Improving quality journalism in Bangladesh 2022-2027 Improving quality journalism in Bangladesh 2022-2027 Fojo Media Institute has, in collaboration with the Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), applied for funding for the initiative "Strengthening qualitative journalism in Bangladesh, 2022-2027". Fojo is part of the Linnaeus University of Sweden.

The Embassy considers this contribution to be relevant in relation to Sweden's strategy for development cooperation in Bangladesh and especially under support area 1; Democracy, Human Rights, the Rule of law and Gender Equality. The contributions contributes in particula to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 16 and 5.

The Embassy has a positive experience from previous collaborations with Fojo and MRDI and believes that the results from previously supported program has been positive for media development and investigative journalism in Bangladesh. Their approach to underpin advocacy and their programmatic approach with research, among this a media viability study, has proven to be successful as to showcase the importance of digitalization and sustainibility lens of the media sector.

The overall goal of the contribution is to improve conditions for democracy, transparency, freedom of expression and gender equality by means of promoting and fostering a free, objective and skilled media sector in Bangladesh. Related set goals and activities are as follows; (1) Qualitative journalism; production of digging journalism that addresses societal social challenges with a sustainability lens. Support for media houses, independent start-ups and freelance journalists (2) Gender equality transformation in the media sector; active work for increased gender equality and female participation in news rooms as well as integration of Gender equality guidelines and policies at media actors.

This in turn will contribute to increasing the population's access to independent and reliable news and information through the media. Mediainstitutet Fojo har i samarbete med Management and Resources Development Initiative (MRDI), ansökt om finansiering till insatsen "Stärkande av kvalitativ journalistik i Bangladesh, 2022-2027". Fojo är en del av det statliga Linnéuniversitetet.

Ambassaden bedömer att det föreslagna programmet är relevant i förhållande till Sveriges strategi för utvecklingssamarbete i Bangladesh och särskilt under stödområde 1; Demokrati, mänskliga rättigheter, rättstatens principer och jämställdhet. Insatsen anses bidra särskilt till SDG-mål 16 och 5. Ambassaden har goda erfarenheter från tidigare samarbeten med Fojo och MRDI och anser att resultaten från tidigare stöd till deras verksamheter har varit positiva för mediautveckling och grävande journalistik i Bangladesh. Särskilt ansatserna kring att med evidens underbygga och synliggöra behov av digitalisering och stärkt bärkraftighet för media i Bangladesh anses ha varit lyckade.

Insatsen syftar till att stärka kvalitativ journalistik, samt oberoende- och hållbarhet hos media. Detta förväntas bidra till stärkta förutsättningar för demokrati, transparens, yttrandefrihet, minskad korruption och jämställdhet utifrån relaterade  uppsatta mål och aktiviteter; (1) Kvalitativ journalistik; produktion av grävande journalistik som lyfter samhälliga sociala utmaningar med en hållbarhetslins. Stöd till mediahus, oberoende start-ups och frilansande journalister (2) Jämställdhetstransformation i mediasektorn; aktivt arbete för ökad jämställdhet och kvinnligt deltagande inom journalistik-skråt samt integrering av riktlinjer och regler för jämställdhet hos medieaktörer.

Detta ska i sin tur bidra till att öka befolkningens tillgång till oberoende och pålitliga nyheter och information genom media The program "Improving Quality Journalism in Bangladesh" has an overall goal to contribute to improved conditions for democracy, transparency, freedom of expression, reduced corruption and gender equality by promoting and fostering a free, objective and skilled media in Bangladesh.

The specific objective of the program is to have publishers and journalists produce investigative and sustainable journalism that holds political and economic power to account, increases transparency and supports right to information, addressing environment/climate change, diversity and gender equality, poverty and democracy; thereby regaining public trust and raising revenues.

Outcomes of the planned phase III: Three pillar Pathways of Change

The proposed outcomes of the program are:

Outcome 1: Production of quality journalism. Production of investigative and in depth journalism that addresses sustainability challenges through enhanced capacity and willingness of news outlets, independent start-ups and freelancers.

Outcome 2: Gender transformation. A mindset of gender transformation has been established and capacity among targeted stakeholders has increased, contributing towards gender equality in the newsroom and mainstreaming gender equality into ethics, methods and content.

Outcome 3: Sustainable journalism. News outlets have become financially more sustainable, through digital transformation with trustworthy quality journalism which prioritizes marginalized sections of society and reflects sustainability challenge