Regional Media Program

Asia remains a difficult continent in terms of media policy. In an international comparison of press freedom, most countries are a long way down the ladder. Government bodies frequently obstruct the work of independent media by legislative means or are seeking to strengthen state influence over such media. Increasing trends towards the commercialisation of media and the fashion for infotainment are barriers to high-quality, inclusive, neutral reporting. Repressive conditions, arbitrary licensing procedures, private and state monopolies, the criminalisation of journalists, violence and intimidation, poor wages, corruption and inadequate training are the main reasons, alongside state- and self-censorship, for the rather sluggish emergence of free, democratic media in the region.

The regional media work undertaken by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Asia therefore promotes the creation of a legal and political framework that guarantees freedom of opinion and information, and permits access to pluralistic, quality information. The FES also advises the media and major communication bodies on how to perform their role as free, independent vehicles of information for societies engaged in a process of democratic development. This takes the concrete form of developing an Asian model for public broadcasting and implementing and builds on the Bangkok Declaration. Apart from continuous training designed to improve independent, quality journalism, the FES also contributes to international dialogue between media workers, politicians and the public. To this end the regional media project works not only with national partners, but also with the three regional media organisations: the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC) and Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU).