic ob- This crisis in fact-driven, quality journalism is due to jectivity is a set of practices that provide an ethical a number of factors, as the dynamics of the me- evaluation and interpretation, grounded in the par- dia eco-system are changing considerably . The me- ticular situation and specific to the news-medium dia are no longer exclusive holders of power in the for which the journalist works [emphasis added] .”8 media eco-system while the power the audience Blaagaard goes on to say that the entire notion wields is perhaps greater than ever because of tech- of objectivity is constantly negotiated, something nology and social media’s enormous influence . The that should be monitored as IMS continues its work digitalisation of news media has enabled changes in in areas of closing space . news production as well as in news consumption, both on the level of individual practices as well as So what can media houses do to address this mul- organisational and social .3 ti-faceted crisis and ensure quality journalism and reconnect with audiences? Today, journalists and editors compete with mul- tiple other platforms for market share – be that KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE in terms of ratings, circulation or ad revenue . The A crucial element of media development is adapting trend has therefore been to prioritise “the popular to the local context which includes understanding over the pertinent, the racy over the relevant, the the media environment and the audience . Content­ weird over the worthy” .4 In addition, the speed with providers need to know and understand not only which the web has allowed for targeted content the needs of their audience but more fundamental- and fragmentation of audiences means that audi- ly, who their audience is . Knowing and understand- ences can search, and readily find, content that is ing the audience as individuals and ­communities

A journalist from Dounia TV station in Niamey, Niger, reports on the state of media on Niger’s national press freedom day, November 2016 . Photo: Jane Møller Larsen/IMS 19 SUSTAINING QUALITY JOURNALISM SUSTAINING QUALITY JOURNALISM

CASE | KALFADHI CONNECTS YOUNG SOMALIS WITH THEIR PALIAMENTARIANS

The level of knowledge about the need to have people with strong the effect it has on Somalia’s po- political system in Somalia is con- understanding of these issues to litical workings that many MPs are cerningly low amongst the coun- help prevent the kind of bad gov- involved in private businesses or try’s young population . Kalfadhi, a ernance that we have been through live outside the country . new, independent news outlet fo- in the past,” says Abdullahi Aydarus . cusing on Somali politics, aims to Hassan Aweys proudly states that change that . Hosted by IMS-Fojo And Kalfadhi is certainly striking a it makes him happy to work for and with a roster of exclusively chord among young Somalis . With Kalfadhi and report on current young journalists Kalfadhi reports more than 3500 followers on Face- political affairs with a focus on ac- directly from parliament in an ex- book Kalfadhi’s content is reaching countability and good governance: planatory fashion through social thousands of Somalis . A few videos “I hope that I will make an impact media channels . have even gone viral on Facebook through my work, and that when with a reach of more than 50,000 people ask who worked on this According to 24-year-old Kalfa- and hundreds of shares . platform I can proudly say I was dhi-contributor Abdullahi Ay- part of it .” darus, his work and training with In addition to the more regular Kalfadhi has enabled him to learn news coverage, the Kalfadhi web- about good governance, trans- site contains a repository of key parency, and parliamentary pro- information on the parliament, cedures – something he was including profiles of MPs, draft unaware prior to the launch of bills, laws, and explanations about Kalfadhi in the summer of 2017 . the workings of parliament .

“When I was born, we didn’t have 28-year-old Hassan Aweys, anoth- a functional government in So- er Kalfadhi-contributor, also did not malia . It is important to report learn about law and governance in on governance so that the future school . He now has a better under- generations will learn about good standing of the bicameral system, governance through our work . We the legislative deliberations, and

This photo taken on 15 January 2018 shows employees of online portal Rappler at the company's editorial office in Manila . Philippine President Kalfadhi news editor Abdirahman Taysiir at work in Rodrigo Duterte's move to ban critical news website Rappler from covering the presidential palace is a threat to press freedom, rights and Mogadishu . Photo: Abdihamid Abdiaziz/Radio Ergo media groups said on 21 February 2018 . Photo: Ted Aljibe/AFP

is a necessity for media business models so they duce more collaborative news from a wider variety experienced the same by all nor is it simultaneous .13 FORGING TIES can better produce content that is relevant, there- of viewpoints, which will return the large swaths of There are many who believe that a renewed focus­ According to J . Nelson the future of journalism will by helping to ensure the commercial survival and people to journalism who long ago abandoned it on local or hyperlocal audiences and audience en- be based on a novel form of news production that success of the media operations . for more entertaining fare .”11 gagement is a critical move “towards making “combines aspects of traditional reporting with Audience engagement comprises two aspects when the news industry both relevant and sustainable collaborations between foundations, community Previously, “journalism mainly observed its audienc- it comes to the audience: consumption and parti­ again” .14 activists, and data scientists” while seeking funding es via audience research and punctual feedback, for cipation . In other words, audience engagement from grants and donations rather than ad revenue . example, via letters to the editors” 9. Today we see also means understanding “how people attend to This is likely to be even more important in areas of They will also “actively court audience participation, the audience playing a “much more central and ex- information about issues of public concern, become closing space or conflict-affected environments . For and frequently partner with a variety of civic organ- plicit role in everyday newsroom routines” 10. Some aware of the intricacies of these issues, and address example, conflict often happens in certain villages isations in addition to more conventional news- researchers suggest that audience engagement each other about such issues” 12. or neighbourhoods as opposed to strictly nation- rooms” 15. And this is precisely what we are seeing may be the panacea the media world is looking for wide . This means that specific audiences will seek in many instances . to ensure its survival . As Nelson writes: Clearly then, the relationship between journalism information that is pertinent to them and, as a “Audience engagement advocates argue that jour- and audience is changing in the “context of contin- result, we see this new focus on local and hyper­ In Somalia, for example, the IMS-supported Kalfadhi, nalism must explicitly consider and communicate uous mediatisation; that is, an interwoven change local and the context-driven audiences that come was recently set up in Mogadishu . The online platform with its audience in order to better understand and of media, culture and society .” Yet this relationship with it . seeks to provide a space that allows for bridging the meet their news media needs . Doing so will pro- and the transition that accompanies it is neither gap between government and citizenry and more

20 21 SUSTAINING QUALITY JOURNALISM SUSTAINING QUALITY JOURNALISM

specifically encouraging youth engagement . Kalfadhi and for Daraj specifically . And perhaps equally im- focuses on parliamentary and governance issues and portant, this work allowed Daraj to build trust with aims to promote openness and stimulate citizen audiences: engagement especially among young people and “This [work on the Paradise Papers] was the first does so through its website, Facebook page, Whats­ test of our credibility,” says Alia Ibrahim 20. App messaging, YouTube videos and a Twitter account . Since it started publishing in November 2017, Daraj “has released a series of stories linking top officials The focus of their audience engagement ambition is in Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, and Qatar to offshore particularly young people in the capital, Mogadishu . tax havens . Among other continuing ripple effects, This demographic focus is critical as the country has pressure is building on the Turkish prime minister to an overwhelmingly young population16 . In fact, one resign after his two sons were found to be among could argue that Kalfadhi is a hyperlocal outlet as those with secret accounts .”21 it is “geographically-based, community-oriented, original-news-reporting organisations indigenous Another IMS partner with a local focus and audi- Examples of journalistic stories as to the web and intended to fill perceived gaps in ence engagement focus is ­Rappler, a Manila-based they appear on Inkyfada .com coverage of an issue or region and to promote civic online platform . In its first six months, Rappler engagement .”17 grew quickly . Its best month of traffic saw nearly 3 million pageviews, with most months clocking be- While Kalfadhi has only recently been launched, tween 2 million and 3 million hits with most traf- they hope to grow, develop, and engage a loyal au- fic coming through social media channels 22. Maria dience in a country where youths traditionally have Ressa, Rappler’s CEO credits the site’s web-native very little involvement with their politicians . Part DNA for its rapid growth: “In ­Rappler’s first month, of the equation is building trust and loyalty and a we hit the traffic it took the largest Philippine news sense of common purpose amongst their readers group a decade to reach . That’s the power of social and contributors . media .”23

Indeed, some researchers argue that it is through Rappler has a unique way of encouraging audience participation that the media can achieve a closer engagement and gauging participation through relationship with their audiences and strengthen something called a “mood meter” . Readers are the bonds of mutual trust while potentially creat- prompted to choose their response to the articles CASE | INKYFADA, DIGITAL INK WITH STAYING POWER ing a sense of community or belonging . they read from eight different emotional reactions . “Loyalty is not achieved exclusively through the Maria Ressa explains: “When you look at how ter- In Tunisia, an online outlet by the just broadcast the official [govern­ people, Inkyfada only publishes a inclusion of forms of interactivity, but primarily by rorism spreads, you look at how emotions spread name of Inkyfada, supported by ment] version without any con- handful of stories each month . providing quality content, and also drawing the au- through large groups of people . You take the idea IMS, has since 2014 published its textualisation, without any critical The published stories are of high dience into a common news project,” as Masip et that emotions are important in decision making . well-researched and highly visual questions,” says Malek Khadhraoui, quality and aim to have staying al . write 18. And on social media, what spreads fastest, it’s ac- stories and done so with success . editor of Inkyfada . power . One example is a story with tually emotions more than ideas .”24 The average number of readers is an interactive map of attacks and BUILDING LOYALTY THROUGH 70 – 10,000 readers per month . Inkyfada’s website, Inkyfada .com, activities related to terrorism in AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT However, investigative stories re- has both a French and an Arabic Tunisia that is being continuously Daraj, a recently established Lebanese for-profit “If you actually go through the lated to the Panama papers or version, just as every story is beau- updated, and thus also functions outlet that IMS works with, has found ways to exercise of identifying how you feel, other in-depth investigative can tifully visualised through unique as an online archive . overcome some of these challenges by working as generate up to 1 million visitors . pictures, thoughtful illustrations, part of a consortium . According to Alia Ibrahim, you’re more prone to be rational. If and infographics that summarise “This kind of content creates a one of three Lebanese co-founders of Daraj, their you can identify how you feel, you As many new media initiatives in the often vast data sets . long-term relationship with read- goal is to create a platform on which others can the Middle East and North Africa, ers and generates regular traffic share their content . “We aim to be big – it won’t will be more receptive to the debate Inkyfada aim to critically challenge “This is the DNA of Inkyfada . It on the website . The map has be- work unless it is big,” she says 19. that’s in front of you.” the official narratives . works just like a media lab for jour- come very valuable for research- – Maria Ressa, CEO, Rappler, Philippines nalists, developers, and graphic de- ers, other journalists and people Daraj’s big break came thanks to their part in the “The good story for us is a story signers,” says Malek Khadhraoui . who write about Tunisia,” says Paradise Papers consortium . As one of 95 media that can give people the informa- Malek Khadhraoui . outlets that worked with the International Consor- tion they need in order to form The work process of unique con- tium of Investigative Journalists the Daraj journal- So Ressa came up with the idea to track the emo- an opinion . And then we want to tent and packaging certainly calls ists had the opportunity to collaborate with oth- tions that news stories elicit from the audience . counterbalance the unique voice for the label ‘slow journalism’, and er professionals which allowed for mentoring and Readers engage and content producers learn about of the mainstream media who despite a staff of more than ten growth in investigative journalism in the region their audiences . Ressa believes that “if you actually

