889YrUswqsV TssiqvirHsiwuCUiwi F" !! Y ! This report is not for further distribution. No part of this report is for quote, reprint or adaptation in any way without the prior written permission of the BBC WST. All rights are reserved by the BBC WST. 1 Acknowledgements This Media Sector Analysis was compiled by Sonia Whitehead, Chris Larkin, Jamal Abdi, Hodan Ibrahim and Samuel Otieno. We are grateful for contributions from Sagal Ali, Mohamed Ahmed, Julia Bicknell, Nesryn Bouziane, Anna Colom, Victoria Crawford, Grace Davies, James Deane, Yusuf Garad, Yusuf Hassan, Judy Houston, Sahra Mohammed, and Diana Njeru. The research is a component of a media development project funded by the European Union, British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Open Society Institute. Fieldwork was conducted by members of the BBC World Service Trust Somalia Research and Learning Group and freelance researchers from the Mogadishu University, East Africa University and Plasma University. This report has been produced independently of the BBC and BBC World Service and should not be taken to reflect BBC official policy, or that of any of the project's funders. Any mistakes are those of the authors. 2 Foreword In 2006 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST), funded by the UK Department for International Development, conducted research into media in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa in order to identify priorities for future media development initiatives. A series of African Media Development Initiative (AMDI) reports were produced, and this Media Sector Analysis builds on the Somalia component of that work. This analysis has been produced in consultation with media stakeholders and is grounded in a review of previously published material. The report is just one component of a larger media development project being delivered by the BBC WST entitled ‘Strengthening Radio Stations in Somalia to Promote Human Rights, Peace and Governance’ - a two-year project which aims to enhance the reach, levels of audience participation and professional capacity of Somali media. The media, and specifically, radio, is seen as a key local institution well placed to promote individual human and civil rights, freedom of expression and democratic dialogue. The project is informed by a rights perspective, ensuring that actions separately and collectively empower marginalised citizens, in particular, women and young people, to engage in direct dialogue with local authorities and thus have improved access to their civil and political rights. The project comprises two other strands in addition to the Media Sector Analysis: Capacity-building in six Somali radio stations, involving on-site training and mentoring of radio journalists and senior radio station staff (such as station managers and finance managers), designed to promote both rights-based broadcasting and to enhance standards of radio production work, including editorial values and judgment, reporting political differences and addressing needs of the audience through inter-active programming. Media-related training for civil society organisations, particularly those representing women’s and young people’s concerns. Such training will improve their ability to influence the broadcasting agenda, particularly by promoting their interests and rights. This report will inform the above project strands, as well as providing a basis for the development of media policy in the Somali region. The BBC World Service Trust is the BBC’s international development charity. It uses media and communication to reduce poverty and to promote human rights. 3 Commonly used acronyms AFP Agence France-Presse AMISOM African Union Mission in Somalia BBC WST BBC World Service Trust CPJ Committee to Protect Journalists DfID Department for international Development IFEX Freedom of Expression Exchange IRIN Integrated Regional Information Network IUP Indiana University of Pennsylvania NMC National Media Council NUSOJ National Union of Somali Journalists SOLJA Somaliland Journalists Association SWIJA Somaliland Women’s Journalist Association TFG Transitional Federal Government UIC Union of Islamic Courts OCHA United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs UNDP United Nation’s Development Programme VoA Voice of America 4 Executive Summary Introduction Twenty years on from the collapse of the Barre regime, many regions of Somalia continue to be afflicted by violent conflict, a volatile political situation, and slow rates of development. The need for a strong media sector that can support development and the creation of effective systems of governance is well recognised. However with an international reputation for being one of the deadliest countries in the world for journalists, and a region that suffers from lawlessness, a lack of institutions, and severely limited infrastructure and resources, the capacity of the Somali media sector to play this role effectively is unclear. Building on the findings of the 2006 African Media Development Initiative (AMDI) study of Somali media, this analysis of the media sector aims to map the current media landscape and provide insight into the structures, relationships and practices which characterise the sector at present. Research Methodology For this analysis, extensive primary research was carried out across the three administrative regions of Somalia – Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia – as well as at the Diaspora and international level. Investigation was structured according to the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) four levels of media engagement (system, organisation, practitioner and audience) in order to develop a clear understanding of how the sector functions, from the highest levels of legislation and regulation, right through to audience engagement with output. Conducting field research in Somalia is extremely challenging, due to instability and poor infrastructure in many regions. The BBC WST has a team of Somali researchers based in Hargeisa, Somaliland, however security issues prevent the team from conducting fieldwork in Puntland and South Central Somalia. To reach these locations, partnerships were forged with universities in Mogadishu and Dhusamareb (South Central Somalia), and Galkacyo and Bosasso (Puntland). Across Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia, the research team conducted audience and journalist focus groups, interviews with managers, journalists and other staff at local media organisations, and collected recordings of radio output. In-depth interviews were also carried out with media owners, representatives of journalist associations, international non-governmental organisations and other key informants on the media based in Nairobi and internationally. The research findings are synthesised in this report to map the current media landscape and present the most dominant influences on the media sector and other important themes. Suggested priorities for future media development are organised according to system, organisation, practitioner and audience levels of engagement with media, as this model provides a practical framework for intervention. 5 Chapter 2 provides detailed information on the research design and methodology, ethical considerations and challenges faced. Media Landscape The Somali media landscape varies across administrative regions. There are numerous independently owned newspapers in operation in Somaliland, while radio and television broadcasts are almost completely state-controlled. In contrast the landscape in Puntland and South Central Somalia is characterised by a plurality of broadcast organisations both government and privately owned, but a practically non-existent press sector. Radio is the dominant media. Like other parts of Africa, radio is a crucial source of information for a vast proportion of the population. At the time of writing, there are 35 local FM Somali stations in operation, however most of these have a limited geographic broadcast reach of approximately 30 kilometres. Many people living at a distance from the location of such FM radio stations have access to only international channels broadcasting on shortwave, such as the BBC and Voice of America. Influences from the political sphere, particularly in South Central Somalia, mean that the number of local stations in operation fluctuates constantly, with frequent suspensions and takeovers by militants. Television is mainly accessed in urban areas, but is beginning to be used for political influence. There are nine television channels in operation, and the recent establishment of new stations in Mogadishu by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the Islamist militant group, Al-Shabab, show that this platform is growing. Many television channels now broadcast via satellite, which allows them to reach a wider geographic area. However while there is evidence that television is becoming more popular, low income levels, limited/poor access to electricity, and the nomadic lifestyle of a large number of Somalis, mean that radio is likely to remain the most widely used media for some time yet. Newspapers now only exist in Somaliland. The destruction of infrastructure and lack of security has meant that the newspaper industry has died out in Puntland and South Central Somalia. Only Somaliland has succeeded in maintaining a vibrant press, however low literacy levels and poor distribution to rural areas mean that audience reach is much lower than radio. Internet is growing in popularity and influence, yet still has