PROJECT UPDATE | PMA partners with Asia Democracy Network for UNESCO – IPDC project

The Public Media Alliance is pleased to announce that the Asia Democracy Network (ADN) has become a partner for our regional consultation on the impacts of COVID-19 on media freedom, media business viability and journalists’ safety in Southeast Asia

Launched in 2013 and based in Seoul, South Korea with representatives in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand, the organisation’s core mission is to promote and defend democracy and human rights in Asia by bringing together a diverse group of civil society democracy advocates.

As a “network of networks”, ADN consists of members that are regional networks, which work on diverse themes under the umbrella of democracy. It has 11 network members and more than 300 national members.

ADN recently published an initial report that documented the state of media freedom in five countries in Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand. Research was conducted between November 2020 and March 2021 and identifies and addresses the key challenges facing media in these five countries, including newly introduced or amended “fake news” laws and the lack of protection for whistleblowers.

ADN promotes media freedom – a cornerstone of democracy – and aligns with PMA’s own mission to promote freedom of expression, and advocate for a free and independent, shared public media space.

Find out more about our project: The Impact of COVID-19 on Media Freedom, Media Business Viability and the Safety of Journalists in Southeast Asia

Both PMA and ADN believe that our UNESCO-IPDC supported project is very timely, relevant, and essential. As our local project partner, we are delighted that ADN will bring with them their breadth of contacts in, knowledge and expertise of the region that will be vital throughout every phase of the project. PMA looks forward to this collaboration.

On speaking about the PMA-ADN partnership and the importance of this project for the region, Ichal Supriadi, ADN’s Secretary General, said:

“In a time where media is severely under attack across the globe, threatening our very own democracy, it is timely that PMA, the largest global association of public media organisations, and ADN, the only regional network of civil society organizations advocating for democracy promotion in Asia, comes together in partnership.

Our partnership is vital in highlighting the serious threats to media freedom and creating the foundation of advocacy to combat the regression of democracy in the world. Through our partnership, we aim to encourage others to also join in unity to strengthen the efforts in protecting and defending fundamental freedoms for all.”