22 23 SUSTAINING QUALITY JOURNALISM SUSTAINING QUALITY JOURNALISM

go through the exercise of identifying how you feel, engagement in the media and while some of this NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY you’re more prone to be rational . If you can identify has led to increased engagement and involvement, 1 . Scheuer (2008), p . xi . Blaagaard, B . (2013) . Shifting boundaries: Objectivity, citizen journal- how you feel, you will be more receptive to the de- there are also examples of participatory fatigue and 2 . Lacy and Rosenstiel (2015), p . 9 . ism and tomorrow’s journalists . Journalism, 14, pp . 1076-1090 . bate that’s in front of you .”25 disengagement . So how can media organisations, 3 . Kramp and Loosen (2018), p . 205 . Hunter, M ., Van Wassenhove, L . and Besious, M . (2016) . Power is in areas of closing space, ensure ongoing partici- 4 . McNair (2000), p . 7 . Everywhere: How stakeholder driven media build the future of watch- Audience engagement and quality content is a dif- pation and engagement? This is clearly an area in dog news . [Online] . Available from: https://adobeindd .com/view/ 5 . Vehkoo (2010), p . 30 . ficult act . Sustainability is the next critical part of which more research and work need to be done to publications/b83cde7c-df9a-4c44-bc4e-001fc0e5200f/l7dp/publica- 6 . Ibid ., p . 28 . tion-web-resources/pdf/poweriseverywhere2017 .pdf [Accessed 18 the equation . understand engagement more fully and to design 7 . Hunter et al . (2016), p . 5 . May 2018] . support mechanisms that can more aptly address 8 . Blaagaard (2013), p . 1080 . Kieffer, G . (2017) . Daraj: A new step for Arab Media . [Online] . Inter- the needs of media outlets as well as audiences . SUSTAINABILITY AND GOING FORWARD 9 . Kramp and Loosen (2018), p . 207 . national Media Support . 6 November . Available from: https://www . It is undoubtedly tricky to know, serve, and under- mediasupport .org/daraj-a-new-step-for-arab-media/ [Accessed 18 10 . Ibid . May 2018] . stand your audience while ensuring sustainability . 11 . Nelson (2017), p . 2 . Kramp, L . and Loosen, W . (2018) . The Transformation of Journal- One does wonder whether quality journalism can A decade ago there was widespread 12 . Ørmen (2015), p . 18 . only be commercially viable if catering to a niche ism: From Changing Newsroom Cultures to a New Communicative optimism about the economic and 13 . Kramp and Loosen (2018), p . 208 . Orientation? In: Hepp, A . et al . (eds .) . Communicative Figurations, market, such as Kalfadhi, or is publicly funded . This 14 . Nelson (2017), p . 13 . Transforming Communications – Studies in Cross-Media Research, [Online], pp . 205-239 . Available from: https://www .palgrave .com/br/ is particularly true at a time when advertisers are democratic potential of audience 15 . Ibid . looking “to reach as wide an audience as possi- book/9783319655833 [Accessed 18 May 2018] . participation and engagement in 16 . The median age in Somalia is 16 . ble, [when] audience size has become the curren- See http://analyticalreports .org/pdf/UNFPA_PESS_Vol_2 .pdf Lacy, S . and Rosenstiel, T . (2015) . Defining and Measuring Quality cy by which advertisers evaluate the quality of a for further discussion and breakdown . Journalism . [Online] . Rutgers School of Communication and Informa- the media. While some of this has tion . Available from: http://mpii .rutgers .edu/wp-content/uploads/ 26 17 . Metzgar et al . (2011), p . 774 . news site” – not the quality or even quantity of led to increased engagement, there sites/129/2015/04/Defining-and-Measuring-Quality-Journalism .pdf engagement . 18 . Masip et al . (2015), p . 248 . [Accessed 18 May 2018] . 19 . Kieffer (2017) . are also examples of fatigue and Lafrance, A . (2012) . In the Philippines, Rappler is trying to figure out Yet, what we are seeing in the projects mentioned 20 . Schapiro (2017) . the role of emotion in the news . [Online] . Nieman Lab . August 13 . disengagement. 21 . Ibid . Available from: http://www .niemanlab .org/2012/08/in-the-philip- above (Daraj, Rappler and Kalfadhi) can provide pines-rappler-is-trying-to-figure-out-the-role-of-emotion-in-the- 22 . Lafrance (2012) . some spark of hope . All three outlets seek to en- news/ [Accessed 18 May 2018] . 23 . Ibid . gage with their audiences, and are at the same Masip, P ., Guallar, J ., Suau, J ., Caballero, C ., and Peralta, M . (2015) . 24 . Ibid . time pursuing partnerships and collaborations that Finally, how does one actually measure quality jour- Active audiences and journalism: Involved citizens or motivated con- allow them to tell stories and conduct investiga- nalism? As Lacy and Rosensteil ask: “How can we 25 . Ibid . sumers? Brazilian Journalism Research, 11, pp . 234-255 . 26 . Nelson (2017), p . 7 . tions that may have gone undone without the sup- measure quality of source diversity, content diversi- McNair, B . (2000) . Journalism and Democracy: An evaluation of the port of colleagues around the world . These outlets ty, and exposure diversity?”28 How can we measure 27 . Relly and Zanger (2016), p . 10 and p . 18 . The authors identify political public sphere . London: Routledge . six distinct forms of capture: economic, political, cultural, legal, have also identified a niche that was previously un- impact or the quality of journalism’s contribution bureaucratic and societal . Metzgar, E ., Kurpius, D . and Rowley, K . (2011) . Defining hyperlocal media: Proposing a framework for discussion . New Media & Society, filled and are doing their best to fill these gaps while of said quality journalism to the community? Addi- 28 . Lacy and Rosenstiel (2015), pp . 55-56 . 13(5), pp . 772-787 . ensuring quality journalism that will garner trust, tional research is still needed, not only in audience loyalty, and audience engagement . research as suggested above, but also with regards Nelson, J . (2017) . The Next Media Regime: How Audience Engage- ment is Reinventing Local Journalism . In: The 67th Annual ICA (Inter- to impact as implied by Lacy and Rosensteil . national Communication Association) Conference, 25-29 May 2017 . One out of many threats to the sustainability of USA: San Diego . new niche media is that of capture, which can, for For now, the research and the anecdotes both Ørmen, J . (2015) . A Public Conversation in Private Settings: Engaging example, implicate not only politicians but poten- suggest that attempts at engaging the audience, with news across media . University of Copenhagen, Det Humanistiske tially donors and media support organisations such ensuring quality journalism, and building trust and Fakultet . as IMS . One recent study of media development loyalty while aiming for sustainability are making Relly, J . and Zanger, M . (2016) . The enigma of news media develop- efforts in Afghanistan concluded “that in countries some headway in such diverse contexts as Somalia, ment with multi-pronged ‘capture’: The Afghanistan case . Journal- ism, 18 (10), pp . 1233-1255 . with heavy foreign intervention, where imported the Philippines and the Middle East . journalism values are layered upon previous and Schapiro, M . (2017) . Investigative Journalism can still Make Bad Guys Squirm . The Nation . [Online] . 6 December . Available from: https:// continued institutional arrangements and where www .thenation .com/article/investigative-journalism-can-still-make- violence and instability continue unabated, news bad-guys-quake/ [Accessed 18 May 2018] . media work is prone to ‘capture’ by a variety of Scheuer, J . (2008) . The Big Picture: Why democracies need journalism . actors outside media organisations . […] We found NY: Routledge . that capture tended to stem from issues related Vehkoo, J . (2010) . What is Quality Journalism and How Can it be to funding from donor countries, NGO contrac- ABOUT THE AUTHOR Saved? [Online] . Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journal- tors, foreign governments and political groups, and ism . Available from: https://reutersinstitute .politics .ox .ac .uk/sites/ Michelle Betz is a senior media development default/files/research/files/What%2520is%2520Quality%2520Jour- ­national and local governments .”27 specialist with experience designing, im- nalism%2520and%2520how%2520can%2520it%2520be%2520sav ed%2527 .pdf [Accessed 18 May 2018] plementing, managing and evaluating US, There also exists the potential of participatory fa- European and UN-funded projects in conflict, tigue and disengagement . A decade ago there was post-conflict and transitional countries . widespread optimism about the economic and democratic potential of audience participation and

24 25 #MeToo in Journalism

A Chinese TV journalist makes her report in Tiananmen Square during the opening of the first session of the Women in media: 13th National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 5 March 2018 . Photo: How Hwee Young/EPA Fighting trolls, norms and the occasional bully

By Malin Palm. Contributing author Simbiso Marimbe

Shaista Seham, a Pakistani journalist living in way, how can you maintain your credibility? All of Isla­ma­bad, lost her job after declining advance- these things work together for a single purpose and ments from the editor of the newspaper where she that’s to prevent journalists from doing their job,” worked . He had invited her to a room he had re- Ressa says 3. served to discuss ‘professional issues’ 1. That harassment and discrimination of female jour- Shaista Seham’s story is one of many tales of sex- nalists is pervasive is also the conclusion in a new ual harassment and abuse told in the wake of the IMS survey from Jordan4 and a 2016-study from online campaign #MeToo which took off in the last Afghanistan­ 5 . 42 and 69 per cent respectively of the months of 2017 as women around the world began female journalist respondents had experienced one revealing harassment or abuse experiences . or more forms of sexual harassment while at work .

The hashtag #MeToo was used by more than 4 .7 “There are no women in Afghanistan who have not million people in 12 million posts on Facebook dur- been subjected to sexual harassment,” says Sosan, ing the first 24 hours alone . Across industries and a journalist from Kabul . “All of us, from the time we countries, the stories revealed abuse at a scale that leave home until we return, are subjected to har- has made it impossible to dismiss sexual harass- assment in different forms, ranging from perverse ment of women in the workplace as a minor prob- comments to being shoved, touched, and show- lem only happening to a few . ered with insults .”6 The media business is no exception . Female jour- nalists globally are exposed to harassment from In Zimbabwe, Gender and Media Connect (GMC), colleagues and managers, as well as from people formerly known as Federation of African Media they interview . Women (FAMWZ), in partnership with the Zimba- bwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ), have been grappling 2000 “UGLY” MESSAGES PER DAY with the scourge of sexual harassment in the me- In the Philippines, reports on government corrup- dia . Since 2012, GMC and ZUJ have been involved in tion and President Duterte’s “war on drugs” have awareness raising activities and supporting media led to daily harassment for Maria Ressa . Ressa is houses in developing gender and sexual harassment the CEO and executive editor of Rappler, an inde- policies with little traction . This led to the publica- pendent news media platform combining pro- tion of the report: Who Can I Tell? What Should I fessional journalism with citizen journalism . An Do? Sexual Harassment in The Media by the FAM- average of about 2,000 “ugly” messages per day WZ and ZUJ in 2014 7. Both organisations say that on her personal Facebook page is not unusual . In the challenges in addressing sexual harassment are the UNESCO report An attack on one is an attack multifaceted . on all, Maria Ressa explains that every journalist in the Philippines reporting independently on politics Harassment within the media sector cannot be is subjected to highly coordinated online abuse by understood in isolation from other forms of gen- armies of “super trolls”, whom she believes are part der discrimination in society . Harsh economic con- of a coordinated campaign . Female journalists are ditions and rising unemployment levels are major especially exposed to these attacks 2. contributors to the vulnerability of junior and en- try-level journalists, mostly female, who fall prey to “They attack your physicality, your sexuality . When their seniors . Lower salaries for women, temporary you are denigrated and stripped of dignity in this work contracts, lack of labour rights, inadequate

