Bolivia is the second Latin American country where the Media Development Indicators (MDI) were applied following the methodology developed by the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO).

This study was carried out from June 2011 to June 2012 by the Bolivian Media Observatory (ONADEM in Spanish) from UNIR Bolivia Foundation and supervised by Rosa González, the Communication and Information Counselor for the UNESCO`s Representation of Andean countries.

After finishing the application, the 250 page report was submitted to a peer review assessment. The peer review comments were implemented by UNIR and another version of the document was presented to UNESCO by the end of 2012. Due to lack of funds to translate the entire document into English for UNESCO final comments, it was needed to find a solution. In 2014, the report was updated and a robust executive summary was produced in Spanish (80 pages) for further translating into English. Since, 2014 was an electoral year in Bolivia, the decision was to present the final updated report to new authorities in the first semester of 2015.

The research identifies the characteristics of the media landscape in Bolivia according to international freedom of expression standards right and provides a roadmap for the way forward. The results show a balanced overview of the current situation thanks to answers obtained from a wide range of personal, institutional and documentary sources.

Two advanced drafts of the report were presented to the Advisory Council in October 2011 and February 2012. The information and recommendations included in the report can be used by political, social and cultural actors when designing public policies about communication and information in the near future in Bolivia.

The study used the methodological approach of the MDIs which were endorsed in (2008 by the Intergovernmental Council of the International Programme for Development of Communication (IPDC). The MDI framework includes five categories:

1. A system of regulation conducive to freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity of the media.

2. Plurality and diversity of media, a level economic playing field and transparency of ownership.

3. Media as a platform for democratic discourse.

4. Professional capacity building and supporting institutions that underpins freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity.

5. Infrastructural capacity is sufficient to support independent and pluralistic media.

An advisory council was formed comprising of 22 institutions28 to receive their suggestions about the methodological design of the projects as well as relevant information sources to be consulted from among journalists’ trade unions, media enterprises, civil society, non-governmental organizations and universities.

The research involved an in-depth review of international and national laws related to the media and journalists’ codes of ethics in place in the country. Eighty interviews were carried out with a wide range of stakeholders in different cities of Bolivia.

This report needs to be published to promote the public discussion about media development in democracy. That is why this proposal intends to publish the research report in an executive synopsis and then raise awareness, both its findings and recommendations among public and social actors.

It will be particularly important to develop a process of dissemination of the report in the three cities with the largest population in Bolivia (La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz) to open the public debate about advances, strengths, challenges and risks in the filed of communication and information.

This goal will be achieved through two workshops in each of the three cities according the following modalities:

1) The content of workshops will focus on the presentation of the main research results of UNESCO Media Development study in Bolivia, in each of the categories of indicators, to promote a discussion about public policies, media-related rights, and professional standards in journalism.

2) The 6 workshops will be developed in coordination with the UNIR Bolivia office in La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. In each city, local authorities, journalists and representatives of journalists’ trade unions will be invited. Each workshop will have a one-day duration.