Media Sustainability Index (MSI)

"The MSI measures a number of contributing factors of a well-functioning media system and considers both traditional media types and new media platforms." Linda Trail, Managing Editor, MSI Europe & Eurasia 2019

IREX's Media Sustainability Index (MSI) provides in-depth analyses of the conditions for independent media in 80 countries across the world. The yearly assessment considers how media systems change over time and across borders, with a specific focus on economic sustainability, quality of journalism, and management practices.

The investigation "allows policymakers and implementers to analyse the diverse aspects of media systems and determine the areas in which media development assistance can improve access to news and information that empowers citizens to help improve the quality of governance through participatory and democratic mechanisms. Findings in the MSI have also provided useable analysis for the media and media advocates in each country and region. By reflecting the expert opinions of media professionals in each country, its results have informed the media community, civil society, and governments of the strengths and weaknesses of the sector."

The assessments started with Europe and Eurasia in 2000, then included the Middle East and North Africa in 2005, and in 2007 the Africa MSI was launched. In 2017, IREX and the Sri Lanka Development Journalists Forum started conducting the Sri Lanka MSI.

The MSI assesses five "objectives" in shaping a successful media system:

1. Legal and social norms protect and promote free speech and access to public information.
2. Journalism meets professional standards of quality.
3. Multiple news sources provide citizens with reliable, objective news.
4. Media are well-managed enterprises, allowing editorial independence.
5. Supporting institutions function in the professional interests of independent media.

These objectives were judged to be the most important aspects of a sustainable and professional independent media system, and they serve as the criteria against which countries are rated. A score is attained for each objective by rating between seven and nine indicators, which determine how well a country meets that objective.

The scoring is undertaken by a panel of local experts that IREX assembles in each country. These experts are drawn from the country's media outlets, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), professional associations, and academic institutions. Panellists may be editors, reporters, media managers or owners, advertising and marketing specialists, lawyers, professors or teachers, or human rights observers. In addition, panels comprise the various types of media represented in a country, including traditional and new media channels. The panels also include representatives from the capital city and other geographic regions, and they reflect gender, ethnic, and religious diversity, as appropriate. For consistency from year to year, at least half of the previous year's participants are included on the following year's panel. IREX identifies and works with a local or regional organisation or individual to oversee the process.

In most cases, reports are available for each individual country in addition to being made available in a combined regional report. Reports also include a detailed description of the methodology used by the MSI.

Beginning in 2021, the MSI was replaced by the Vibrant Information Barometer (VIBE) which takes into consideration the recent changes that have occurred in how information is produced, spread, and utilised (see Related Summaries below).