On October 7th, 2019, the BBC released a documentary titled Sex for Grades, which detailed the harrowing tales of female students being coerced into sex in exchange for good grades by their university professors in Nigeria and Ghana. Nearly a year later, on July 7th, 2020, the Nigerian Senate passed the Sexual Harassment Bill 2020, which sought to prevent, prohibit, and redress the sexual harassment of students in tertiary educational institutions.
The role of the media in development can be explained using the economic concept of joint production, where a product results jointly with others from a common input. In the Sex for Grades example, the media showed deeply troubling and problematic practices that opened up necessary conversations about women’s safety on Nigerian and Ghanaian campuses. These conversations eventually culminated in the passage of a law that protects university students from preying lecturers.
The media has been useful in driving behavioural change, perhaps one of its most popular functions worldwide. Although viewed through a development lens, the media influences the need for transparency, accountability, and good governance, all of which are key development indicators. It is also seen as a means to draw attention to other critical development challenges, including public health, climate change, gender inequality, and food security.
This impact can be seen through the work of the investigative journalist Daneel Knoetze, who uncovered several cases of malpractice by the South African police watchdog, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). The release of Killing the Files: IPID’s cover-up of police brutality in South Africa sparked an uproar among South Africans that led to an independent inquiry into the activities of IPID. Daniel Knoetze was awarded the Gatefield-endowed People Journalism Prize for Africa (PJPA) for his documentary.. Also, it caught the attention of the African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum (APCOF), which investigated IPID and presented its findings and a policy paper containing recommendations for improvements in case management and oversight mechanisms. A reporting line for victims of police brutality whose cases have been poorly handled was established.
The media has continually proven that it is more than an adjunct to development. In developing countries, the media remains useful for creating interventions that support and save lives. An effective and plural media raises awareness of social issues, allowing citizens to hold their governments accountable. A plural media encourages informed decision-making and increases accountability, responsiveness, and anti-corruption efforts.
Getting it Right
The media continues to face challenges despite its trove of potential development impacts. Low professional journalistic standards, weak technical skills, undemocratic political systems, and the lack of financial resources are some of the issues that impede the progress of the media and, consequently, societal development. Of the estimated 178.9 billion USD in official development assistance (ODA) in 2021, only about $625 million is spent annually on media development.
Donors have relied on the intervention model, which funds capacity development for local media across the continent. This, however, is insufficient to ensure media independence and sustainability. While tying media funding to specific project timelines may allow for measuring outcomes, this undermines the sustainability of media platforms.
The emergence of new funding models for media development presents an opportunity to foster independent and sustainable media on the continent. For instance, the Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) is a 3-year initiative by the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) working to help build sustainable and diverse revenue streams and audiences for independent media in Nigeria. Similarly, AfricaNoFilter supports African media by creating an ecosystem for media shapers and changemakers and funding the continent’s emerging media platforms. However, the media, like other development issues, needs non-obligatory funding to function. Funding for independent media organisations and journalists should not be tied to development advocacy.
And so, there is no longer an excuse for the media to be excluded from the conversation on global development. Treating the media like a tool for development has been the norm for years. The media facilitates the development process, but the media itself is an outcome of development, so it is therefore a development issue. However, it can only stay on track if it is given the same level of attention and resources as other development indicators.
