African Media Initiative

Background to AMI

The African Media Initiative is a result of 2 major consultative processes involving key stakeholders in the African media sector:

1. African Media Development Initiative (AMDI – a major research undertaking organised by the BBC World Service Trust in partnership with two African universities)

2. Strengthening African Media (STREAM- a series of electronic and workshop consultations held across sub-Saharan Africa facilitated by the UN Economic Commission for Africa)

The Research Findings

The AMDI and STREAM reports identified the following four key areas for action to strengthen African media:

1.Policy and Media Freedom

2.Capacity Building and Professionalisation

3.Investment and Infrastructure

4.Research

The Research Findings

AMI Steering Committee

The AMI Steering Committee was formed with representatives from both the AMDI and STREAM processes to direct the second phase, responding to the challenges posed by the findings of the 2 reports.

They agreed that:

1. A technical team of experts should be identified to review the research findings of the AMDI and STREAM reports and to identify and develop concrete proposals for addressing them

2. The BBC World Service Trust should act as the Secretariat to the AMI

Current Status of AMI

• SC, TT of 12 members, and Secretariat met in Jo’burg in December to agree priority areas and workplan for the TT.

• TT divided into four groups, each focussing on a five year plan for one of the four priority areas.

• A separate consultant is working to design the

“facility” to receive and disburse the funds for the activities identified by the TT.

The Next Steps

January- June 2008

• Technical team prepare their unified response to the challenges posed by the AMDI and STREAM reports to be presented to the Steering Committee in March 2008

• AMI press launch to coincide with UNESCO World Press Freedom day event in Maputo in May

• A final report to be presented to a Stakeholder’s Forum in June 2008