The SSOGIE Media Monitoring and Response Coalition (MMRC) will mobilize media practitioners, activists, faith leaders, lawyers, policymakers, and other affirming stakeholders to rapidly and collaboratively combat dangerous and otherwise problematic media portrayals of SSOGIE issues in a unified and systematic manner. This MMRC’s initial scope will be Sub-Saharan Africa, with the potential to scale up to other regions pending adequate resources.

Through strategic partnerships and targeted sub-grants, we aim to work with at least one partner in each Sub-Saharan African country to monitor, rate and translate local media coverage of SSOGIE-related content in a shared database. A rating scale will be used immediately to triage coalition responses and monitor country- and region- specific improvements deteriorations in SSOGIE-related media coverage over the long term.

Rating System

A "1 rating" indicates media clips that excel in affirming, ethical and responsible treatment of SSOGIE issues. These ratings will trigger a low-priority two-month response deadline, before which local media monitors should thank journalists and suggest additional story angles and sources for subsequent coverage. A "10 rating" would indicate content that is imminently dangerous in its irresponsible, insightful or incendiary treatment of SSOGIE issues. These ratings will trigger rapid coordinated responses from local stakeholders as well as continent-wide coalition partners, if deemed prudent. Specific response procedures will be collaboratively drafted for each numeric point on the scale. Coalition managers will coordinate high-priority responses, and resolve rating disputes among individual media monitors.

MEDIA MONITORING TIMELINE