27 #MeToo in Journalism

CASE | HARASSMENT – PART OF THE JOB child care facilities, and negative attitudes towards tics and government 13. Of course, this is partially a FOR FEMALE JOURNALISTS IN JORDAN women working outside home, are all contributing consequence of the fact that women are under­ factors to the existing glass ceilings that prevent represented in government and politics in almost “Journalism is not a women-­friendly women from advancing their career . Contexts and all countries in the world . It can create a democratic environment and never will be.” norms vary from country to country, but with 94 of problem when politics and media alike are all male-­ – Deputy managing editor at a Jordanian daily the CEOs and 83 per cent of the top management dominated businesses . of the world’s 100 largest media corporations being An IMS-survey from March 2018 sheds light on the men,8 the current state of affairs is set to reproduce When female journalists are harassed and discrimi­ Members of the Myanmar Women’s Journalist Society working environment of female journalists in Jor- itself with men in power and women in subordi- nated against in their workplace, it becomes a Executive Committee Thae Ko, Maw Jay and Thu Zar (left to right) participating in an organisational development dan . Although limited in scope, the survey’s sta- nate positions and more vulnerable to harassment . threat to the whole media industry and the socie- workshop in August 2017 . Photo: Chris Peken tistics indicate that female journalists are severely ty it operates in, because media’s role is to provide underrepresented in the Jordanian media business . CYBERSPACE – THE HARASSMENT all citizens with information that allows them to They represent only 23 per cent of the total work AMPLIFIER make informed decisions . Good journalism requires force, and even less in leadership positions . Of the Despite hopes that the Internet would make it a ­story to be covered accurately, and from as many CASE | FEMALE SOURCES UNDER­ 53 female journalists and journalism students parti­ easier for marginalised groups to participate in the angles as possible . If women and minorities are not REPRESENTED IN MYANMAR MEDIA cipating in the survey more than 40 per cent have public debate, cyber space is proving to be no safer fully included in the media production, media will experienced either verbal or physical harassment as than the real world . In fact, misogyny, racism and miss voices, stories and perspectives and hence fail Only 16 percent of the voices in Myanmar news me- part of their job – a concerningly high percentage homophobia is often amplified online, as anonymi- in being professional, ethical and of public interest . dia are female . That is the conclusion in an IMS-Fojo despite the relatively small sample size . ty provides a distance between victim and aggressor Gender inequalities and other discrimination is a funded study, Gender in Myanmar News, conducted that effectively removes social and moral barriers . concern for much more than the affected groups; by Myanmar Women’s Journalist Society (MWJS) . One journalist recounts one of her early experien­ it becomes an obstacle for media to be truly plural- ces in the business like this: “I was a fresh graduate More than 25 per cent of the verbal, written and istic, representative and free . “Media is a tool to enhance gender equality and the and the editor began to talk to me about sexual physical intimidation threats that female journal- survey illustrates that there is room for improve- matters and told me he could touch me without ists receive happens online according to the re- ment in how news media portray men and women . rupturing the hymen .” port Violence and Harassment against Women in “… chatroom participants with female Only 0 .8 per cent of stories from our media study the News Media by International Women’s Media usernames receive 25 times more challenge gender stereotypes and only 6 per cent Jordan’s media environment generally does not offer Foundation 9. Additionally, chatroom participants are considered to have gender awareness,” says ­ adequate systems that can receive complaints from with female usernames receive 25 times more threatening and sexually explicit Ellie Swindon, Gender Advisor at IMS-Fojo . female employees, just as there is a need to simply threatening and sexually explicit private messages private messages than those with recognise harassment as a problem, as illustrated in than those with male or ambiguous usernames 10. The data behind the study is collected from an ana­ the survey’s interviews with two dozen editors, me- male or ambiguous usernames.” lysis of 2500 media stories from 42 news outlets dia experts, and policy-makers . Some openly stated The situation tends to be even worse for people working within radio, TV, online and print . Another that they considered the findings exaggerated . from ethnic, religious, sexual and other minorities . finding in the study is that when women are heard Aleena Sajwal, a transgender online activist from CHANGE IS NOT MISSION IMPOSSIBLE in the media they are more likely to be quoted in Not surprisingly perhaps, more than two thirds of Hyderabad, Pakistan who writes about LGBTQ rights Although harassment and discrimination are com- relation to a personal experience they recount rather the surveyed women felt that their professional and questions gender norms, describes in the Free- plex issues, often deeply rooted in cultural attitudes than as experts . progress has been hampered merely because of dom Network report how she gets constant threats and values, a lot can still be done . their gender . on Facebook and Twitter . “Women are vulnerable, “As journalists, we have to challenge gender stereo­ and transgenders even more so,” she says 11. For Maria Ressa, the turning point came in early 2017, types in our reporting . We have to challenge the when she received the kind of threat that women view that women are victims and that men are sur- STAYING POWER IN PLURALISM journalists are increasingly familiar with internation- vivors . We need to interview and source more fe- The harassment and discrimination of women in ally: a call for her to be gang-raped and murdered . A male experts, and thereby balance male and female media as both working journalists and as voices rep- young man wrote on Rappler’s Facebook page: voices in our reporting,” says Ma Zin Mar Lar Htay, resented in media has a direct impact on society . The “I want Maria Ressa to be raped repeatedly to death . journalist and co-founder of MWJS . IMS-Fojo report Gender in Myanmar news published I would be so happy if that happens when martial in late 2017 documents that female Burmese report- law is declared, it would bring joy to my heart .”14 To support a more balanced gender representation ers on average use 25 per cent more female sources This time, Ressa didn’t stay quiet . Instead, she asked in Myanmar media the study also has a number of than their male counterparts do 12. This impacts di- her online communities to assist in identifying the recommendations for both journalists, civil society rectly on the number of voices and stories aimed at assailant, who turned out to be a 22-year-old uni- groups and media training institutions on how to women and contributes to the under­representation versity student . When his university learned of his address the issue by consistently challenging the ste- of female voices in media content . activities, he was forced to call Ressa and apologise . reotypes . But leadership within media must also act: “Speaking up and speaking out brings protection According to the global media monitoring report through awareness,” Ressa says 15. “Chief editors and media house owners should Two journalists from an IMS supported network of Who makes the News from 2015, women make up encourage guidelines that help to ensure that women reporters in the conservative region of Karak, only 24 per cent of those heard about in the news, Few countries in the world have proper legislation men and women’s voices are given equal space in Jordan . 2017 . Photo: Henrik Keith Hansen/IMS and only 15 percent in content related to poli- against online harassment . As a necessary measure ­media,” says Ellie Swindon .

28 29 #MeToo in Journalism

NOTES BIBLIOGRAPHY

1 Rehmat (2017a), p . 9 . Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (2016) . The Reporting Heroes – A Study on the Condition of Afghan Female Journalists . [Online] . 2 Kilman (2017), p . 38 . Afghan Journalists Safety Committee . Available from: https://www . 3 Ibid ., p . 40 . mediasupport .org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/women-in-me- 4 Zaideh (2018) . dia-21 .pdf [Accessed 18 May 2018] . 5 Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (2016) . Barton, A . and Storm, H . (2014) . Violence and Harassment against 6 Ibid ., p . 7 . Women in the News Media . [Online] . International Women’s Media Foundation & International News Safety Institute . Available from: 7 Federation of African Media Women Zimbabwe https://www .iwmf .org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Violence-and- and Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (2014) . Harassment-against-Women-in-the-News-Media .pdf [Accessed 18 8 Nordicom (2018) . May 2018] . 9 Barton and Storm (2014), p . 14 . Federation of African Media Women Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Union 10 Meyer and Cukier (2006), p . 4 . of Journalists (2014) . Who can I tell? What should I do? Sexual Har- 11 Rehmat (2017b), p . 16 . assment in the Media. [Online] . Federation of African Media Women Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Union of Journalists . Available from: 12 Swindon (2017), p . 50 . http://archive .kubatana .net/docs/media/famwz_zuj_sexual_harass- 13 Macharia (2015), p . 32 . ment_media_1303 .pdf [Accessed 18 May 2018] . 14 Kilman (2017), p . 38 . Kilman, L . (2017) . An Attack on One is as Attack on All . [Online] . 15 Ibid . UNESCO . Available from: http://unesdoc .unesco .org/imag- 16 Roth (2018) . es/0025/002504/250430E .pdf [Accessed 18 May 2018] . Macharia, S . (2015) . Who makes the news? [Online] . The Global Media Monitoring Project . Available from: http://cdn .agilitycms .com/who- makes-the-news/Imported/reports_2015/global/gmmp_global_re- port_en .pdf [Accessed 24 May 2018] .

Meyer, R . and Cukier, M . (2006). Assessing the Attack Threat due to IRC Channels . [Online] . USA: University of Maryland’s A . James Clark Demonstrators supporting the #MeToo movement stage a rally to mark the International Women's Day 8 March 2018 in Seoul, South Korea . School of Engineering . Available from: https://www .researchgate . Photo: Ahn Young-joonw/AP Photo net/publication/4243412_Assessing_the_Attack_Threat_due_to_IRC_ Channels [Accessed 24 May 2018] .

Nordicom (2018) . Media is a male business . [Online] . Available from: 16 http://www .nordicom .gu .se/en/latest/news/media-male-business to combat harassment, a first step is adjustment parliament . This highlighs that gender inequalities [Accessed 18 May 2018] . of the national legislations to encompass all forms and discrimination is a concern for many more than Rehmat, A . (2017a) . Life as a Women in Pakistani Journalism – of harassment and make sure that they are in sync those affected; it becomes an obstacle for ­media Threats, Harassment and Rejection . [Online] . Freedom Network . with the reality of the internet . to be truly pluralistic, representative and free . Available from: https://www .mediasupport .org/wp-content/ Eventually, on 8 of March (International Women’s uploads/2017/11/Final-Report-Testimonies-Of-Women-Journal- ists-in-Pakistan .pdf [Accessed 18 May 2018] . Cyberbullying policies are enforced through self-reg- Day) the head of the Duma’s foreign affairs com- ulatory mechanisms that social media companies mittee issued a public apology . Rehmat, A . (2017b) . Virtual Victories, Real Threats - Online Activism in Pakistan . Freedom Network . have in place to address incidents on their plat- forms . These mechanisms can include reporting The power of unity should not be underestimat- Roth, A . (2018) . Media boycotts Russian parliament in sexual harass- ment row . The Guardian . [Online] . 22 March . Available from: https:// tools, blocking and filtering software, geofencing ed . Arguably, the solidarity and safety in numbers www .theguardian .com/world/2018/mar/22/russian-media-out- and human or automated moderation systems . during #MeToo is exactly what turned it into such lets-boycott-parliament-in-harassment-row [Accessed 24 May 2018] . Copyright laws can be used – or one can threaten to a compelling and formidable force leading to the Swindon, E . (2017) . Gender in Myanmar News . [Online] . Myanmar use them – in the cases where someone publishes downfall and disgrace of top-positioned perpetra- Womens Journalist Society, International Media Support and Fojo sexual, nude or other degrading photos of a victim . tors and pushed workplaces around the world to Media Institute . Available from: https://www .mediasupport .org/ wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Myanmar_gender_fullreport_nov2017_ address the issue of harassment and discrimination . en .pdf [Accessed 18 May 2018] . THE POWER OF SOLIDARITY Zaideh, S . (2018) . The Status of Women Journalists at Jordan’s Media #MeToo has given rise to an exceptional show of sol- Institutions . International Media Support . idarity needed for change to happen . Solidarity was also an important factor when five female journal- ABOUT THE AUTHORS ists in Moscow, Russia, publicly accused the head of Malin Palm works as Gender Advisor in Inter- the Duma’s foreign affairs committee of making national Media Support . A Swedish national advances . At least one of the journalists recorded and specialist in conflict resolution and sexual the incident, which was investigated by the State and gender-based violence in conflict zones, Duma’s ethical committee . The committee, how- Malin Palm joined IMS in 2015 . ever, dismissed the sexual harassment accusations, saying the allegations may have been coordinated Simbiso Marimbe is a media communications,­ to tarnish the Duma deputy . As a response, around rights and gender specialist from Zimbabwe . 20 Russian language media outlets withdrew their journalists from covering Russia’s lower house of

30 31 Weaponisation of Information

Roman Dobrokhotov, editor-in-chief of The Insider, a Russian online news site dedicated to investigative journalism and debunking fake news, was interviewed by Danish Broadcasting Corporation during his participation in approach to counter and soften the impact of in- The case of Ukraine: an IMS debate in Copenhagen on fake news in April 2017 . formation warfare . This article highlights a number Photo: Line Wolf Nielsen/IMS Countering disinformation of those initiatives . DISINFORMATION AND THE CASE OF UKRAINE Ukraine has been the target of disinformation WEAPONISATION OF INFORMATION emanating from Russia earlier than many Europe- By Vitalii Moroz & Tetiana Matychak an countries and the US . Over the past 5–6 years, The concept “weaponisation of information” was much has been written about a targeted informa- quoted for the first time by Leon Aron, a resident In February 2017, Russian Defense Minister Sergey to hide this blatent strategic focus on information tion/disinformation strategy led by the Kremlin to scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in No- Shoigu acknowledged for the first time in a public mobilisation as a weapon of war . With advanced influence and sway public opinion in favour of its vember 2015 while discussing Russian information speech that Russia’s information army had been technologies, the strategic use of information to actions . With the illegal annexation of Crimea in warfare . According to Aron, the “weaponisation of established and was operational: inform, confuse and influence adversaries and al- March 2014, the Kremlin scaled up a now well-docu- information occurs when it provokes strong nega- lies through multiple platforms and channels has mented disinformation and propaganda campaign tive emotions leading to hatred and worse” 3. “The information operations forces have been es- become a powerful tool alongside military action . through mainstream and social media in Ukraine . tablished, which are expected to be a far more ef- The current world order is increasingly confronted In October 2017, the Council of Europe published fective tool than those we used before for coun- with hybrid threats – a concept that stems from Exporting to international audiences what could the report Information Disorder: Toward an in- ter-propaganda purposes . Propaganda should be Russia’s foreign policy and the ISIL/Da’esh cam- be described as “alternative views” of events, the terdisciplinary framework for research and policy smart, competent and effective .”1 paigns going far beyond Syria and Iraq . Information Kremlin has employed various channels, including making 4. The report identifies three key types of is a key feature in hybrid warfare, a sophisticated TV stations, news agencies, think tanks and Russian “information disorder”: mis-information, when These words of a top Russian official speaking weapon, which has caught many a nation unpre- supported foundations, special authorities (Ros- false information is shared, but no harm is meant; openly about hiring information specialists to dis- pared . Now the scramble is on to design the ap- sotrudnichestvo), transborder social and religious dis-information, when false information is know- seminate state-sponsored propaganda and thus propriate defense . In Ukraine, civil society and gov- groups, social media and trolls2 to carry its messag- ingly shared to cause harm; and mal-information, employing information warfare, made no attempt ernment authorities are employing a broad societal es to targeted audiences in Ukraine . when genuine information is shared to cause harm .

