Media development indicators: a framework for assessing media development

The promotion of freedom of speech, the development of community radio, and human resource development are regarded by the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) as essential to the development of media.

This toolkit approach suggests five major categories of indicators, in line with these key areas, that can be used to analyse the media development of a country. Each category is broken down into a number of component issues which in turn contain a series of broad indicators. Finally means of verification and potential data sources are identified.[adapted from author]

The categories include:

• a system of regulation and control conducive to freedom ofexpression, pluralism and diversity of the media
• plurality and diversity of media, a level economic playing field and transparency of ownership
• media as a platform for democratic discourse
• professional capacity buildingand supporting institutions that underpins freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity
• infrastructural capacity is sufficient to support independent and pluralistic media