The main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has included policies in its manifesto to allocate a specific percentage of the state budget to media outlets that fulfill specific criteria established by law.
In the manifesto, MDP proposes seven measures to ensure media freedom to strengthen the governance and accountability system. The measures include establishing policies for the Maldives Media Council (MMC) to address issues in the self-governance and registration process of the media, and to ensure that the information provided by the media is authentic, truthful, and verified.
Additionally, the manifesto proposes to allocate a fixed percentage of the state budget to media outlets that meet specific criteria established by law in order to eliminate the dependence on the financial capacity of the media outlets. The funds will be allocated in an equitable and impartial manner under a rating system in line with international standards.
Furthermore, the manifesto includes the provision of legal protection and assistance to content creators in Maldivian streaming services, podcasting, and other online media platforms. The manifesto also includes policies to provide training and educational opportunities in community-based journalism, freelance journalism, and digital content creation.
Moreover, the manifesto proposes to financially support digital content creation, streaming services, podcasting, publishers, film and documentary producers, and novelists through the SME Development Finance Corporation (SDFC). The manifesto also includes policies to allow the news and information provided by the state media accessible to people with disabilities, as well as to train new journalists and provide various training opportunities to work in the media as a career.