edition dW akadeMie #02/2014 Media developMent In the Service of the Public Functions and Transformation of Media in Developing Countries Imprint pUBliSHeR Deutsche Welle 53110 Bonn, Germany ReSponSiBle Christian Gramsch aUtHoRS Erik Albrecht Cletus Gregor Barié Petra Berner Priya Esselborn Richard Fuchs Lina Hartwieg Jan Lublinski Laura Schneider Achim Toennes Merjam Wakili Jackie Wilson-Bakare EDITORS Jan Lublinski Merjam Wakili Petra Berner deSiGn Programming / Design pRinted November 2014 © DW Akademie Edition dW AkAdEmiE #02/2014 mEdiA dEvElopmEnt In the Service of the Public Functions and Transformation of Media in Developing Countries Jan Lublinski, Merjam Wakili, Petra Berner (eds.) Table of Contents Preface 4 04 Kyrgyzstan: Advancements in Executive Summary 6 a Media-Friendly Environment 52 Jackie Wilson-Bakare Part I: Developing Public Service Media – Kyrgyzstan – A Brief Overview 53 Functions and Change Processes Media Landscape 54 Obschestvennaya Tele-Radio Kompaniya (OTRK) 55 01 Introduction: A Major Challenge for Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 56 Media Development 10 Status of the Media Organization 56 Jan Lublinski, Merjam Wakili, Petra Berner Public Service: General Functions 61 Public Service Broadcasting – West European Roots, Achievements and Challenges 62 International Ambitions 12 Transformation Approaches 63 Lessons Learned? – Transformations Since the 1990s 14 Appendix 72 Reconsidering Audiences – Media in the Information Society 15 05 Namibia: Multilingual Content and the Need Approach and Aim of the Study 17 for Organizational Change 74 Richard Fuchs 02 Definitions and Concepts 22 Namibia – A Brief Overview 75 Jan Lublinski, Merjam Wakili, Petra Berner Media Landscape 76 Media Functions and Transformations in Namibia Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) 76 Service of the Public 23 Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 76 General Functions – Creating a Public Sphere Status of the Media Organization 79 and Supporting Integration 25 Public Service: General Functions 82 Public Service Ethos – A Broadened Approach 26 Achievements and Challenges 84 Transitions and Transformations – Transformation Approaches 85 Developing Media for the Public 27 Appendix 93 Media Development: A Strategic Model 29 Research Questions 32 06 Mongolia: Achievements Through Public Service Capacity Building 96 Part II: Transforming State Broadcasters – Laura Schneider Case Studies from Media Development Mongolia – A Brief Overview 97 Media Landscape 97 03 Afghanistan: Reform Fear, Limited International Mongolian National Broadcaster (MNB) 98 Support, Failed Transformation 36 Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 98 Merjam Wakili Status of the Media Organization 100 Afghanistan – A Brief Overview 37 Public Service: General Functions 103 Media Landscape 38 Achievements and Challenges 104 Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) 38 Transformation Approaches 105 Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 39 Appendix 117 Status of the Media Organization 40 Public Service: General Functions 42 07 Moldova: Slow but Successful Reform, Achievements and Challenges 43 Need for Visible Journalistic Quality 120 Transformation Approaches 43 Erik Albrecht Appendix 50 Moldova – A Brief Overview 121 Media Landscape 122 Teleradio-Moldova (TRM) 122 Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 123 Status of the Media Organization 124 Public Service: General Functions 129 Achievements and Challenges 130 Transformation Approaches 131 Appendix 138 2 Table of Contents 08 Myanmar: New Media Freedom, 11 Nepal: Radio Sagarmatha, an Asian Community New Transformation Challenges 140 Radio Pioneer 204 Lina Hartwieg Priya Esselborn Myanmar – A Brief Overview 141 Nepal – A Brief Overview 205 Media Landscape 142 Media Landscape 205 Myanmar Radio and Television (MRTV) 143 Radio Sagarmatha 206 Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 144 Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 208 Status of the Media Organization 145 Status of the Media Organization 210 Public Service: General Functions 149 Public Service: General Functions 214 Achievements and Challenges 150 Achievements and Challenges 215 Transformation Approaches 150 Transformation Approaches 216 Appendix 157 Appendix 226 Part III: Alternatives to State Broadcaster Transformation 12 Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador: Three Examples from Latin American Community Media 230 09 Serbia: B92 and RTS, Two Very Different Models Cletus Gregor Barié of Successful Public Service Media 160 Latin America – A Brief Overview 231 Laura Schneider Media Landscape 232 Serbia – A Brief Overview 161 Three Examples from Latin American Media Landscape 162 Community Media 235 B92 162 Stakeholders in Support of Community Radios 237 Radio Television