1. Aid and Journalism Network AHRC Research Networking Application: AH/P00606X/1

2. Development Assistance and independent journalism in Africa and Latin America: A cross-national and multidisciplinary research network This project is creating an international and inter-disciplinary research network to explore the relationship between international development aid and local journalistic practice and training in Africa and Latin America. This Network is funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and Department for International Development (DFID) under the auspices of the Global Challenges Research Fund Chris Paterson (PI); Jairo Lugo-Ocando (Co-I) Website:
The network will allow researchers to examine the global power relations and geo-politics of foreign aid that since the end of the Second World War was substantially directed at disseminating a specific model of journalism practice and education aligned with the interests of donor nations.
It will consider the extent to which the diffusion of a US/UK based model of journalism practice has been central to the ‘modernisation’ project in international development.
This network project is linked to journalism practice, journalism education, and critical journalism studies in the context of the impact that foreign aid/development assistance has had in these regions and how this has affected the ability of these developing regions to foster a critical and independent media sector.

3. Key elements
3 international symposia, with funding for participation by leading scholars from Africa (2) and Latin America (2)
We address the call by
exploring how arts and humanities research contributes to international development agendas
contributing to SDG 16.6 by increasing national capacity to ‘develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels’

4. Building on existing networks
SMC Global Communication Research Group
Lugo-Ocando’s Media and Governance in Latin American Network
AHRC/DfID
Aid and One Day Symposium
Journalism Leeds, April 20
Network
Global Forum for Media Development
(US sponsored) Center for International Media Assistance
Aid and
Journalism Two-day IAMCR pre-conference
Network Cartagena, Colombia, July 2017
Ghana, February 2018:
Collaboration with World University Network partner University of Ghana for a final public symposium
Outputs to include: two journal special issues, teaching materials – including a possible MOOC, others; strong basis for a larger research focussed bid.

5. Symposium on Foreign Aid and Journalism in Latin America and Africa: Developing a Research Agenda April 20, School of Media and Communication, University of Leeds

6. Reflections on Foreign Aid, Philanthropy and Change in Media Systems IAMCR Pre-Conference July 2017 Cartagena, Colombia
Organizers:
Paul Rothman and Nicholas Benequista, Center for International Media Assistance, National Endowment for Democracy
Chris Paterson and Jairo Lugo-Ocando, the Aid and Journalism Network Project funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Department for International Development (DFID) with support from the University of Leeds
Winston Mano and Susan Abbott, CAMRI, University of Westminster
Anne Marie Hammer and Ricardo Corredor, Global Forum for Media Development

7. Symposium: The Relationship between Journalism and Foreign Aid February 8, 2018 School of Information and Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Legon

8. Stepping stone to further funding?
In preparing a follow-on research bid we hope to exploit links with
Centre for Global Development
Leeds University Centre for African Studies
In planning stages of a bid with partners from the Univ. of Edinburgh and Univ. of Sheffield
and the new World University Network ‘Global Africa Group’; our school has ongoing collaborations with the three WUN African partners: U. Capetown, U. of Ghana, U. of Nairobi