CHAPTER 2: THE AMB AND DEMOCRACY IN AFRICA 2. The AMB and Democracy in Africa The AMB is a meta-evaluative tool which can be used to appraise the conditions within which the cogs and institutions of democracy operate on the African continent. This tool provides policymakers, the academe, civil society and other key social institutions with a reference point for reflecting on achievements and highlighting the challenges of the media in Africa. Given the central role of the media in building and sustaining democratic institutions, the AMB indicators relate to structures that can potentially restrict or enable the media’s ability to perform its roles. These indicators include the state of freedom of expression, media diversity, media independence and sustainability, media regulation, media ethics, and the welfare of journalists. However, it is also essential to examine the impact of the AMB by conducting a retrospective longitudinal study such as the one which has culminated in this report. This study provides a descriptive account of emerging and recurring trends and themes which, in turn, can indicate the areas in which progress has been registered (or not), recommended actions/interventions, the nature and extent of such progress (or regression) and new challenges. The challenges highlighted by the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) 2019 Human Development Report (such as growing inequality, migration, and climate-change-induced crises such as droughts and floods) can only be effectively addressed by incorruptible and competent public officials and institutions. Their effectiveness, in turn, depends on vigilant, well-resourced, plural, diverse, professional and critical news media. For this reason, it is essential to continuously evaluate progress made and the actions required to address the challenges faced by news media, as they are a central function of any democratic society. 4 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER 11 YEARS IN REVIEW