Culture and Development: "Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Press
Are Central to Transparent Societies
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are important components of a transparent society. Research has shown that effective information flows are major empowering tools for citizens and for poverty alleviation, exposing among other things economic inequalities and enabling effective policy responses. As Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has pointed out, no country with a free press has ever experienced a famine due to lack of information about in-country conditions.Investigative journalism is particularly central to ensuring government transparency. National media policies can support freedom of access to information for journalists, and press freedom to publish it. However, as shown in the 2004 World Press Freedom Review, investigative journalists are often endangered, particularly in countries where fragile politics reign. NGOs, like IFEX and IRE, both monitor treatment of investigative journalists and provide support for them.UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication in particular supports capacity-building for journalists working in developing countries. Since 1980, the program has channeled US$92 million to more than 1,100 media development projects in 135 developing countries, among them Mongolia’s Media for Transparent Governance, pictured here.
+ International Programme for the Development of Communication, UNESCO
+ International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX)
+ When Silence Reigns: A Report on Recent Media Developments in Nepal
+ Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)
+ 2004 World Press Freedom Review
+ 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy "
Are Central to Transparent Societies
Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are important components of a transparent society. Research has shown that effective information flows are major empowering tools for citizens and for poverty alleviation, exposing among other things economic inequalities and enabling effective policy responses. As Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has pointed out, no country with a free press has ever experienced a famine due to lack of information about in-country conditions.Investigative journalism is particularly central to ensuring government transparency. National media policies can support freedom of access to information for journalists, and press freedom to publish it. However, as shown in the 2004 World Press Freedom Review, investigative journalists are often endangered, particularly in countries where fragile politics reign. NGOs, like IFEX and IRE, both monitor treatment of investigative journalists and provide support for them.UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication in particular supports capacity-building for journalists working in developing countries. Since 1980, the program has channeled US$92 million to more than 1,100 media development projects in 135 developing countries, among them Mongolia’s Media for Transparent Governance, pictured here.
+ International Programme for the Development of Communication, UNESCO
+ International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX)
+ When Silence Reigns: A Report on Recent Media Developments in Nepal
+ Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)
+ 2004 World Press Freedom Review
+ 7th European Ministerial Conference on Mass Media Policy "
