Media Matters is an independent publication of Internews Europe on behalf of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) about the central role of the media in effective development.
Published in October 2006 after a year-long collaboration among media-development practitioners and leading social, political and communications scientists, Media Matters presents core messages to the international development community and to policy-makers on the central role of independent media in effective development. It draws together thinking and analysis that covers the breadth and depth of the media-development landscape.
Media Matters executive summary:
Section I: Why Media Matters: Global Perspectives 
Information Equality: the Third Revolution, David Hoffman, President, Internews Network, Chair, Global Forum on Media Development
Integrating Approaches to Good Governance, Press Freedom and Intercultural Tolerance, Sashi Tharoor, Under-Secretary General for Communication and Public Information, United Nations
Media Development and Speech in the Public Sphere, Thomas Jacobson, Temple University
Why the Media Matters: the Relevance of the Media to Tackling Poverty, James Deane, Communication for Social Change Consortium Gender Inequality, Media and Development, Margaret Gallagher, International Media Consultant
Access to the Electromagnetic Spectrum is a Foundation for Development Christian Sandvig, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Media, Governance and Development: An Empirical Perspective that Challenges Convention, Daniel Kaufmann, World Bank Institute
Section II: How Media Matters: Measuring its Impact Moving Media: The Case for the Role of Communications in Meeting the MDGs, Warren Feek, The Communication Initiative
The Role of the Free Press in Promoting Democratization, Good Governance and Human Development, Pippa Norris, Harvard University and Democratic Governance Group, UNDP
Measuring Change in Media Systems: The Media Sustainability Index, Mark Whitehouse, IREX
A Monitoring and Evaluation Toolkit for Media Development: What do available indicators and integrative approaches have to offer?, Antonio Lambino II, Alexandra Tebay and Sarah Buzby, Annenberg School for Communication
A Road Map for Monitoring and Evaluation in the Media Development Sector, Alan Davis, Institute of War and Peace Reporting
Section III: Challenges in Media Matters: Practitioner Experiences The Enabling Environment for Free and Independent Media, Monroe Price, Annenberg School, University of Pennsylvania, and Peter Krug, University of Oklahoma College of Law
Strategies for Media Development, Ann Hudock, The Asia Foundation
Affordable Capital: Turning Press Freedom Heroes into Entrepreneurs, Sasa Vucinic, Media Development Loan Fund
Ideological, Legal, Economic and Professional Obstacles to Media Development in Africa, Jeanette Minnie, Consultant, Zambezi Fox
A Rich Complex Landscape: Challenges and Advances in Media Development in Latin America, Jaime Abello Banfi, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano
Arab Media Lagging Behind: Freedom of Expression, Lost Credibility and the Rise of Independent Media, Ibrahim Nawar, Arab Press Freedom Watch
Media Assistance in the Former Soviet Union: A Job Well done?, Manana Aslamazyan, Internews Russia
Staying Alive: Media Independence in South East Asia, Kavi Chongkittavorn, The Nation, and the Southeast Asian Press Alliance
Media Development in Challenging Environments: Uzbekistan after Andijan, Andrew Stroehlein, the International Crisis Group
Crisis and Opportunity in the Public Sphere: Lessons from Pakistan’s Earthquake Zones, Adnan Rehmat, Intermedia
Media, Development and Governance: Facilitating Local Analysis of Global Issues, Teresa Hanley, Jon Barnes and Murali Shanmugavelan, Panos Institute, London
Community Radio: Perspectives on Media Reach and Audience Access, Marcelo Solervicens, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
Global Health – Local News: The Need to Build Independent Journalism into the Public Health Agenda, Ron MacInnis, Internews Network
The Nexus between Independent Journalists’ Unions, Press Freedom and Poverty Eradication, Christopher Warren, International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Section IV: Mapping the Sector: Literature, Surveys & Resources Participatory Diffusion or Semantic Confusion?, Adam Rogers, United Nations Capital Development Fund
Media Development: The Case for Research, Susan Abbott, Annenberg School for Communication
Mapping the Media Asssistance Sector: Mapping the Sector, Ellen Hume, University of Massachusetts
Selected Resources, Laura Stein, Katy Pearce and Myriam Horngren
List of Organisations that attended the Inaugural Global Forum on Media Development, Amman, Jordan, October 2005
GFMD Steering Committee, Regional Fora and Coordination (2006 – 2008)
Internews Europe and GFMD wish to thank the following people and organisations for their advice and support in compiling this publication:
Sina Odugbemi, Eamoinn Taylor and Richard Rose, UK Department for International Development (DFID); Markus Dürst, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); Monroe Price, Director, Project for Global Communication Studies, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania; Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research, UK; Communication and Information Sector, UNESCO; Annette Makino, Internews Network.