Understanding factors and barriers to alternative media development in emerging economies: Learning from the Check Global project

Turner, Jerome and Saber, Dima (2021) Understanding factors and barriers to alternative media development in emerging economies: Learning from the Check Global project. First Monday, 26 (2). ISSN 1396-0466

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Abstract

Check Global is a journalism and digital literacy development project (2019-21) supporting countries and regions affected by conflict or state controls. In such contexts, expectations are set high for alternative journalism to accurately counter mainstream media narratives, controlled as they often are by economic or authoritarian agendas; this article presents factors to be taken into consideration as a starting point for better understanding the challenges involved in developing journalism e.g through funded training initiatives. The article draws on interviews with prominent alternative media outlets (some of them Check Global partners) from India, Latin America, Egypt and Lebanon, who therefore have operational experience of these issues. By viewing digital and social media through an anti-determinist lens, we challenge assumptions - especially prevalent following the 2011 Arab uprisings - that ‘open-access’ and social media platforms can easily provide solutions to media plurality concerns. We explore factors such as the role of technology in alternative media, but also the main barriers faced by alternative media projects and outlets. This article therefore opens up a more honest discussion about the nature of alternative media projects in such contexts, and the ways in which digital literacy projects such as Check Global could support them.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.5210/fm.v26i2.11370
Dates:	Date Event 27 November 2020 Accepted 13 January 2021 Published
Uncontrolled Keywords:	alternative media, digital literacy, journalism, Check Global, development project, NAWA
Subjects:	CAH24 - media, journalism and communications > CAH24-01 - media, journalism and communications > CAH24-01-04 - journalism CAH24 - media, journalism and communications > CAH24-01 - media, journalism and communications > CAH24-01-05 - media studies
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts, Design and Media > College of English and Media
Depositing User:	Jerome Turner
Date Deposited:	11 Jan 2022 16:26
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2023 16:17
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/10429

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