IMS Annual Report 2011
The IMS Annual Report 2011 provides an overview of our work across five continents in a year of whirlwind developments for the media.
2011 was a year marked by whirlwind developments in the world of media with new opportunities to widen the space for press freedom in the Arab World, Myanmar and South Sudan and a continued expansion of IMS’ work around the world. The IMS annual report 2011 describes the work of that IMS carried out in countries in political and social transition as well as countries with severe repressive media environments. It also marks the 10th anniversary of IMS’ existence. IMS’ broad media sector approach, our ability to respond rapidly and flexibly in emergencies and our ambition to work in close partnership with national and international organisations is the DNA of IMS’ activities across 50 countries worldwide.
Building on eight years of experience and credibility gained amongst long-term partners in the Arab region, IMS was quick to respond to the immediate needs of media in Egypt, Libya and Tunisia following the uprisings, supporting the building of national coalitions that take ownership of media development in their country and contribute to the drafting of new media laws and gathering international partners with an aim to coordinate efforts.
In Myanmar in 2011, the government set in motion a number of democratic changes including a media law reform. In response to the positive developments in Myanmar, IMS carried out a broad analysis of the country’s media sector. IMS is now working with the Myanmar media community, government and other international media support organisations to help shape the future of media development in Myanmar.
The positive developments in the Arab world and Myanmar were counterbalanced by a serious decline in press freedom in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia as well as Latin America. However, in Ukraine, in spite of an increasingly restrictive environment, the year began on a positive note with parliament’s adoption of the Law on Access to Public Information in January 2011 following a 2.5-year advocacy campaign by Ukrainian civil society, IMS and other international organisations.
The report also pays tribute to IMS’ local media partners in the countries in which IMS works that have courageously made change happen in 2011 and continue to do so, sometimes putting their lives at risk.
