"This report presents the main results of the surveys for journalists launched by the European cofunded project Taktak in collaboration with Display Europe in July and November 2024. The surveys aimed to have an overview of the working life of journalists in Europe, and gathered 436 replies. The two
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surveys were both translated in 13 languages (English, Spanish, German, Catalan, Galego, Greek, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, French, Italian, Portuguese, Serbo-Croatian and Romanian). This report does not claim to be a representation of the working conditions of journalists in Europe but nevertheless gives an important insight on the subject. The respondents of the Taktak survey come from 33 different European countries (21 from EU member states, 13 from European countries and 8 non-European countries). The majority of respondents are experienced journalists aged between 40 and 49 years old (29,13%), and almost half of them, 49,7%, have been working for more than 15 years as a journalist. Also, for 61% of them, their journalistic work represents about 80-100% of their income [...]
The survey results include a sample of various employment contracts of journalists: over half (51,67%) of respondents are freelancers or work under non-employment contracts, while 39,44% are full-time employees. Respondents were also asked to elaborate on their type of contracts and there, a distinction must be made between employed and freelance journalists. Freelancers face precarious working conditions: low pay, lack of social benefits and administrative burdens, which leads to financial instability and stress. On the other side, employed journalists benefit from job stability, social security, and consistent income. However, respondents also mentioned restrictive work environments, and limited professional growth. Regional differences are also important to take into account regarding labor laws and the war in Ukraine. Overall, 52.5% of respondents are satisfied with their contracts, while 29.55% expressed dissatisfaction. Satisfaction varies significantly between freelancers and employees, with freelancers often struggling to sustain themselves even though the passion for journalism remains high." (Pages 2-4)
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"This paper examines the role that community radio can play in a refugee camp, with particular focus on community building and social cohesion among young people. The article introduces the experience of RefFM in Kakuma refugee camp, Kenya. Findings from four focus groups with young refugees in Kaku
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ma shed light on both the uses and perceptions of the radio station among Kakuma youth. They also present insights into the design of radio-based interventions for humanitarian agencies working in refugee camps. In particular, reflections are offered on how “refugee community radio” programming can be developed to strengthen the ties between different communities living in the camp, and particularly among young people, while addressing the critical needs of a displaced population." (Abstract)
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"This study discusses the use of TikTok during the war that began with the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022. TikTok has been the fastest growing social media channel and is known for its young user base. Although associated with lifestyle and light entertainment, it also become an importan
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t arena in the war. Young people abroad used TikTok to obtain information about the conflict and to comment on or share it. This article presents a case study of five young Ukrainian women who captured the attention and sympathy of international audiences via TikTok. The authors study how the women succeeded as influencers and the variety of roles they took on in their performances. For the latter, they suggest a classification scheme for war influencer roles. In addition, they analyse data on the reactions from their audiences, as they appeared in the comments field. In a longer discussion section, the article goes deeper into the gender dimension of war and social media, as well as the possibilities of cosmopolitanism or affective publics. Finally, the authors suggest directions for future research." (Abstract)
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"Die audiovisuelle Plattform TikTok bildet mittlerweile einen relevanten Aushandlungsort für soziale Gruppen aller Art. User*innen bietet sich die Möglichkeit, eigene Räume für Vernetzung zu schaffen und Identitätsmanagement zu betreiben. Aufgrund der Plattformaffordanzen – vor allem Multimod
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alität –bieten sich in der Theorie die Möglichkeit, auch dissente Diskurse über die eigenen Netzwerke hinaus zu teilen. So können auch geschichtsbezogene Inhalte, die beispielsweise den Holocaust delegitimieren oder Adolf Hitler heroisieren, ein Publikum jenseits der eigenen Ingroup erreichen. Der interdisziplinär gestaltete Beitrag möchte aus geschichtswissenschaftlicher Perspektive die Praktik der vergangenheitsbezogenen Hate Speech im Spannungsfeld von (Gegen-)Öffentlichkeiten in den Blick nehmen. Für die Untersuchung des Beobachtungsgegenstands auf der Plattform selbst wurde ein explorativer Zugang mit dem thematischen Fokus auf #Holocaust gewählt. Die daraus resultierenden Feldnotizen wurden mittels einer induktiven Inhaltsanalyse bearbeitet. Im Kontext dieser Betrachtung zeigt sich, dass Nutzer*innen auf multimodale Formate der Plattform zurückgreifen, um eigene Themen zu setzen und Netzwerke aufzubauen. Es wurden drei wesentliche Ebenen ausgemacht: (1) die Ebene der Kommentare, (2) die Ebene der Videos und (3) die Ebene der vernetzenden Medienhandlungen. Es zeigt sich, dass die Grenzen zwischen Öffentlichkeit(en) und Gegenöffentlichkeit(en) auf der Plattform flexibel sind und mäandern." (Abstract)
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"Independent youtubers who create content on political, social and economic issues attract very large audiences and are increasingly the object of study for journalism scholars. This article contributes to the literature by conducting a detailed analysis of the Australian YouTube channel friendlyjor
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dies. Rather than comparing the channel to the journalistic field, this article assesses whether friendlyjordies produces journalism by applying definitions based on journalism’s democratic functions. With the democratic functions approach the critical question is not, who is a journalist? but who is performing the democratic functions of journalism? This question guides the research that combines the analysis of three friendlyjordies videos with data from an interview with a producer of the channel. From this analysis, this article argues that friendlyjordies produces platform journalism, an emerging form of journalism that applies the norms and affordances of a specific platform, in this case YouTube. Moreover, when a democratic functions approach is applied to friendlyjordies, it becomes evident that the channel engages in public interest platform journalism." (Abstract)
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"Despite increased attention since 2015, there is little consensus on why audiences believe or share disinformation. In our study, we propose a shift in analytical perspective by applying the concept of resilience. Through a systematic literature review (n = 95), we identify factors that have been
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linked to individuals’ resilience and vulnerability to disinformation thus far. Our analysis reveals twelve factors: thinking styles, political ideology, worldview and beliefs, pathologies, knowledge, emotions, (social) media use, demographics, perceived control, trust, culture, and environment. By applying the results to the socio-ecological model (SEM), we provide a comprehensive view on what constitutes resilience to disinformation, delineate between different levels of influence, and identify relevant gaps in research. Our conceptualization contributes to an under-theorized field, in which the term resilience is much used yet rarely sufficiently defined." (Abstract)
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"One of the problems the Philippines faces is the plague of misinformation, and this paper provides the groundwork for a possible Catholic-Thomistic response. In this work, the researcher attempts to answer the question of why Catholics need to solve this problem and what they can do to solve it. Th
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e paper resolves this question by arguing that it is the obligation of Catholics to share the truth through charitable instruction. The work then suggests that training programs dealing with misinformation and appropriate social media usage should be given at the parochial and grassroots levels. It also advocates for the utilization of Catholic schools by teaching students how to use social media properly and how to charitably instruct others to be wise on online platforms. Furthermore, the work reminds Catholics that they urge the state to uphold the common good by enacting programs that support charitable instruction in the context of social media usage in the country, whether by revamping the educational system or by boosting the country's fact-checking capabilities. To arrive at this, the work discusses the following: the Catholic social teachings on the Christian call to instruct the ignorant vis-à-vis St. Thomas Aquinas' views on it and the societal common good in Catholic doctrine. From there,the researcher extrapolates a possible response to misinformation that Catholics may adopt. Practical recommendations are then given toward the end of the paper." (Abstract)
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"This is a story set in a fictional city in Africa, in the not-too-far future. It follows a young investigative journalist, her mentor and her friend, a computer genius, who work together to uncover and expose a complex disinformation campaign fuelled by artificial intelligence and save their people
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. In a tale of bravery and honour, they risk their careers and safety to uncover the truth about who is poisoning their community and they overcome many obstacles together to save the day! With this comic book, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s regional Media Programme for sub-Saharan Africa seeks to highlight the changes in the media landscape wrought by technology – both good and bad. Artificial intelligence will continue to permeate every element of our lives, including the media, and one way is through the massive spread of disinformation online. This story is important for the work of journalists not only in Africa, but across the world and highlights how we use AI to tell important stories, but also, how dangerous it can be if it goes unchecked. Finally, in a time where the trust in the media is continuously decreasing, the KAS Media Programme takes its role, and that of journalists seriously in building that trust back up and buttressing the credibility of the media. One tool by which we can achieve this is media literacy. We believe that this comic book is for everyone, not just journalists, and can be used to educate everyone, no matter the age or profession, about the threats against democracy." (Page 1)
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"This is a list of African mediumwave (AM) radio stations including their name, frequency, location and transmission power, arranged by country, especially on Algeria, Egypt, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan." (commbox)
"Within [the radio debate programme) Patara, there was no explicit intention to reach a final conclusion on any given issue. The overall aim of the Ndeke Luka’s debate was to display arguments from different angles about certain specific matters without necessarily having to reach unanimous agreem
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ent among the participants. Clashing and diverging views of how peace should be built and reached were portrayed. It is significant that a radio station dedicated a weekly programme to gathering opposing viewpoints and bringing together actors who had been excluded from the formal, official peace talks in Khartoum. Despite being unofficial, this forum provided by Ndeke Luka drew its strength from being an accessible, “open door” arena. [...] Within the precepts of the editorial line of radio Guira, journalists made no specific allusion to any armed group or armed leader, unless they were engaged in a UN or governmental effort to disarm. This could imply a “safety” measure to avoid any political attrition between the UN and the government. Considering that the UN mission is allowed to be in the country because the hosting government accepts its presence, and that the UN mandate aims at supporting the building of state institutions, it is not surprising that the need to partner with official authorities in all dimensions was present in Le Debat. The challenge for a radio broadcast from a UN media was not to use a bellicose rhetoric. On a final note, distinct perspectives of the processes of “peacebuildings,” in plural, were conveyed by these two radio stations. The term in its plural form is hereby endorsed in order to acknowledge that different perspectives of peacebuilding can and should coexist in the public arena. These multiple understandings sometimes complemented one another and sometimes clashed. It is, in fact, necessary and crucial that numerous views of “peacebuildings” publicly circulate as a way of engaging citizens and communities to collectively discuss the transformation of their realities." (Concluding remarks, pages 14-15)
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