Media Development

The document advocates for the integration of communication rights into global development frameworks, specifically proposing a new UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 18) titled 'Communication for All'. It explores the philosophical basis of communication as an essential human need, examines how 'communication and information poverty' undermines existing SDGs—particularly regarding gender equality, ICT infrastructure, and peace and justice—and provides case studies on media restrictions and digital divides in Palestine, Gaza, and Ethiopia. Additionally, it discusses the role of community media for Indigenous Peoples and the use of communication to support memory and justice processes in Argentina.

• The document proposes a missing UN Sustainable Development Goal, 'SDG 18: Communication for All', which aims to expand public civic spaces through affordable access to communication technologies, media pluralism, and diversity.
• Communication and information poverty is defined as structural deficits that prevent people from participating in decision-making, manifesting as lack of access to platforms, underrepresentation in media, low media literacy, and restrictions on freedom of expression.
• Gender inequality is a critical dimension of communication poverty, as women and girls are frequently underrepresented in media and face gender-based violence when exercising freedom of expression, particularly women journalists.
• In the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), Israel maintains control over ICT infrastructure, which the document describes as a 'digital occupation' that enables mass surveillance and restricts digital rights to privacy and freedom of expression.
• Journalists in the Gaza Strip face severe restrictions from both Israeli occupation authorities and Hamas, including arbitrary detention, harassment of female journalists, and the requirement of Hamas-issued cards to conduct interviews in government institutions.
• Ethiopia faces a 'digital divide' across three levels: basic access (first-level), usage skills (second-level), and the failure of access and skills to lead to beneficial outcomes (third-level), exemplified by frequent system failures in civil services.
• For Indigenous Peoples, community-based radio is a vital tool for defending cultures and rights, especially in remote areas where it serves as the primary source of news and information in mother tongues.
• In Argentina, the right to communication is presented as a fundamental tool for the 'process of memory, truth and justice' regarding crimes committed during the state terrorism of the 1970s and 1980s, helping to combat denialist discourses.

APA

World Association for Christian Communication (2019). Media Development. https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/wacc-global/Images/Galleries/RESOURCES/MD/2019-2/2-2019.MD.final1.pdf

Chicago

World Association for Christian Communication. Media Development. 2019. https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/wacc-global/Images/Galleries/RESOURCES/MD/2019-2/2-2019.MD.final1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Association for Christian Communication |title=Media Development |date=February 2019 |url=https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/wacc-global/Images/Galleries/RESOURCES/MD/2019-2/2-2019.MD.final1.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldassociationforchristiancommunication2019media, author = {{World Association for Christian Communication}}, title = {{Media Development}}, institution = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2019}, month = feb, url = {https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/wacc-global/Images/Galleries/RESOURCES/MD/2019-2/2-2019.MD.final1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }