Media and Development (eBook)

This title demonstrates the significant actual and potential contribution of the media to development which takes several forms. It explains the forces in play that continue to influence the ever evolving forms and structures of the media and introduces a policy agenda for developing countries and donors that would support the active participation of developing countries in this process to better achieve their development goals. The paper aims to increase awareness in the development community of the contribution of the media to development and thereby enhance its priority status.

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The media's contribution to development occurs simultaneously along five closely intermingled influences: plurality and transparency, behavioral, infrastructure and platform, economic, and trade. The media are at the cutting edge of technological change, where the digitalization of content, Next Generation Networks, falling device and distribution costs, ever-increasing abundance and new business models are overturning the pre-existing order of markets and the media, though broadcasting, particularly radio, remain crucial in developing countries. This offers new development opportunities requiring new policy initiatives, and the realization of this by the development community. In many instances the media has yet to attain its appropriate status on the list of development priorities.