Show me the money: Censorship + financial independence (The Backstory S1E2)

Show me the money: Censorship + financial independence (The Backstory S1E2)

Author: WAN-IFRA, World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers March 1, 2018 Duration: 24:53
How do you run an independent media organisation in a country where the government imposes censorship rules? How do you support a successful media company without folding to pressure from your funders or your sponsors? The internet has exploded traditional media funding models. And yet, in some parts of the world, legacy media - even print! - remain a strong source of independent information. How are these companies surviving? In this episode of The Backstory, WAN-IFRA Press Freedom Director, Andrew Heslop, meets some of them to find out: - Sonny Swe, founder and CEO of Black Knight Media Group and publisher of Frontier Myanmar magazine (https://frontiermyanmar.net/en) - Harlan Mandel, CEO of the Media Development Investment Fund, which invests in independent media organisations around the world (https://www.mdif.org/) - Fatemah Farag, founder and CEO of Welad ElBalad Media, a network of local newspapers in Egypt (https://www.weladelbalad.com) and MENA Director for WAN-IFRA’s Women in News Programme The Backstory production team includes Mariona Sanz, Colette Davidson and Sarah Elzas, who edited and mixed the episode. Music in this episode by Broke for Free (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_01_Night_Owl) and Lee Rosevere (http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Xeno/Lee_Rosevere_-_Xeno_-_05_Vertex)

Ever wonder what really happens before a story hits the front page or goes live online? The Backstory: A media freedom podcast, from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, pulls back the curtain on the entire process. It’s not just for journalists and editors, but for anyone curious about the mechanics and the human effort behind the news we consume. Each episode digs into the real-world conditions that shape reporting, moving from abstract ideals to the gritty, daily realities faced by media professionals across the globe. In its current season, the conversation focuses sharply on the pressing state of press freedom, with voices from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the MENA region providing firsthand accounts. These aren’t theoretical discussions; they are grounded in the challenges of operating in restrictive environments, fighting misinformation, and maintaining integrity under pressure. The dialogue also turns toward constructive paths forward, examining how the industry is adapting and what solutions are emerging. A significant thread running through these talks is the impact of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and how they are fundamentally altering the future landscape of journalism. By tuning into this podcast, you’ll hear unvarnished perspectives on both the threats to a free press and the innovative resilience defining its next chapter.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 30

The Backstory: A media freedom podcast
Podcast Episodes
Press freedom in Africa, 30 years after Windhoek (The Backstory S4E1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:04
It’s been thirty years since the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Press was born on May 3, 1991 in Namibia. The declaration was not only a proud moment for African journalis…
Reporting on injustice: women journalists championing change (S3E4) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:36
Journalists should be committed to reporting facts and presenting the news in an honest way. But when they use their reporting to give a voice to those who are under-represented - to victims instead of perpetrators - the…
Women journalists taking on tech (The Backstory S3E3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:23
Technology has revolutionised how we get our news. Data visualisation and multimedia are increasingly used to tell stories, and coding is no longer just for computer scientists. But when it comes to working with digital…
Women leading women in the news (The Backstory S3E2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:44
Women in leadership, diversity in the workplace - these are catchphrases that media organisations are talking about, but what do they mean? Why is it important to have women in top positions? And who are the women who ar…
Contracts that keep journalists safe (The Backstory S2E5) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:20
A contract may seem like an afterthought for a freelancer, and it’s not obvious how it is linked to safety. But contracts should be a part of every journalist’s conversation with an editor, especially when the assignment…
The cost of safety (The Backstory S2E4) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:40
What is the cost of keeping yourself safe when you’re a journalist? Journalists, editors and security managers help us start to understand how money can be a safety concern in itself, especially for freelancers who are o…