ABSTRACT
Norway was among the first countries to engage in changing the asymmetrical North–South news flow, a legacy of the colonial area, to a more balanced global flow of information. Today it is one of the ten largest international supporters of independent media and other activities promoting Freedom of Expression. This chapter shows how confidence building is a critical element in all communication and media support. A trusted relationship must be based on sound principles of collaboration, otherwise, it may be vulnerable to opportunistic behavior from various sides. When done right, support to media and communication can have very strong overall impact. Norway discovered and explored a practical partnership approach to local media support for development, peace building, democracy and human rights in the Balkans in the 1990s, which stimulated a more systematic approach in policy development. This chapter analyzes how media development has emerged as a field of knowledge and practice. The Human Rights Approach emphasizes people’s rights to participation, non-discrimination and accountability in life-saving operations, development programs, advocacy, educational endeavors and democratic engagement. The chapter provides examples of how media and communication support can act as informed platforms for peace building and democratic participation, development and social change. However, this requires closer collaboration between providers of peace and security, humanitarian action and long-term development support.