of Serbia (RTS) 166 Status of the Media Organizations 238 Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 167 Public Service: General Functions 240 Status of the Media Organization 168 Achievements and Challenges 241 Public Service: General Functions 170 Transformation Approaches 242 Achievements and Challenges 171 Appendix 260 Transformation Approaches 171 B92 and RTS: Different Approaches to Part IV: The Way Forward Public Service Broadcasting 172 Appendix 181 13 Change Management: Methods of Organizational Transformation in Media Development 264 10 Nigeria: Freedom Radio, an African Private Public Achim Toennes Service Radio 184 Introduction 265 Jackie Wilson-Bakare Fundamental Principles 265 Nigeria – A Brief Overview 185 The Transformation Process 267 Media Landscape 186 What Needs to be Paid Attention to? 275 Freedom Radio Nigeria – Muryar Jama’a Prospects 276 (Voice of the People) 188 Appendix 277 Stakeholders in the Transformation Process 188 State of Affairs: Analysis of the Broadcaster 189 Conclusions and Recommendations 278 Public Service: General Functions 192 Achievements and Challenges 193 Authors 292 Transformation Approaches 194 Appendix 202 Edition DW Akademie In the Service of the Public 3 Preface 4 Preface Preface A mouthpiece of government turned into a broadcaster At the same time, this study demonstrates that media devel- working in the interest of the public – this vision has always opment organizations have to think beyond their traditional had a strong appeal to DW Akademie. DW Akademie is Ger- fields of expertise: capacity development and newsroom con- many’s leading organization for international media devel- sultancy. A much broader approach is needed if substantial opment and Deutsche Welle’s center of excellence for educa- and sustainable development is to be achieved. tion, knowledge transfer, and media training. DW Akademie is currently implementing a new, more com- We firmly believe that independent media and respon- plex strategy for successful media development cooperation sible journalism are essential to societies. In Germany, the that takes this into account. Political and legal frameworks public service broadcasting system is widely accepted as one have become a strategic area of activity. Other equally im- of the pillars of a system of such quality media. Being part of portant areas comprise qualifications, professionalism, and Deutsche Welle, our country’s international broadcaster with a economic sustainability of the media sector, participation in public service remit, the concept of media in the service of the society, and digital change. public is very close to DW Akademie. With regard to public broadcasting, political and legal This is why DW Akademie has actively supported several frameworks are especially important in order to ensure edito- transformation processes of former state broadcasters in de- rial independence of former state broadcasters. Furthermore, veloping countries and emerging economies over the years. media development actors have to engage more in organi- Assisting reform, however, has often proved to be very chal- zational development. Therefore, at the end of this study, we lenging. Progress has felt too slow in some cases, in others, dedicate a whole chapter to this question. resistance to reform turned out to me more obstinate than This study of selected media outlets from twelve countries expected. Sometimes we asked ourselves if this really is the does not attempt to provide a final answer to the question of right path to take, and if there are any alternative approaches successful public service transformation. It aims at giving an like the support of community or private media who in many overview of what has been achieved in practical work in this cases also deliver good services on behalf of the public. field in the course of the past years. More research is needed This study constitutes the attempt to draw some initial to understand which steps of reform are needed for a genuine conclusions from the work conducted by DW Akademie and transformation that is sustainable in the long term. other media development organizations in the past. It aims at The media are undergoing crucial developments. Digital a better understanding of which public service functions for- change, convergence, and social media have increased plural- mer state broadcasters can provide at all and which approach- ism of opinion substantially in many parts of the world. At the es of media development actors have proved to be successful. same time, the media face new challenges with respect to their Reforming of state mouthpieces into public service me- economic sustainability. The notion of public service media dia can indeed be achieved. This is one of the most important that offer a model for providing journalistic quality without findings of