BBC Media Action

In many Sierra Leonean communities, limited livelihood opportunities leave many families with no option but to work in illegal, unsafe mines. Supported by BBC Media Action, journalist Davida Spaine‑Solomon, a journalist with Truth Media, is reporting on these challenges, examining how poverty drives people into unsafe conditions. Her work is helping open up discussion around alternative livelihoods and the need for greater accountability. Click here to learn more: 👉 https://bbc.in/4oIqBSj #BBCMediaAction #MediaForGood #PursuitOfTruth

For the #SBCCSummit this year, a team of five from BBC Media Action travelled to Panama to present a full spectrum of our work – from creative storytelling that shifts social norms, to tackling misinformation, to building an evidence base for what makes content effective.  This year’s theme, the power of connection, felt particularly relevant to the work we do supporting storytelling that reaches nearly 100 million people in need around the world each year, shaped by and rooted in the communities we serve and inspiring change for the better. Across our 13 sessions and in conversations with peers, a few insights have stuck with us. 📖 Read our latest newsletter for our key takeaways from the fantastic 2026 Social and Behavior Change Communication Summit #BBCMediaAction #CommunicationforChange #MediaforGood #SBCC Kaushiki G. James Kengah Soma Katiyar Rosiana Eko Caroline Sugg

A powerful moment of solidarity and strength for independent journalism!   Our Senior Media Development Advisor Valeria Perasso shares a powerful look inside our EU co-funded Brave Media programme's recent gathering at #FestivalGabo in Colombia.   Independent newsrooms are currently battling a dual crisis: record-low global press freedom, with 75% of the world’s countries lacking a fully free press; and severe economic instability, which has already forced media closures in a third of countries. Launched in direct response to these challenges, Brave Media is a three-year global initiative led by BBC Media Action alongside eight outstanding partners. The project strengthens public interest media in over 20 countries across the world, helping journalists continue working without fear or interference.   In Latin America, in partnership with SembraMedia, we are proud to support independent media outlets in Colombia and Ecuador as they navigate safety risks, political pressures, and financial challenges to deliver high-quality public interest journalism.   Read more about the project: https://lnkd.in/gNqzfmWj   #IndependentMedia #Journalism #PressFreedom #BBCMediaAction

📱 When breaking news unfolds, misinformation can spread before the facts are fully understood. And the challenge isn't only AI-generated content. Genuine images, videos and audio can also be taken out of context, mislabelled and shared in misleading ways. For journalists reporting during conflict, crisis and breaking news, verification and fact-checking are critical parts of ensuring audiences have access to information they can trust. Around the world, BBC Media Action works with journalists and media organisations to strengthen verification skills and support accurate reporting when it matters most. As misinformation and disinformation become more sophisticated, strong journalism plays a vital role in building trust and helping people understand the world around them. 👉 Learn more about our work here: https://bbc.in/41zl3ze Produced by Michael A.J. Sheridan 📹 and presented by Khadija Maalej 🎤 #Journalism #Misinformation #AI #FactChecking #BBCMediaAction

We’re delighted to welcome eight new Trustees to the BBC Media Action Board: Alex Okosi, Anna Sedgley, Hannah Jones, Jim Brady, Jon Zilkha, Michael Madnick, Naomi Wass and Samantha Sing. Together they have more than 200 years of combined experience in global philanthropy, media, technology and business sectors. They join an existing strong board, chaired by BBC Deputy Director-General Rhodri Talfan Davies. We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Gavin Mann, Sophia Swithern, Reeta Chakrabarti and Phil Harrold for many years of dedicated service as our trustees. Their commitment, insight and support have made a significant contribution to BBC Media Action’s work and impact. Please join us in welcoming our new Trustees and read the press release here: https://lnkd.in/dsJz46Tu #BBCMediaAction #Trustees #Leadership #MediaDevelopment #TrustedInformation #SocialImpact #BBC

