RightsCon Tunis 2019

Horizons for political change in MENA region bring opportunities to media especially that emerging independent digital media platforms go along with freedom quests. There have been some attempts of establishing new quality journalism platforms but they are struggling with sustainability. Traditional Media are captured and not able to exercise their main function to inform people. Digital media face other forms of capture. “Digital Media Viability Lab” was launched to provide opportunities for media startups to produce quality journalism while finding solutions to sustain. The session will present global indicators for media viability that were mentioned in a paper issued recently by DWA to assess media viability. A closer look will focus on MENA region where Maharat will introduce its Digital Media Viability Lab aiming at supporting independent digital media platforms in the region. Maharat will present a mapping of media startups in 3 countries, Lebanon, Jordan and Morocco laying challenges faced in terms of legal frameworks, supportive ecosystem and recommendations. Moreover, Maharat will focus on solutions for the region and will host one media startup from the region to talk about challenges of sustainability and ways to go forward, as well as one of the media managers trained within DMVLab.