Aliza Dichter offers a history and typology of past efforts to coordinate the media reform sector, and draws lessons regarding the governance, goals, and sustainability of such efforts. The article questions the efficacy of NGOs, specifically, whether they can provide the leadership necessary to build a movement that is as democratic, diverse, and community-oriented as they purport. Two recent local activist efforts are examined to determine some of the challenges and opportunities for civil society in shaping media policy and practice. The Telecommunications Policy Roundtable, the Cultural Environment Movement, Videazimut, the Free Expression Network (FEN), and the APC Women's Networking Support Programme (APC WNSP) furnish her primary cases.