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Swedish Government Agency Will Fund WAN-IFRA Global Press Initiative
By
Mark Fitzgerald
Published: October 21, 2009 3:07 PM ET
CHICAGO In an unusual partnership announced Wednesday, a Swedish government agency will work with the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) to build news organizations in developing countries, promote female newspaper managers in Africa and support press freedom worldwide.
The agency, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency known as SIDA, is part of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and carries out projects for the government's international assistance and development policies. The arrangement with WAN-IFRA is SIDA's first major partnership with a private-sector organization, according to WAN-IFRA.
In their announcement, the two organizations said they intend to "create and test new tools and methodologies for effective media development strategies to promote democracy and freedom of
expression."
Among the projects planned are programs in developing countries to ensure the financial sustainability of local news media, including the "development of business strategies for independent media in fragile situations and under authoritarian regimes."
That will include pairing Swedish media organizations with newspapers and outlets in the developing nations. The target nations have not yet been designated, WAN-IFRA said.
Another initiative is aimed at "strengthening of the management capacities of female newspaper executives in selected countries in Africa," the announcement said. The initiative includes an exchange program between female executives at Swedish newspapers and women at African papers.
WAN-IFRA and Sida will launch campaigns to promote press freedom worldwide that will include monitoring such violations as the jailing or killing or journalists and censorship and banning of newspapers and other media.
The organizations said they will respond to attacks on journalists with "quick impact projects in acute situations," but will also develop more predictable and pre-planned interventions in areas of strategic relevance.
"Strengthening the management and economic independence of the media sector is of vital importance for domestic accountability, SIDA's general director, Anders Nordstrom, said in a statement. "Only true independence can safeguard the media's watchdog function."
"Sweden and its media industry have long been among the world's staunchest defenders of press freedom, and Sida's commitment to developing free and independent media reflects the country's strong dedication to democratic ideals," said WAN-IFRA Co-CEO Timothy Balding.
Mark Fitzgerald
(mfitzgerald@editorandpublisher.com)
is E&P's editor-at-large.
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