The future of journalism lies in building meaningful connections to deliver real-world impact. Earlier this month, our Kenya team joined forces with the BBC World Service for their Future of Journalism Festival at the University of Nairobi. This dynamic two-day event brought together BBC journalists, media leaders, students, and emerging voices to explore the forces shaping modern journalism. As part of the festival's programme, we were proud to deliver two impactful sessions showcasing lessons from our work on the ground: - Lifeline Communication: We highlighted how media can provide lifesaving, timely, and practical information to communities caught in the middle of humanitarian crises. - The Power of Radio in Inspiring Environmental Action: We shared insights from our BRIDGES project, showcasing how our partner Serian FM in Samburu County uses radio to give farmer and herder communities actionable data to adapt to climate change and extreme weather. Together, these sessions highlighted the vital role of trusted media in supporting communities, building resilience, and saving lives. Read more about our work here: https://lnkd.in/gyKMUdwC #FutureOfJournalism #BBCMediaAction #MediaForDevelopment #ClimateAction #Kenya

How can media help to transform attitudes towards people who are marginalised?   In Bengaluru, India, over half of city residents described waste pickers as "dirty" when asked. These critical workers were seen as unskilled and marginal, rather than as performing critical environmental services for the city. Interviews with waste pickers revealed that many deliberately avoided interactions with residents to escape harassment.   Through our #Invaluables campaign, we set out to change that.   Our multi-phase campaign moved beyond awareness creation to positioning waste management as a shared responsibility - inspiring a shift from indifference to recognition, and then from recognition to action.    🔗Read more about the initiative here: https://lnkd.in/gRAaDFmm   #BBCMediaAction #MediaForGood #India #WasteManagement

Did you know that BBC Media Action is the BBC’s international charity? We share the BBC's values, expertise and reach to bring people together, foster understanding, and build trust. “BBC Media Action is ...a light in the darkness,” says BBC Royal Correspondent, Jonny Dymond. In a world of growing disinformation and distrust, where more than 75% of countries lack a free press, access to trusted information has never been more important. Working with more than 400 media partners, BBC Media Action reaches nearly 100 million people each year across more than 30 countries and over 50 languages, training and supporting local journalism and storytelling to change lives. “For some time, Media Action has had a really important role in bringing truth and information to parts of the world where there's no free press,” says BBC Tech Presenter, Lara Lewington.   Strong, independent media helps communities make informed decisions and hold power to account. “At a time when the whole idea of truth and truthful reporting is under siege, they do great stuff in training journalists,” says BBC News International Editor, Jeremy Bowen. "Media Action works around the world in conflict zones and areas affected by natural disasters, training local journalists to deliver factual, honest and trustworthy reporting to the people who need it most," says BBC News Presenter, Rich Preston. 🔗Click here to learn more: 🌍 https://bbc.in/41zl3ze 📹Produced by Georgina Jackson and Alice Struthers #BBCMediaAction #MediaForGood #PursuitOfTruth

“Surveillance has become one of the most pervasive threats to press freedom,” finds a new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that highlights the growing criminalisation of journalism against a global backdrop of rising authoritarianism, the expansion of digital surveillance technologies, and weakening democratic safeguards.  In April this year, as part of the Brave Media initiative led by BBC Media Action, our partners at the International Federation of Journalists published a comprehensive technical investigation into how journalists are being systematically monitored, targeted, and silenced – through an expanding, largely unregulated global digital surveillance industry.     The findings are grim but extremely important.  📖Read our latest newsletter for insights from the report on how intelligence operations are being used to target journalists and erode press freedom – and what needs to change to protect the media and keep democracy alive. #Jouranlism #PressFreedom #DigitalSurveillance #BBCMediaAction

In Sierra Leone communities reliant on mining for their living, many children balance work with education or miss school entirely. With support from BBC Media Action, journalist Benedict AbuBakarr Conteh is reporting on these realities, highlighting how this is affecting children and their access to learning. His reporting is helping bring greater attention to the impact on families and the need for safer livelihoods. Click here to learn more:📱 https://bbc.in/3QlUmvv #BBCMediaAction #MediaForGood #PursuitOfTruth