To mark World Press Freedom Day, the EU-funded MedMedia programme has launched its final regional report. Covering seven countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia) across the Southern Mediterranean, the report looks at media practices and regulations’ effectiveness in tackling hate in the media.

The report and a series of discussions supported by MedMedia on this issue, highlighted several alarming trends including the unethical reporting of migration and extremism; the incitement to hate in live broadcasting and the growing virulence of politicians’ speech on television and social media.

The publication also outlines international standards and key recommendations for better practice directions in this area. As such, it aims to provide useful inputs to media policy makers, journalists, and politicians as to what elements they should consider when regulating, reporting or speaking to the media.

The report is authored by a team of experts including Toby Mendel, Executive Director of the Centre for Law and Democracy, Nahla Momani, Human Rights and Freedom of Expression Expert in Jordan, Bassam Eweidah, Director of the Media faculty at Birzeit University in Palestine, and Sarah Bouchetob, Campaigner at the International Federation of Journalists and MedMedia Senior key expert.

The EU-funded MedMedia project aims to create an enabling environment for media reforms in the Southern Mediterranean region. It is part of the €17 million EU programme “Media and culture for development in the Southern Mediterranean” which aims at supporting the media and culture reform processes in the region.

MedMedia focuses on media legislation, regulation, programming, strategy and leadership with a view to helping state media fulfil their public service mandate and compete with the commercial sector. It will also work to build public trust by strengthening the media’s role as an independent watchdog and a forum for democratic debate.

Read more

Press release

MedMedia report

MedMedia project website