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Opportunity 9: In the long term, explore the development of media degree programs.
The value and effectiveness of developing academic programs in journalism also remain unclear
for the moment. In the medium term, it would be more important to focus on existing,
practicing journalists rather than to produce additional reporters at the entry level. In the longer
term, a solid degree program would be worthy of examination, provided that it builds both
theoretical and technical skills and responds to the needs of the market. A specific feasibility
study would be recommended before significant investment in this direction.
Opportunity 10: Remain cognizant of how donor assistance can sometimes distort
dynamics.
Precisely because there has been little donor investment in the media sector, there is an
opportunity and responsibility to be cognizant of how donor assistance can sometimes distort
sector dynamics. Despite the sector’s challenges, it has succeeded to grow more or less on its
own. Efforts to address challenges should take lessons learned from other sectors and other
environments to help ensure that they do not inadvertently exacerbate existing differences
between the government and independent media, between journalists and their managers, or
between outlets and the market.