32 33 Weaponisation of Information Weaponisation of Information

The Kremlin now controls all key national TV chan- By flooding audiences with conflicting trolled RIA Novosti Ukraine, reporting from Kyin in Ukraine especially since 2013 are thought to have nels in modern-day Russia . Government-controlled October 2017, echoed the message in the article informed many similar initiatives in other parts of TV stations receive generous financial support from messages, creating information titled: Third Maidan. Ordinary people ask Petya (Po- the world . Kremlin to expand their activities while delivering chaos, the boundaries of what is true roshenko, President of Ukraine, ed.) to go away!18 tailored messages . According to the Information The most aggressive attacks of Kremlin-based prop- society (2010-2020) state programme, in 2014 key and what is false are blurred. Secondly, Kremlin-led propaganda has been known aganda unfolded in Ukraine’s information space in Russian TV channels, including Russia-1, Russia-24, to promote an apocalyptic discourse in Ukraine, pro- 2013-2014 . At that time, the Ukrainian state was RTR Planeta, received $721 million in the form of claiming “the last days” of Europe 19. Thirdly, it dehu- not equipped to resist such a massive flow of dis- state subsidies 5. The budget of the Kremlin’s “soft third to eleventh spot on the list of Ukraine’s most manises the enemy for citizens20 of opposing sides information . Thus, several organisations were es- power” RT channel, which broadcasts in English, popular sites .14 and tries to demoralise the citizens of opponent tablished to combat the onslaught: Stopfake, the Spanish, French and Arabic, was estimated at $323 countries by disseminating discouraging messages Ukrainian Crisis Media Center, and the UkraineWorld million in 2017 .6 Another strategy is to use statements made by pol- in the media outlets of these states . For example, project . All continue to be dependent on foreign iticians and leaders from the opposing side and use Kremlin-led propaganda spread the story in Rus- funding, mainly from the EU and/or US . Modern Russia described by Peter Pomerantsev as these out of context to further one’s own purpose . sian-owned Ukrainian media that Ukraine was un- “postmodern dictatorship”7, emphasizes the use of For example, there were fake “bottom-up initiatives” able to mobilise the number of soldiers needed to The Stopfake .org website was created on 2 March media as the tool to flood audiences with conflict- in Ukraine . In 2017, Ukrainian media were trapped in fight in the conflict zone of Donbass . This, to weaken 2014 by students, graduates, and teachers of the ing messages, create information chaos, and blur propaganda, quoting “letters of trade unions” that the national disposition of Ukraine as a state 21. Mohyla School of Journalism at the National Uni- the boundaries of what is true and what is false . called for the resumption of economic relations with versity of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy . Initially a volun- “Unlike Soviet propaganda, modern Russian meth- Russia . Some Russian media outlets subsequently The tactics of weaponisation of information are teer-based project, it was the first of its kind in ods of information warfare do not merely advertise used these letters in a different context to support indeed more consistent than what meets the eye . Ukraine to debunk disinformation about Ukraine . the Kremlin’s agenda . Instead, they are committed their narrative that Ukrainian citizens wanted to Therefore, the resistance to it should be systematic Stopfake monitors Russian, Ukrainian, and Europe- to creating confusion, hesitation, and distraction,” continue to belong within the “Russian world” . and comprehensive . an media in search of possible disinformation . Staff says scholars Edward Lucas and Peter Pomerantsev utilise OSINT technologies – searching and analyz- in Minich and Rybak 8. By flooding audiences with POP CULTURE AS HUMOUR-DRIVEN COUNTERING DISINFORMATION IN ing data from open sources, verifying the origins of conflicting messages, creating information chaos, PROPAGANDA TOOL UKRAINIAN MEDIA photos and videos with geolocation tools, and oth- the boundaries of what is true and what is false Mass culture has also been reported by NATO ana- Many of the existing media and CSO initiatives to er methods . If the news does not correspond with are blurred . lysts as an important weapon in information war, counter disinformation that have been grown in the verified facts, it gets debunked on the website providing examples of Russian late-night shows In Ukraine, Russian TV channels were the most in- broadcast on Ukrainian TV channels as “a massive fluential source of Russian-led propaganda and dis- humour-driven propaganda tool .”15 The degree of information in Ukraine until 2014-2015, when the cultural penetration is identical to the degree of broadcasting of 77 out of 82 channels was restrict- ideological penetration, Ukrainian experts say .16 Pop ed by the authorities on Ukrainian cable networks . culture such as TV series, TV entertainment shows, CASE | STICKING TO THE FACTS IN ZIMBABWE Ukrainian TV channels were losing the competition stand-up comedy shows, movies, and books have against Russian channels because their budgets all been used to convey political ideas packaged in In March 2018 the first national bwe in partnership with IMS-­FOJO were ten times smaller 9. a light, charming format, which is easily consumed fact-checking platform in Zim- with support from the Swed- and then subsequently reaffirmed in news broad- babwe was launched . The online ish Embassy in Harare, European In 2014 when Russia illegally annexed Crimea, 27 per casts directly after the shows . platform, ZimFact, is dedicated to ­Union and Norwegian Ministry of cent of Ukrainians watched Russian TV channels 10. fact-checking news and informa- Foreign Affairs . In 2016 their viewership dropped to 6 per cent DESTABILISING DEMOCRACIES WITH tion in order to give the public ver- First national fact-checking platform launched in due to a government decision in Ukraine to cease FALSE INFORMATION ified news and real facts . The idea behind ZimFact is to pro- Zimbabwe in March 2018 . Photo: zimfact .org broadcasting of Russian TV channels in the coun- Ukrainian media and cyberspace have been flood- vide basic facts on important sec- try .11 Until April 2017, three of the five most popular ed with disinformation related to the illegal an- “The major aim of fact-checking tors and issues such as child and websites in Ukraine – VK .com, Yandex and Mail .ru nexation of Crimea and political power struggles . platforms is to reduce the circu- maternal mortality rates in Zim- respectively – were Russian, controlled by the Rus- Often, the aim is to push people to question the lation of false claims, to improve babwe or the actual state of the sian Government 12. Through these communication very concept of democracy and give rise to mis- public understanding and to help country’s national debt . Another tional ways of verifying informa­ channels used extensively by Ukrainian officials and trust in democratic institutions or governments in discourage public officials, author- aim is to raise the general public’s tion from our sources,” said Japhet journalists, Russian intelligence services were able countries traditionally understood to be democ- ities, private, and public bodies trust in the media with ZimFact as Ncube, editor of The Star News­ to geolocate the deployment of Ukrainian mil- racies . In one such example, according to the NGO from disseminating misleading a kind of benchmark and a good paper in South Africa attending­ itary units . This was one of the reasons why the Euromaidanpress .com, Kremlin-led propaganda information,” said Alec Muchade- partner of the media, Alec Mucha- the launch of ZimFact . Ukrainian government by way of official sanctions, incited Ukrainians to instigate an overthrow of its hama, chairperson of the ZimFact dehama underlined at the launch restricted access to Russian social media networks . post-Euromaidan leaders in a “Third Maidan” up- Management Committee at the event . “This platform is going to help As a result of the government restrictions, none rising (providing analogy to the outcomes of Euro- launch event . South African newspapers to get of the Russian websites were listed in the top-10 maidan protests in 2013-2014) and suggested that “In the era of fake news, it is im- the Zimbabwe story right . This most popular websites in Ukraine as of April 2018 the EU had ignored the European Union aspirations The platform is managed by the portant for us as the media to platform is going to make our according to Kantar TNS 13. VK .com dropped from of Ukrainians and abandoned them 17. Kremlin-con- Voluntary Media Council of Zimba- fact-check and use those tradi­ work easier,” he said .

