Media developers around the world work with institutions, organizations and individuals to ensure reliable and professional information is available to communities and to spark and encourage responsible debate that is key to good governance. Media development involves change related to freedom of expression, pluralism and diversity of media, media ownership, media education and a positive enabling environment; it is often associated with playing a role in democracy – effective democratic discourse is often enabled through the support of free and independent media.
The recognition and acknowledgement that information and access to information clearly relate to good governance is stated in SDG 16.10. By extension the fight against both terrorism and countering violent extremism (CVE) stresses the importance of media development but also increasingly puts this work in the spotlight.
As such, it is imperative that there is consideration of the linkage of media and media development and what role they may play in the prevention of radicalisation and violent extremism. This work has already begun and CVE-related activities are now making their way into the field of media development.