Supporting public interest media and information environments

Our new media development programme is working to support trusted local media in Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Peru, Sierra Leone, and Zambia!

Public Interest Media and Healthy Information Environments (PIMHIE) is a global initiative led by BBC Media Action and funded by UK International Development. Building on our previous work through our flagship project, Protecting Independent Media for Effective Development (PRIMED), we aim to strengthen independent media and foster healthier information ecosystems in these diverse media environments.

We're supporting media organisations to produce high-quality, trusted public interest journalism, while enhancing their resilience in the face of the political, financial, organisational and editorial challenges that threaten media everywhere. We are also working to improve their operating environment through policy reform, advocacy, coalition-strengthening and technical advice.

Our tailored interventions address local needs. We're focusing on research, mentoring and training, and strategic work through our in-country offices and our delivery partners SembraMedia, International Media Support (IMS), Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) and WAN-IFRA. Together, we aim to combat disinformation, promote gender equality, encourage innovation, support financial viability and local ownership of media outlets, and advance regulatory reforms.

Andrew Harrington, BBC Media Action project director, said:

“The project will reach 40 independent media outlets with mentoring, technical and financial support at a time when it has never been more needed. We aim to support them in creating greater gender equity in how their organisations are managed, operate and cover key issues, and to deliver public interest journalism to provide audiences - especially those most vulnerable - with quality information in a landscape of increasing mis- and disinformation.

“It will also provide support and coordination at sector level, to national and regional networks and sectoral organisations that make up the media industry, so that they can operate safely and drive advocacy on urgent issues and policy reform, wherever needed."

Esben Harboe, Regional Director for Africa at International Media Support, said: 

"Media outlets often struggle to engage audiences meaningfully or represent their interests, and they lack public trust. Many are divided along ethnic lines, leading to biased reporting and a lack of diverse perspectives. Access to quality information remains a major challenge, particularly for marginalised rural communities, who are often exposed to politicised and biased content. Additionally, there is limited access to digital media products, which are also increasingly ethnicised and serve as platforms for disinformation. 

"PIMHIE is important because it adds value to the work already being done by Ethiopian partners, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and shared goals. In a polarised environment with limited resources, coordination and strategic alignment are essential... This initiative allows us to build on years of experience and engagement to help promote public interest media."

María Eugenia Álvarez, General Manager at SembraMedia, said:

“Being part of the PIMHIE project reaffirms our mission to support independent media as key drivers of public interest journalism in Latin America. This initiative gives us a unique opportunity to work closely with three Peruvian newsrooms, helping them strengthen their structures, develop tailored sustainability strategies, and increase their impact. We believe that these deep, context-based support processes are essential to building stronger media ecosystems, strengthening democracies and a diversity of voices, and ensuring that quality journalism can thrive even in the most challenging environments.

“The lack of robust business models, vulnerability to physical and digital risks, and limited visibility among audiences and decision-makers are some of the key obstacles. In response, PIMHIE aims to strengthen the digital media ecosystem, enabling more journalists to carry out their work with independence and high standards of quality. PIMHIE aims to generate an impact not only on the organisations that will participate in the programme, but also across the broader sector.”

Our evidence-based approach will help create sustainable, locally-owned solutions for media that serve the public interest and provide quality information to audiences, with a strong emphasis on inclusivity.

Through this project, we are working to safeguard press freedom and strengthen democracies in complex and rapidly evolving media environments.

Public Interest Media and Healthy Information Environments (PIMHIE) began in October 2024 and runs until March 2026. It is funded by UK International Development through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).