POLIS Conference:

Development, Governance and the Media

The role of the media in building African society

Thursday 22 March 2007

London School of Economics

Statement of purpose

This POLIS conference will bring together academics, policy makers, donors and media practitioners to
set out practically how the international development community can respond effectively to the
credible demand from Africa for the media to play a role in its development. It will complement
ongoing policy work and consultation processes in this area.

The conference will continue the ongoing process of considering fresh perspectives to challenge unfair
perceptions and constructively deliver change in Africa. POLIS believes that only by fully including the
media community in the debate can progress be made.

Outline

10.30 – 11.00 (teas and coffees served): Welcome session

A chance to register, meet other participants, view photography display, read handout material, and
view examples of media for development work.

11.00 – 12.30: Key players, key perspectives

Brief introduction by Charlie Beckett, POLIS, and Conference Chair Myles Wickstead

Address by Gareth Thomas MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development.

Gareth Thomas MP will give the Ministerial perspective on how the media can be integrated in current
African development and governance strategies, in light of DFID’s 2006 White Paper, ‘Making
Governance Work for the Poor’.

Eric Chinje will establish how best the international development community can respond to the African
agenda set out in the Strengthening African Media Development Initiative.

The addresses will be followed by panel responses from Dr Fackson Banda (Rhodes University),
Amadou Mahtar Ba (AllAfrica Global Media) and Paul Mitchell (World Bank).

12.30 – 14.00 (buffet lunch served): The journalist’s perspective

Top journalists from the UK and Africa including Channel 4’s Jon Snow, Shola Ashunkeye and Ibiba Don
Pedro (former winners, CNN African Journalist of the Year awards) will debate their experiences from
differing journalistic perspectives of how the media works in practice. How successful have journalists
been in challenging stereotypes and positively promoting African development and good governance?
How well has the African media played its part in this?

14.00 – 15.15: Break-out session 1

(teas & coffees served in break)
15.30 – 17.00: Break-out session 2

Participants will break away in to separate focus groups to address key questions in more detail. Each
participant has the chance to attend 2 sessions (each session will run twice).
Each session will have a chair, a key presenter, a counter-respondent, a DFID representative, and a
researcher/reporter:

• Session 1: Media and power – how can the media hold governments in developing
countries, international financial institutions and donors to account? (Chair: Mark
Wilson, PANOS Executive Director)

How can the media contribute to good governance by helping counter corruption and improve
political accountability? How can the media foster “deep democracy”, with a strong participatory
element, at all levels? How can we improve legislative infrastructure and implementing processes
to protect journalists and media outlets from persecution? How can the media ensure that
international actors, as well as the local governments, are held to account?

• Session 2: Media and the MDGs - how effective is the media in promoting genuine
grassroots community development? (Chair: James Deane, Communications for Social
Change)

How can the media contribute to reducing poverty and improving access to healthcare, food,
water, and education? How can the media assist in promoting environmental sustainability? Which
groups are neglected? What is the role of the media in promoting gender equality and empowering
women? How can the media reinforce local ‘organic’ structures of communications?

• Session 3: Media and new technology – can the digital revolution boost the impact of
African Media on development and governance? (Chair: Gerald Milward-Oliver, The
Anima Centre)

Can ICTs and digital media provide new ways to hold governments to account? How can they
assist in building pro-poor political alliances for development? Should the internet and mobile
phones be replacing radio, TV and press as the focus of development efforts? How can we find a
role for ‘citizen journalism’ via blogs, discussion forums and podcasts?

• Session 4: Media and fragile states - in the absence of functioning government,

should we abandon media development altogether? (Chair: Anna Da Silva, BBC WST)

“People cannot escape poverty if there is war and insecurity. We will therefore increase our efforts
in fragile states, and invest more in at least ten countries where security is a major issue.” (Rt Hon
Hilary Benn MP, 13 July 2006). What is the role of the media in building civil society? How effective
can strategies for media development be in fragile or crisis states such as Sudan and Somalia? Is
a distinct approach needed from other templates for media development?

17.00 – 18.00: Plenary session

Participants will come together to allow the co-ordinator for each break-out group to give feedback (5-
10 minutes each), followed by closing remarks by conference Chairman/ POLIS Director.

18.00 – 19.00: Drinks reception

There will be a final chance to meet other participants and discuss the day’s findings informally.

POLIS Director will write up report of proceedings with key strategic recommendations to
put forward to the international media and development communities.

POLIS would like to thank its partners: