PODCAST: Brave New Media

Two women sit in an audio recording studio at 大象传媒 Broadcasting house, there is a green microphone and a red microphone in the shot, with a computer screen and mixing desk. Maha Taki is recording on the red mic and wears a beige t-short, she has brown hair. Saskia Black is producing wearing headphones and a white t-shirt with a pattern in black, she is holding the script papers. — Saskia Black (producer, left) and Maha Taki (presenter) in the studio at Broadcasting House

Brave New Media is our new podcast featuring journalists and editors from around the world.

Launched in September 2022, the podcast features media professionals working to remain independent in fragile spaces 鈥� they鈥檒l be sharing their struggles and successes in running a media outlet, and exploring the solutions that may help future-proof other independent media.

The first three episodes feature pioneers in public interest media in Lebanon, Ukraine and Paraguay, all facing difficult and polarised media environments.

Dr Maha Taki, our senior media development advisor who developed the podcast, said: "Truly independent, public interest media often face overwhelming odds just to survive. They may be operating in heavily politicised and polarised media environments, and facing serious legal, regulatory and financial pressures both offline and online. Yet these media organisations have never been more needed, to bring people trusted information and to deliver stories that often cannot be found anywhere else. With Brave New Media, we are digging deep into these inspiring stories of media organisations who are truly working in the public interest, and sharing reflections from specialists to help find solutions to these ongoing challenges."

Brave New Media is available via on , and and at the links below.

Season 2 launched in May 2023.

Brave New Media podcast

Series 2 - Episode 3
5 June 2023
We hear from Argaw Ashine, who created Ethiopian media platform Wazema in exile, and returned during a period of opening. Rashweat Mukundu, media advisor at International Media Support, reflects.
Series 2 - Episode 2
30 May 2023
We hear from Jacqueline Lawrence of Tanzania's Highlands FM about their delicate balance between raising the concerns of local residents, and not antagonising a government that could shut them down. Kenyan journalist Alphonse Shindu offers his view on their challenges.
Series 2 - Episode 1
22 May 2023
We hear from Evi Mariani, founder of Indonesia's Project Multatuli, about their attempts to expose abuse and corruption among police, and the threats that resulted. Rebecca Vincent, director of campaigns at Reporters Without Borders, shares her analysis.
Series 1 - Episode 3
5 October 2022
We hear from Jazmin Acuna, co-founder of Paraguay鈥檚 El Surti, on how they are connecting with Paraguayan communities with innovative graphic design and digital approaches, amid tough competition with traditional media outlets and the challenges of fast-changing social media algorithms.
Series 1 - Episode 2
21 September 2022
Features the husband-and-wife team behind Zaborona in Ukraine, Roman Stepanovych and Katerina Sergatskova. Staff at this well-known independent online media outlet have had to turn into war reporters almost overnight, documenting atrocities as they live through them, dispelling misinformation and rumours and sharing critical information, even as the rest of the world begins to lose interest
Series 1 - Episode 1
7 September 2022
Our first episode features Daraj, an Arabic-language start-up based in Beirut, which is charting a new path through one of the world鈥檚 most captured and censored media landscapes. Diana Moukalled tells listeners of the struggle to establish an independent media outlet, evading political entanglements and learning the business acumen required to survive in a tough financial market.
Trailer
Introducing Brave New Media 鈥� a global podcast featuring journalists from around the world, telling their stories as we explore the information landscape and the future of independent media. We dig deep into the issues with global media practitioners and experts, and what can be done to restore a healthier media ecosystem.

Produced by Holy Mountain, Brave New Media is part of , an international media support consortium led by 大象传媒 Media Action and funded by UK Aid, which is working to learn what is most effective in supporting local public interest media to thrive.

More about us

大象传媒 Media Action is the 大象传媒鈥檚 international charity - we believe in the power of media and communication for good. We work in more than 20 countries supporting the independent media essential to democracy and development. Last year, our projects and programmes reached 120 million people facing poverty, inequality and insecurity with information they could trust, helping to improve health, protect livelihoods and our planet, bridge divides, challenge prejudice, and save and change lives.

We are not funded by the 大象传媒 TV Licence Fee and we rely on our donors and partners to carry our work.