Organizations active in the region

Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA)

The Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA), an initiative of the National Endowment for Democracy, aims to strengthen the support, raise the visibility, and improve the effectiveness of media assistance programs throughout the world.

The Center approaches its mission by providing information, building networks, conducting research, and highlighting the indispensable role independent media play in the creation and development of sustainable democracies around the world.

CIMA convenes working groups, commissions research reports, and holds events. The Center has also compiled a bibliographic database of international media assistance resources. CIMA’s advisory council advises the Center on topics in media development that need further study and how it can assist existing organizations involved in media assistance.

European Journalism Centre (EJC)

The European Journalism Centre (EJC) is an independent, international, non-profit institute dedicated to the highest standards in journalism, primarily through the further training of journalists and media professionals.

EJC has extensive international network and operates as a facilitator and partner in a wide variety of training projects.

Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting (FAIR)

FAIR is a New York based national media watch group, offering well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship since 1986.

FAIR works to invigorate the First Amendment by advocating for greater diversity in the press and by scrutinizing media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints.

FAIR works with both activists and journalists and maintain a regular dialogue with reporters at news outlets across USA, providing constructive critiques when called for and applauding exceptional, hard-hitting journalism.

FAIR publishes "Extra!", the award-winning magazine of media criticism, and produces the weekly radio program "CounterSpin", the show that brings you the news behind the headlines.

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)

The Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) constitutes a network of some 500 non-governmental media assistance organizations operating in about 100 countries across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Eurasia and the Americas, which support the development of independent media at the community, national and regional level.

The work of the GFMD includes:

• establishing common standards and ethics for media development work that encourage cross-sector cooperation;
• providing an international forum for the discussion of ideas, information and strategies in the field of media development and to facilitate communication among GFMD members;
• creating a platform for media development practitioners to interact with donors, governments, opinion leaders and the wider public making the case for media development as a primary pillar for advancing social, economic, and democratic development;
• promoting and disseminating research and analysis of the impact of media development on governance, civic participation, poverty alleviation, emergent crises, and markets worldwide;
• advancing best practice methods for media development through shared learning, training and evaluation, educating members, policymakers and the general public on the importance of free, independent, pluralistic and viable media to human and economic development.

Institute for War and Peace Reporting

The Institute for War and Peace Reporting aims to build peace and democracy through free and fair media.

Institute of Communication Ethics

The Institute of Communication Ethics, based in the UK, provides a platform for the worldwide study and practice for the learning/teaching of communication ethics, a discipline that supports communication practitioners by offering tools and analyzes for the understanding of ethical issues.

The Institute of Communication Ethics services include an interactive website where members and others can come to communicate and address their colleagues, organization of events and meetings in local and international groups, publishing of Ethical Space journal, in both printed and electronic versions, along with editors’ blogs, research and publication.

Membership covers dozens of countries. Any members wishing to establish a network in their country simply needs to contact the institute coordinators and provided there is academic support for the network, only a few simple procedures are required to commence national institution.

International Center for Journalists (ICFJ)

The International Center for Journalists is an independent and nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of journalism worldwide.

International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX)

The International Research Exchanges Board works with local partners around the world to advance the professionalism and long-term economic sustainability of newspapers, radio, television, and Internet media.

Media Diversity Institute (MDI)

The Media Diversity Institute (MDI) is a charity, non-partisan organization that mobilises the power of media to lessen inter-group conflict, advance human rights – especially minority rights – and support deeper public understanding of all types of social diversity.

Mediawise (formerly PressWise)

The MediaWise Trust is a registered UK charity (1999) and a limited company, providing advice, information, research and training on media ethics.

MediaWise provides:

• free, confidential advice and assistance for members of the public affected by inaccurate, intrusive, or sensational media coverage;
• deliver use-of-the-media training for the voluntary sector and members of the public;
• devise and deliver training on ethical issues for media professionals;
• conduct research and publish material about media law, policy and practice and
• contribute to public debate about the role and impact of the mass media.

Open Society Foundation (OSF), Programme on Independent Journalism

The Open Society Foundations are a family of offices and foundations working to build vibrant and tolerant societies with acceptable governments. The Programme on Independent Journalism seeks to promote independent and viable media and professional, quality journalism in countries undergoing a process of democratization, and building functioning media markets. The Programme sees independent journalism as playing a crucial role in the functioning of democracies and in establishing standards for practices and content in a media environment marked by evolving communications technologies.

Pew Center for Civic Journalism

The Pew Center, created by the US Pew Charitable Trusts, is an incubator for civic journalism experiments that enable news organizations to create and refine better ways of reporting the news to re-engage people in public life.

The Center shares the results of various civic journalism experiments with the journalism community through its workshops, publications, videos, and other programs like Funding for Civic Journalism Projects, James K. Batten Awards for Excellence in Civic Journalism, Quarterly Civic Catalyst Newsletters, etc.

Since it was created, the center has helped to support more than 120 initiatives that have sought to give ordinary people a voice in coverage of their communities, helped them identify problems and deliberate solutions, and empowered them to become active civic participants.

Poynter Institute

The Poynter Institute is a school dedicated to teaching and inspiring journalists and media leaders. It organizes training seminars and maintains an online resource centre with publications, reports and links to help in the professional development of journalists and news media leaders.

Poynter Institute Online offers a huge resource center with wide bibliography, tip sheets on ethics and other relevant materials, journalism organizations, libraries, publications, etc.

Thomson Reuters Foundation

The Thomson Reuters Foundation provides training for journalists around the globe, sharing the skills and values that have made its parent Reuters world-renowned as a highly reliable and trusted source of news and information.