34 35 Weaponisation of Information Weaponisation of Information

with evidence . Using these technologies, Stopfake ment organisations acting alone could easily turn NOTES Gryshko, L . (2015) . Russian “soap opera” – is in a Ukrainian wrap- staff have debunked more than one thousand false into a game of whack-a-mole . As the Ukrainian per now . Deutsche Welle . [Online] . 28 September . Available from: 1 Adamczyk (2017) http://www .dw .com/uk/ and manipulative messages . case study clearly demonstrates, the acute threats російське-мило-тепер-в-українській- 2 otyga (2016), p . 7 обгортці/a-18743188 [Accessed 20 May 2018] . faced from disinformation can only be addressed 3 McKitterick (2015) Karaulov, A . (2015) The genocide of Russians in Ukraine . What the The Ukrainian Crisis Media Center (UCMC), ucmc . through a multidimensional approach . 4 Wardle and Derakhshan (2017) West is silent about . Moscow: TH Algoritm . org .ua, also initially volunteer-based, was estab- 5 Minich and Rybak (2017), p . 85 Krasnikov, D . (2017) . Popular Russian websites Vkontakte, Yandex, lished in March 2014, uniting public relations and Addressing disinformation through a multi-stake- 6 Erlanger (2017) Odnoklassniki to be blocked in Ukraine . Kyiv Post . [Online] . 16 May . international relations experts to provide balanced holder approach is the only likely way societies can Available from: https://www .kyivpost .com/technology/popular-rus- 7 Pomerantsev (2013), P . 4 coverage of Ukrainian events for domestic and in- build resilience against weaponized information . In- sian-websites-vkontakte-yandex-odnoklassniki-blocked-ukraine .html 8 Minich and Rybak (2017), p . 82 [Accessed 20 May 2018] . ternational audiences . UCMC is now a key non-prof- stead of simply contesting disinformation, govern- 9 Gryshko (2015) it platform for public societal discussion in Ukraine ment actors, tech companies, civil society and news Matychak, T . (2017) . Octopus Tentacles: The Structure of the Krem- 10 Editorial (2015) lin’s Propaganda Influence on the Ukrainian Information Space . In: involving experts and civil society activists . consumers need to work together to establish both 11 Editorial (2016) Yermolenko, V ., Dutczyn, P and Minich, R . (eds .): Words and Wars . Ukraine facing Kremlin Propaganda . [Online] . Kiev: Internews Ukraine . short and long-term solutions . This involves pro- 12 Krasnikov (2017) Ukraineworld .org was launched in 2014 consisting moting good journalism; continuing research and Pp . 28-47 Available from: http://ukraineworld .org/2017/12/propa- 13 Persykova (2018) ganda/ [Accessed 22 May 2018] . of an information group of Ukrainian experts work- analysis rooted in practice; bolstering countering 14 Persykova (2017) ing with Western journalists to coordinate civil soci- mechanisms such as the EU’s East StratCom Task McKitterick, M . (2015) . Russian Propaganda: ‘The Weaponization of 15 Balkus and Curika (N .A .), p . 4 Information’ . VOA . [Online] . 3 November . Available from: https:// ety groups’ work with unbiased information about Force; enhancing more robust cooperation between 16 Matychak (2017), p . 35 www .voanews .com/a/russian-propaganda-weaponization-informa- tion/3036087 .html [Accessed 20 May 2018] . Ukraine and fight disinformation . UkraineWorld civil society, academia, and tech companies and de- 17 Shandra (2017) . now unites more than 300 disinformation experts signing education and media literacy programmes . 18 Vinogradov and Lybenskiy (2017) . Minich, R . and Rybak, V . (2017) . Architecture of Lies: How the Kremlin’s Propagandist Mechanism Works . In: Yermolenko, V ., Dutczyn, P and from Ukraine and abroad . 19 Mirzayan (2017) For media development organisations like IMS, the Minich, R . (eds .): Words and Wars . Ukraine facing Kremlin Propaganda . 20 Karaulov (2015), p . 15 [Online] . Kiev: Internews Ukraine . Pp . 70-87 Available from: http:// GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO COUNTER focus should remain on promoting robust, ethical 21 Seleznyov (2014) ukraineworld .org/2017/12/propaganda/ [Accessed 22 May 2018] . journalism and working to enable the environment DISINFORMATION 22 Dorosh and Tolokolnykova (2017) Mirzayan, G . (2017) . Counter-revolution in Europe: how Poland ar- Ukrainian authorities have taken a number of steps that surrounds and makes it possible . Media and ranged a successful revolt against the EU . Ria [Online] . 27 July 2017 . to curb disinformation in media . In a contentious information literacy, especially in environments Available from: https://ria .ru/analytics/20170727/1499231760 .html move, the government regulator National Council where democratic institutions are under threat or [Accessed 20 May 2018] . BIBLIOGRAPHY on Television and Radio broadcasting of Ukraine in are failing, is equally important to help the public Adamczyk, E . (2017): Russia has a cyber army, defense minister Pomerantsev, P . (2013) . Russia: A Postmodern Dictatorship? [Online] . 2014 banned cable operators from broadcasting to navigate in the digital space . The research, anal- acknowledges . UPI . [Online] . 23 February . Available from: https:// London: Legatum Institute, Institute of Modern Russia . Available 77 out of 82 Russian channels in 2014-2017 . On ysis and fact-checking produced by various actors www .upi .com/Russia-has-a-cyber-army-defense-minister-ac- from: https://www .li .com/docs/default-source/publications/pomer- knowledges/2421487871815 [Accessed 20 May 2018] . ansev1_russia_imr_web_final .pdf [Accessed 20 May 2018] 15 May 2017, the President of Ukraine signed de- – from grassroot movements to recognised aca- cree #133/2017 imposing sanctions against Russian demic institutions – should feed the public debate Balkus, M T. . and Curika, L . (N .A .) StratCom laughs: in search Persykova, O . (2017) . Rating of popular sites for April 2017 . [Online] . of an analytical framework . [Online] . NATO Strategic Commu- Kantar TNS . Available from: https://tns-ua .com/news/reyting-popul- tech companies . On 1 January 2017, a law adopted to expose disinformation tactics and advocate for nications Centre of Excellence . Available from: https://www . yarnih-saytiv-za-kviten-2017 [Accessed 20 May 2018] . stratcomcoe .org/stratcom-laughs-search-analytical-framework by Parliament prohibited the import into Ukraine the importance of a comprehensive, broad-based Persykova, O . (2018) . Rating of popular sites for April 2018 . [Online] . [Accessed 22 May 2018] of any printed products containing anti-Ukrainian response that cuts across society seeking to build Kantar TNS . Available from: https://tns-ua .com/news/reyting-popul- content, also a controversial move . resilience . Dorosh M . and Tolokolnykova, K . (2017) . What is an experiment yarnih-saytiv-za-kviten-2018 [Accessed 20 May 2018] . on media education in Ukraine: 15 questions and answers . Seleznyov, D . (2014) . In Ukraine, mobilization is thwarted - nobody Media Sapiens . [Online] . 18 December . Available from: http:// wants to be “cannon fodder” . Rian . [Online] 4 July . Available from: Another tool employed by the Ukrainian govern- [Experts within IMS have penned the latter section ms .detector .media/mediaprosvita/mediaosvita/scho_take_eks- https://rian .com .ua/analytics/20140704/354488323 .html [Accessed periment_iz_mediaosviti_v_ukraini_15_zapitan_ta_vidpovidey/ ment is media literacy, improving young people’s on recommendations] 20 May 2018] . and ordinary citizens’ ability to critically digest in- [Accessed 22 May 2018] . Shandra, A . (2017) . A guide to Russian propaganda . Part 4: Russian Editorial . (2015) . Ukrainians reject Russian media . But not Rus- formation . In 2017, the Ministry of Education propaganda operates by law of war . Euromaidan Press . [Online] . 15 sian social networks . Texty .org .ua . [Online] . 1 October . Available and Science approved an all-Ukrainian experi- December . Available from: http://euromaidanpress .com/2017/12/15/ from: http://texty .org .ua/pg/news/newsmaker/read/62243/ a-guide-to-russian-propaganda-part-4-russian-propaganda-­ ment on media education for 2017-2022 entitled Ukrajinci_vidmovlajutsa_vid_rosijskyh_ZMI_Ale_ne [Accessed 22 operates-by-law-of-war/ [Accessed 20 May 2018] . “Standardiza­tion of the cross-cutting socio-psy- May 2018] . Vinogradov, Z . and Lybenskiy, A . (2017) . Third Maidan . Ordinary peo- chological model of implementation of mass media Editorial . (2016) . Consumption of mass media in Ukraine in 2016: ple ask Petya to go away . Ria Novosti Ukraina . [Online] . 18 October . 22 the popularity of Facebook is growing, confidence in Russian ­education in Ukrainian pedagogical practice .” ­Available from: https://rian .com .ua/analytics/20171018/1028658142 . media is decreasing . Media Sapiens . [Online] . 17 September . Ukrainian schoolchildren can now study media ­ html [Accessed 22 May 2018] . ABOUT THE AUTHORS Available from: http://ms .detector .media/mediaprosvita/ ­literacy as an option at school . Tetiana Matychak, is a Ukrainian freelance research/spozhivannya_zmi_v_ukraini_2016_roku_populyarn- Wardle, C . and Derakhshan, H . (2017): Information Disorder: Toward ist_facebook_zrostae_dovira_do_rosiyskikh_media_znizhuetsya/ an interdisciplinary framework for research and policy making . [Online] . journalist and media literacy trainer, and THE ROAD TO COUNTERING [Accessed 20 May 2018] . Council of Europe . Available from: https://rm .coe .int/information-dis- co-founder of Stopfake .org . order-report-november-2017/1680764666 [Accessed 20 May 2018] . DISINFORMATION Erlanger, S . (2017) . What is RT? The New York Times . [Online] . 8 In the era of hybrid threats, where conventional March . Available from: https://www .nytimes .com/2017/03/08/ Vitalii Moroz, is a Ukrainian media expert and world/europe/what-is-rt .html [Accessed 22 May 2018] and unconventional techniques are combined to head of new media at Internews Ukraine . He gain an advantage over the enemy, media devel- Fotyga, A . (2016): Report on EU strategic communication to is also a trainer in media innovation, digital counteract propaganda against it by third parties [Online] . Euro- opment actors increasingly play a role to address literacy and internet governance . pean Parliament, Committee on Foreign Affairs . Available from: disinformation as an unprecedented attack on so- http://www .europarl .europa .eu/sides/getDoc .do?pubRef=-// EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A8-2016-0290+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN cieties in the cognitive domain . But media develop- [Accessed 20 May 2018] .

36 37 New IMS Identity New IMS Identity

New visual identity for IMS

What is a logo? A mere stamp? A symbolically TAGLINE IMS STAFF ABOUT IMS wrapped narrative? Our new tagline speaks to the core of IMS’ mandate . We are proud to introduce our new logo which ­mirrors the organisation’s values and strengths and SECONDARY COLOURS “Media and journalism are important tools to help create societies where people are reflects our Nordic roots . IMS was founded in 2001 . The secondary colours that frame our new visual informed and can make informed decisions. We want to contribute to enlightening Our new logo reflects the international organisa- identity are based on the elements of bedrock and people so that they can make their own decisions.” tion that IMS is today . water, visualising two of IMS’ core values: A solid – Line Wolf Nielsen, Communications and Press Coordinator rights-based foundation; and a flexible approach BLACK INK constantly adapting to change . The foundation of the new logo is black and white “IMS is a practitioner, someone working actively in the field, but has a lot of expert symbolising ink on paper . Imagine the stains left on IMS STAFF ABOUT IMS knowledge. And is able to apply that (…) It is not a researcher, but someone working your fingertips from freshly printed newspapers . As part of IMS’ new visual identity development, a actively on the ground, while understanding the bigger picture.” number of staff members were interviewed about – Emilie Lehmann-Jacobsen, Programme Development Advisor, Asia THE LOGOMARK the work of IMS and our mandate . On the next The circle is an unbroken line illustrating IMS’ com- page is a selection of their responses . “You can develop something truly new by bringing partners together or bringing in prehensive and persistent approach . Simultaneously, new individuals with new, powerful ideas. Create new collaboration.” the circle refers to the global dimension of our work . – Jesper Højberg, Executive Director The waves inside the circle mirror the soundwaves of two different voices pronouncing “IMS” . They symbolise the importance of flexibility and adapt- “This is something that distinguishes us from others: we work with many different ability and of creating a bridge between the many experts and disciplines which makes our way of working very flexible.” local initiatives we support and the international IMS’ new logo and visual identity is developed by – Nicole Choueiry, Programme Manager, Tunisia human rights principles we embrace together . NR2154 . “A successful partnership is one that is progressive and mutually beneficial.” – Gulnara Akhundova, Head of Department for Global Response

“Participation is a keyword. We are not here to teach or just give funds. We want to do something together with the partners.” – Rasmus Steen, Programme Manager, Documentary Film

“Good journalism is aware of its biases but always presents history factually and fairly and is representative of the diversity of its citizens.” – Simbiso Marimbe, Programme Manager, Zimbabwe

38 39 TRI-CITY PHOTO MARATHON TRI-CITY PHOTO MARATHON

A tri-city celebration of photography: Connecting Cairo, Copenhagen Copenhagen | Photo: Ronni Jørgensen and Ramallah

What happens when amateur photo­graphers of all ages are given the same themes on the same day at the same time in three different cities across the world to interpret and photograph?

These photos from Cairo, Ramallah and Copen­hagen are the result of the first ever ­Tri-City Photo Marathon held on 21 April 2018 .

The photos link creative photo­graphers from the three cities through their shared interest in storytelling­ through pictures . The overall theme was to illustrate “something” and “its opposite” .

The winning images on these pages illustrate “the world‘s ugliness” and “its opposite”.

Cairo | Photo: Sherif ElKomy Ramallah | Photo: Aseel Abu Maialeh

40 41 FINANCIAL OVERVIEW | IMS BOARD MEMBERS

Financial overview 2017

FUNDING

EUR % Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 4,598,820 29% Embassies and Danida Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 8,472,774 52% Embassies and Sida Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1,604,192 10% Embassies and Norad Other donors 1,412,230 9% Other income and funding 1,344 0% Total 16,089,360 100% EXPENDITURES

EUR % Activities 14,146,410 88% Cost of doing business 1,628,496 10% Development & other activities 314,454 2% Total 16,089,360 100%

IMS Board Members 2017

Mr Andrew Puddephat Mr Gene Kimmelman Chairman of the Board President and CEO, Public Knowledge, Georgetown Executive Chair, Advisory Board, Global Partners University, United States Digital, United Kingdom Mr Lars Møller Ms Ann-Magrit Austenå Journalist and media consultant, Denmark Vice-chairman of the Board Secretary General, Norwegian Organisation for Mr Edetean Ojo Asylum Seekers, Norway Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda, Nigeria

Mr Jens Otto Kjær Hansen Ms Charlotte Flindt Pedersen Principal, Danish School of Media and Journalism, Director, Danish Foreign Policy Society, Denmark Denmark Mr Holger Rosendal Ms Tine Johansen Head of Legal Department, The Association of Vice-president, The Danish Union of Journalists, Danish Media, Denmark Denmark

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The content of this publication is copyright protected . International Media Support (IMS) is happy to share the text in the publication with you under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4 .0 International License . To view a summary of this license, please visit http://creativecommons .org/licenses/by-sa/4 .0/ .

All photos and the map on pages 8 and 9 are licensed to IMS by their respective copyright owners and may not be reused without their prior approval .

Published in Denmark by IMS in 2018

IMS editors: Helle Wahlberg, Line Wolf Nielsen, Asger Gørup-Nielsen & Gerd Kieffer-Døssing

Design and production: Nanette Vabø Print: Kolind Bogtrykkeri

ISBN 978-87-92209-93-1