No News Is Bad News: Somalia Quality of content produced by Somalian media is in general of a very low quality. Most people working in the media learned by doing without a proper journalistic education. Media outlets often lack a proper business model and editorial policies. To some extent this leads to envelope journalism (taking money to make stories without fact checking), and biased reporting. A lack of capacity to develop diverse broadcast and content formats allowing for meaningful interaction with audiences, is apparent in nearly all media outlets. Content often consists of long monologues or interviews, with no real programmes on social issues. Items often cover leading (political) figures, conferences or meetings and no personal stories or citizen accounts. Journalists often do not cover social issues and are unaware of their potential for agenda setting. Women are underrepresented in the Somali media. Gender inequalities are evident in media ownership, decision-making in media houses and in media content. Somali civil society organisations and women's organisations are not used to collaborate with the media to set the agenda and influence Somali authorities in development of laws and policies. The involvement of Civil Society Organisations in the public debate is limited and they play a modest role in lobby and advocacy. Safety is another important issue. According to the annual report of the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), the grim toll for 2014 was as follows: five media workers murdered in Mogadishu, Galkayo and Baidoa; five journalists injured; 47 journalists arrested; five media houses attacked. With these figures Somalia is one of the most dangerous places on earth for journalists. Media associations such as Somaliland Journalist Association (SOLJA) and NUSOJ were not yet capable of implementing a self-regulatory framework. Associations of Somali journalists are under developed. The media law that foresees amongst others the set- up of a regulatory body has not been approved or implemented yet. By consequence no regulatory body that holds unethical media stations accountable is operational. Journalists, civil society organisations, media consumers -Free Press Unlimited will work on increasing the ethics and professionalism of Somali journalists so that they can act as a watchdog on behalf of civil society and inform, educate and entertain the public. -Free Press Unlimited will work with media houses to improve the quality of media content and strengthen their economic sustainability, making them independent players in society that are less prone to envelope journalism and biased reporting. -Free Press Unlimited will focus strongly on the improvement of the safety of journalists. -Free Press Unlimited will connect media, civil society organisations and (local) government actors to improve the enabling environment of the media, especially on better and more transparent regulation of the media in order to enhance editorial independence. -Free Press Unlimited will promote gender equity and equality across the whole program. -Free Press Unlimited will continue to build the capacity of individual journalists and partner radio stations to improve their program production capacity, improve ethical journalism and develop creative radio formats. Special focus will be on gender sensitive interactive program production that informs the audiences and increase their participation in the public debate. -Free Press Unlimited will contribute to the set up of an enabling environment and regulatory framework that ensures fair and free media by technical assistance to journalist associations. Free Press Unlimited will continue its work with the Somalia Media Support Group (SMSG) where it advocates for ethical journalism and press freedom on a more institutional and political level. FPU will also continue its anti-sharuur (envelope journalism) campaign to improve public trust in ethical journalism. -hanks to its large network of partner radios FPU can connect Civil Society Organsations with people living in remote areas that normally cannot be reached due to security reasons. The aim is to improve the ability of civil society actors to lobby for the needs of the population and advocate with authorities to develop laws and policies to Somalia’s societal development. -FPU will build the capacity and support the safety of those working/participating in our program through holistic security training (of trainers). To this end Free Press Unlimited will share and develop the best available knowledge, lessons, curricula and (digital and physical) tool kits on safety, risk mitigation and emergency protection for media workers and reporters. Baseline study will take place from October 10- 14. Results monitoring will be published from then onwards.