The media and information landscape across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has undergone a profound transformation in recent years. It shifted from building stronger media ecosystems to responding to the realities of war and information warfare.

This is one of the key findings of the State of Media Development in the MENA Region report which draws on interviews with 10 leading media development organizations from across the region.

Over the past year, active conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Yemen, Lebanon and parts of Syria, along with the regional spillover of tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, have reinforced the perception of MENA as one of the world’s most volatile regions. While North African countries have largely been spared from armed conflict, they are experiencing growing authoritarianism and increasing restrictions on media freedom. According to Reporters Without Borders, nearly every country in the region continues to experience democratic backsliding, with Syria standing out as a rare exception where the recent political transition has created cautious optimism for a freer media environment.

The conflicts unfolding on the ground are mirrored online. “Everybody in the media speaks about Russian initiatives to influence elections in Germany or France. But our region is the Wild West. This is where state actors and non-state actors alike are involved at levels that defy logic,” said Ayman Mhanna, executive director of the Samir Kassir Foundation in Lebanon. These actors invest heavily in sophisticated digital influence campaigns, often specifically designed to capture younger audiences on social media, which mimic journalism while advancing political agendas. The rapid spread of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made producing convincing fake content easier than ever.

Funding shortages and changing needs

Media development organizations have struggled to keep pace with these rapid transformations. At the same time, the sector itself has come under growing pressure from authoritarian governments and shrinking international funding.

The abrupt suspension of USAID funding in early 2025 sent shockwaves through the ecosystem. Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) (Jordan/regional) reported losing “25% of our budget overnight,” while Beam Reports (Sudan) was forced to halt projects mid-implementation after receiving closeout notices immediately following the change in the US administration.

European donors remain the region’s primary source of financial support, but they have been unable to fill the gap, because of shrinking aid budgets, the reallocation of resources toward Ukraine, political sensitivities surrounding the war in Gaza, and growing domestic security priorities within Europe.

Beyond funding shortages, many organizations argue that donor approaches have not adapted to the realities of working in conflict zones. Journalists increasingly need protective equipment, internet access, emergency shelter and rapid logistical support, yet donors “were not able to move with agility,” said Raghdan Orsud of Beam Reports (Sudan), because of rigid administrative procedures.

“But if you work in fragile contexts, you must have procedures in place,” she added.

Fighting for a seat at the table

Local organizations are working to make the media development sector more relevant to today’s realities.

They are actively advocating and pushing to be involved in the design of the projects, and not just their implementation. “Sometimes donors have their own agendas that they want to implement in local contexts because they think this is the way things should be. They don’t really take into consideration the local values, the local needs, the local culture and mindset that we are part of as local organizations,” explained Vanessa Bassil of Media Association for Peace.

Hania Bitar of Pyalara (Palestine) also pointed to the fact that organizations that have mastered donor language and reporting requirements are often better positioned to win grants, while smaller grassroots organizations struggle to survive.

Still, interviewees see signs of progress. Pyalara cites DW Akademie’s support for its “Digital Village” in Palestine as an example of a donor funding a locally designed solution rather than imposing an external model.

On the other hand, local organizations are also pushing for a better seat at international decision-making tables. Layal Bahnam of Maharat Foundation (Lebanon) explained that producing policy papers and research has been essential to have them serve on the boards and steering committees of organizations such as IFEX, the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), and the Forum for Information and Democracy. In 2025, ARIJ’s Rawan Damen was elected chair of GFMD.

Despite these advances, many organizations still feel their participation remains superficial.

According to Orsud, local organizations are frequently invited to surveys, webinars and consultations, yet their contributions are often treated merely as “feedback” or “local input” rather than as the perspectives of equal stakeholders shaping decisions. Practical barriers such as expensive travel and lengthy visa procedures also prevent many organizations from participating in international forums.

Adapting to the new realities

Faced with these challenges, media organizations across MENA are reinventing themselves.

One major shift has been expanding audiences beyond traditional journalists. Many organizations now train content creators, influencers and community leaders, recognizing that they have become central actors in shaping public opinion, even though “European-supported institutions focus only on traditional media,” said Abu Bakr Ibrahim Oglo, CEO and co-founder of MENA Editors.

AI has become another area of experimentation. Organizations such as Munathara (Tunisia/regional) are exploring AI-powered fact-checking, multilingual translation and tools that encourage healthier online conversations. Others are investing in staff training, internal AI strategies and ethical guidelines before rolling these practices out to journalists.

Yet, as Yara Bader of the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression points out, there is a certain irony in teaching journalists advanced AI verification tools when many cannot access a stable internet connection, especially in conflict-affected countries such as Yemen, Syria, Sudan and in Palestine.

And finally, to reduce their dependence on international aid, many organizations are experimenting with new business models, developing commercial services that subsidize their public-interest work. The Samir Kassir Foundation has launched an advertising agency that helps independent media secure branded content, alongside a stock photography marketplace for local photographers. Beam Reports is building data analysis and media monitoring services for embassies, international organizations and businesses. In Yemen, Media SAC rents out co-working space and plans to develop a multimedia studio that can generate additional income.

As Carsten von Nahmen, managing director of DW Akademie, put it: “Never waste a good crisis.”

Organizations in the media development sector in MENA are rethinking how they operate, finance themselves and support journalists working amidst conflicts. The coming years will determine whether this period of disruption can become an opportunity to build a locally driven media ecosystem capable of responding to the challenges of an increasingly authoritarian world and a region shaped by conflict.

MJ Daoud is the editor-in-chief of The What If. She is a Beirut-based editor, journalist and trainer with over 17 years of experience covering business, social conflicts and entrepreneurship in the Middle East. She is passionate about solution-based and constructive journalism. At The What If, she draws on her experience reporting from conflict zones to explore how narratives shape conflict, and what can be done to transform them. 

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