IMS brings Ethiopia, Indonesia together to build stronger media regulatory frameworks

In a significant step for global media solidarity and innovation, IMS facilitated two organisations from two distinct continents to agree to work together on the common challenges they face in the field of media development.

Members of the Ethiopian Media Council (EMC), based in Addis Ababa, visited their counterparts, the Indonesian Press Council (IPC) in Jakarta, to establish more direct connections between Africa and Asia. During the trip, they discussed ways in which the two bodies can share information about building stronger media regulatory frameworks. The IPC’s media regulatory framework is one of the best in Asia while the EMC is yet to establish theirs.

The visit and the discussions were the result of IMS’ efforts to facilitate cooperation between the two organisations as the EMC is based in Addis Ababa, the headquarters of the African Union, while the IPC is based in Jakarta, the headquarters of the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN). IMS facilitated the trip by providing logistics support and financial support, and by coordinating the details between the two organisations.

Main issues

The two organisations discussed three main issues: media regulatory mechanisms in the digital world, negotiating publisher rights with dominant tech companies, and the safety of journalists. Both institutions agreed to collaborate on these areas and to organise annual sessions to share experiences on a wider range of issues. Both councils highlighted the need to have a robust collaboration in the global south.

Additionally, the EMC and the IPC agreed to cooperate on capacity building of staff and other stakeholders, research related to media ethics and development, best practices for handling complaints, and joint projects that addressed common challenges. They also agreed to exchange information and content, and transfer knowledge through short-term staff exchanges.

During the trip, the EMC members visited the offices of Suara and Tempo, where they discussed strategies for maintaining media sustainability while ensuring quality and independence. Additionally, they met representatives of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), the Safety Committee for Journalists (KKJ), and the Association of Media Cyber Indonesia (AMSI) to discuss their efforts in promoting media safety and protection for journalists. EMC members also had the chance to observe the process of conducting journalists’ competency examination at the Kompas Media office.

‘Mutually beneficial’

The IPC told IMS that this collaboration has provided them with a “unique opportunity” to share their experiences and learn from each other. “We are confident that this partnership will lead to significant advancements in media regulation and development, including improving the quality of information in digital spaces. We look forward to synergising our efforts and learning from the Ethiopian Media Council, which has successfully built mechanisms for their members to fund the operation of the media council. We believe this partnership will contribute to the growth of a free, independent, and responsible press in Ethiopia and Indonesia.”

The EMC told IMS that they are proud to collaborate with the IPC to strengthen media regulatory frameworks and promote media development. The EMC believes that this partnership is a significant step towards regional media solidarity and innovation, and will address common challenges faced by media institutions in the global south.

They added, “We firmly believe that a robust partnership between our organisations will be mutually beneficial, fostering the exchange of best practices in media regulation and development. The insights gained from the Indonesian Press Council’s expertise, with the support of IMS, in areas critical to our work, such as media regulation frameworks, ethical complaint handling, media literacy promotion, and support for independent journalism, have been particularly enlightening.”