The Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), a not-for-profit, Belgian registered ASBL, is a network of journalism support and media assistance groups established in 2005 in Amman, Jordan. The GFMD’s core value is to support the creation and strengthening of journalism and free, independent, sustainable and pluralistic news ecosystems.
GFMD’s vision is summarised in a code of practice developed by and for its members as a common ethical framework to which GFMD members commit themselves. Our aims foster:
- Collaboration: We act together to increase strategic coherence and foster collaboration, connection and community among journalism support, free expression, and media assistance organisations, including tech or human rights actors.
- Knowledge, Standards, and Skills Sharing: GFMD is strengthening capacity and skills of journalism and media support and development groups, and promoting best practices and professional standards of the sector. GFMD leverages expertise that exists within the journalism support and media development sector to provide the most current and practical knowledge and experience to its members and community.Promoting and disseminating research and analysis on the impact of media in social and economic development.
- Advocacy: We address political, social and structural constraints to media freedom and media plurality through peer-led advocacy. We advocate for increased understanding, recognition and importance of journalism support and media development within international corporate, donor, and intergovernmental and philanthropic communities.
- Research: The GFMD promotes and disseminates research and analysis related to journalism support and media development, including its impact on development of societies. We also encourage the evaluation of media development work as a way to identify and advance best practices, methods and technologies.
We define journalism and media assistance in the broadest possible sense. Our members are not limited to professional journalists, media and media development organisations, but also include human right activists, investigative reporters networks, digital developers, and civil society organisations in support of free media and freedom of expression. In the fast-changing media environment, the GFMD constantly evolves, integrating new members and approaches to enhance our work.