Report of the findings of the strengthening African media (STREAM): consultative process

Abstract

This report presents the main findings of the consultative process embarked upon by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), in conjunction with key African media support institutions, to ascertain the priorities for strengthening media institutions in Africa. The consultation process provided a platform for various African media actors to articulate concerns and perspectives, identify priority issues and areas requiring support, and propose concrete initiatives and programmes towards a strengthened media sector. The report is structured as: Chapter one discusses the media and communications context within which the consultation took place, noting the key historical and contemporary processes that would define, and be influenced by, the initiative. Chapter two outlines the methodology employed in the consultation process, underscoring the ethnographic nature of the consultation as a socially embedded ‘research’ process. Chapter three presents the main findings of the consultation, highlighting the major issues, problems and proposals emerging out of the discussions. The analysis of the findings takes the form of regional overviews, presented in tabular form. These findings are then taken up in Chapter four in the form of a synthesized discussion, highlighting common themes and issues. Chapter five sets out priority areas for intervention. Chapter six concludes the report, with a summary of the key conclusions.