ADF IV MEDIA AND GOVERNANCE FOCUS GROUP

ISSUES PAPER

Introduction

Good governance is perhaps the most critical factor in development. Governance gone wrong impedes progress, while governance done well accelerates progress. A well-governed state is essentially a "capable state". In this light, Africa's inability to fulfill its potential over the past three decades can be seen as being to a large extent the result of "incapable states": unable to discharge their responsibilities, prone to high levels of corruption, high levels of political and personal insecurity, low levels of domestic and foreign investment, biased judiciaries, a stifled domestic private sector and low growth rates and increasing levels of poverty.

Unlike a decade ago, when the need for good governance was a taboo subject to broach with African leaders and governments, there is now increasing acceptance, at the highest levels, of the need for the creation of capable states. Indeed, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) initiative nominates good governance as one of its core principles. But we must be careful to pay more than just lip service to this. The media has a key role to play in this context, as democracy cannot function optimally without a free and informed media.

Objective of the Focus Group

The purpose of the ADF IV Media and Governance Focus Group is to discuss the ongoing role of the African media (in all its forms: state, private, public; nongovernmental, national and community; broadcast, print and internet) in promoting good governance. In particular, it will focus on the media's role in the creation and safeguarding of a vibrant and informed "open society" and an enhanced democratic culture through ensuring transparency and accountability, empowering the "voiceless", promoting dialogue, and providing a "space" in which freedom of expression can be exercised and the public is able to participate in policymaking. It will also share experiences of best practice on the continent.

Key Issues

1) Ensuring transparency and accountability

The media is widely acknowledged to have an important role to play as a public watchdog in exposing corruption, checking abuses of power, defending human rights and upholding democratic transparency through the effective monitoring of elections. The past decade has seen substantial progress in this regard in many parts of Africa. Yet a number of questions remain:

• What is the role of the media in Africa in the 21^st century? Should it be satisfied with acting as an observer and facilitator, or should it have a more activist role?

• Is the media currently capable of efficiently presenting accurate, unbiased information to the public?

• What conditions are needed to ensure that the media is able to hold even the most senior political leaders to account for their actions?

• Few countries have freedom of information laws. How necessary are these to the media's ability to discharge its duties? What message needs to be relayed to government leaders and policy makers in this regard?

2) State, private and public media - A world of difference?

A huge slice of the media in Africa is still owned by the State. However, increasing numbers of media houses are now in private hands. This greater pluralism has often been lauded as an end in itself. But it is important now to ask whether private ownership is always going to promote good governance and the "public good". There is justifiable concern over whether we should be uncritically promoting private media, particularly in light of the numerous issues of sustainability, transparency and accountability related to the nascent private media sector in many countries. What is at issue, therefore, is whether the growth in the `private' media is by itself enough, or whether there is also a need for the development of effective, independent, `public' media in Africa. The following questions must be explored:

• Exactly how free and independent is the African media today? How much is the payer of the piper in charge of "calling the tune"? Is the source of funding the deciding factor in editorial independence and allegiance to the community?

• Both `State' and `Public' media are financed basically from the same source (license fee, state budget etc). Where, then, do any significant differences between them lie?

• Media companies are businesses and need to operate profitably. But are corporate interests becoming too powerful in the African media market?

• How can the private media be made to provide the quality of news and information that is necessary for the "public good"?

3) Diversity and participation in the dialogue

The importance of ensuring the participation of a wide range of stakeholders in the development process is now repeatedly stressed. There is also empirical evidence that popular participation in local and national decisions helps to improve the quality of government projects. In some case studies, this new emphasis on the participation of the poor in the formulation of poverty reduction and development policy was said to have given them a voice where macro-level democratic institutions such as the national parliament failed. It is clear that participation must be embedded in the system of governance at all levels in order for sustainable development to take root. In this context, the following questions need to be addressed by the media:

• How effective is the media in stimulating the necessary debate on economic, social and political policy? Does it have the capacity to analyse the issues? Is it informed enough to ask the right questions of policymakers?

• Is the African media capable of accurately articulating issues on behalf of the "voiceless"? Shouldn't the voiceless themselves speak and be heard? How can the media assist in this?

• Is the media serving as facilitator of dialogue among all sections of society?

• What can be done by the media to make the national discourse on issues more inclusive?

• Is the media sensitive enough to the information needs of diverse sections of society?

• Is it the business of the media to actively seek to empower the "voiceless"?

4) Access to the profession

In many countries in Africa, the state continues to have direct or indirect control over the media and who is able to work as a journalist. However, it is recognised by most journalists that although stiff professionalism and a culture of ethical conduct is a must if the media is to be responsible and thriving, the government should not be the one to decide on who can work as a journalist. In this context, the media has to address the following:

• Who watches the watchmen? What is the best way to ensure that media power is not abused? How can the media be held accountable?

• In what instances, if any, should individuals be blocked from working in the profession?

• How can minimum standards of professionalism be upheld?

• Are independent associations/unions of journalists playing the required role in promoting responsibility in the media?

• What is the best practice of self-regulation in Africa?

Conclusion

These are some of the issues that the Media and Governance Focus Group will need to consider before the ADF IV in October 2004. The group's agreement on key areas of concern, and consensus on recommended actions, is intended to guide the plenary deliberations, with other stakeholders and selected Heads of States, at the Forum itself.