Project
The International Programme for Development of Communication (IPDC)
Project duration: March 2022 – January 2023
Location: Jordan
List of Donor(s): Since 2020, IPDC is supported by 12 Member States, including Andorra, Finland, France, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and Uruguay. In addition to ICESCO, the Internet Society and Google.
Brief project overview
The IPDC promotes media development within developing countries, countries in transition, and countries in conflict and post-conflict situations. As the only multilateral forum in the UN system designed to mobilize the international community around media development, the Programme provides support for media projects while seeking accord to secure a healthy environment for the growth of free and pluralistic press.
Objectives
The International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC) provides small grants for independent media development. Decisions are made by 8 UNESCO Member States who are elected to the IPDC Bureau. Their decisions are made within UNESCO’s global priorities – Africa and Gender Equality.
The IPDC Bureau supports projects that aim at:
Supporting media pluralism (particularly community media) and independence (improving self-regulation and professional standards).
Promoting the safety of journalists.
Countering hate speech in media and social media, promoting conflict-sensitive journalism practice and/or promoting cross-cultural/cross-religious dialogue among journalists.
Supporting law reform fostering media independence.
Conducting media assessments and research based on UNESCO's Media Development Indicators (MDIs), the Gender Sensitive Indicators for the Media (GSIM), the Internet Universality Indicators, the Journalists' Safety Indicators, or the Media Viability indicators.
Capacity building for journalists and media managers, including improving journalism education (for example, using one of UNESCO's handbooks for journalism education).
Media Viability
Covid-19 intensified economic pressures facing the news media industry in Jordan. This includes newsroom closures, layoffs and pay cuts for journalists. UNESCO, through the IPDC, worked with the Community Media Network (CMN) to build back a stronger media system in Jordan. In collaboration with CMN and the Media and Digital Runway for Arab Journalists (MADRAJ), a needs assessment targeting 5 media organizations was conducted to identify gaps in their digital content development, audience outreach, marketing, and IT infrastructure. Five in-house and tailor-made consultations were facilitated for the targeted media outlets to address identified gaps that were diagnosed through the assessment and to suggest remedial actions and solutions in areas such as audience development, digital development, and organizational management in order to help them optimize revenues and improve their resilience to economic challenges. In addition, 17 aspiring journalists representing 13 different media organizations were selected for a one-week boot camp with practical advice and assistance to develop their media strategies and enhance their digital reporting skills on issues related to human and social topics.
Quality Journalism around Migration and Refugees
Journalists have a role in improving public understanding on migration and refugees, but real expertise is required if reporters are to really do justice to the subject. UNESCO, in collaboration with UNHCR, supported the launch of the Arabic version of the UNESCO Handbook for Journalism Educators: Reporting on Migrants and Refugees, which was hosted by the Jordan Media Institute (JMI), under the patronage of HRH Princess Rym Ali, on 5 November 2022. The goal of the handbook is to improve the coverage of refugees and create a more balanced and informed public debate across countries via collaborative and qualitative reporting in the Arab region, which hosts both the largest and oldest refugee population in the world. This extensive publication enables journalists to learn how knowledge and awareness of accurate facts, reliable sources, and ethical reporting are key to cover migration and forced displacement.
The power of podcasts to shape reality and make our voices heard
UNESCO Jordan, through the support of the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), has launched two Podcast initiatives, one focusing on Media and Information Literacy (MIL), and how the media can be utilized to fight misinformation, in addition to youth sharing stories about the challenges and difficulties they have faced during the pandemic.
The two podcast initiatives targeted 40 young people to develop their media skills and produce their own audio content. The two projects have been implemented in collaboration with two thriven networks in the podcast industry in Jordan () & (). Both podcasting platforms worked to challenge official narratives and put focus on issues that are rarely discussed in Jordanian mainstream media and public debate. Through 13 audio episodes, the voices of youth were heard while discussing issues close to Jordan people and exploring concepts of equality, diversity, and human rights.
To listen to Covid - Cast podcast. Click .
To listen to Harrer Podcast. Click .
