Free media may not help fragile states rebuild

A fascinating academic report argues that press freedom needs to be balanced with a healthy dose of pragmatism in countries affected by internal crises and war. An independent and free media may undermine, rather than support, the rebuilding of "fragile states", says the report, Why Templates for Media Development Do Not Work in Crisis States, issued by the Crisis States Research Centre based at the London School of Economics. I've only read the summary and dipped into the introduction, but I can see that it poses a serious challenge to traditional views. It's worth every journalist's attention. (Via pgcs.asc.upenn.edu)