"Any approach to media development must include systems-wide measures including development of an enabling regulatory framework and increased access to information. Future media development processes must be African-owned and African-led, ultimately empowering Africans at all levels of society. With
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in this, media development strategies must fit the specific contexts of diverse African realities; While new technologies offer new and exciting opportunities, we must focus not on a transition from 'old' media to 'new' media, but on maximizing the potential for expanding networked journalism across the media in all its forms; The media is necessarily political, seeking to foster debate around inherently contentious social, economic, cultural and political issues. Donors and NGOs must recognize the clear-cut distinction between using the media to promote specific development policies and building the media as a component of genuine democratic debate." (Executive summary, page 10)
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"Given the prevailing environment, radio cannot better engage development, and this is in spite of the qualities of radio that endear it to development agencies and governments elsewhere. As Ojebode (forthcoming b) suggests, for radio to realise its potentials as a development medium in Nigeria, som
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e far-reaching and major restructuring need to be effected, and the current media landscape must be altered.
First, and the one that requires the strongest political will, is that government should take its hands off radio. A truly public service system should be put in place [...]
The second suggestion towards making radio engage development more fruitfully is that government should stop vacillating over the establishment of community radio. Our study shows that radio stations are alienated from the community and from listeners [...]
Third, development planning and practice in Nigeria should be integrated. In Nigeria, different government and development agencies work independently and often at cross purposes [...]
The fourth suggestion, which is related to the third, is the need to ensure that the tasks radio encourages people to perform in its jingles and programmes are feasibly supported by existing infrastructure [...]
The fifth step we must take is that government must support private stations in order for them to more fruitfully participate in development communication. Our study shows that these stations devote more time to development issues than do government stations [...]
Finally, we suggest that Nigerian communication schools and colleges review their curricula to include topics on public journalism. Also known as civic or citizen journalism, public journalism seeks to put the citizens at the centre of news and reports." (Recommendations, page 58-59)
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"This paper is a briefing for health practitioners, TB programmers, policymakers, media professionals and people affected by TB. Based on an analysis of media coverage of TB, it argues that health professionals and TB specialists should be supported to engage more effectively with the media so that
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the media can, in turn, play a more critical role in national and international responses to public health concerns. The briefing aims to raise awareness of TB and to raise its media profile, while at the same time highlighting key obstacles to effective reporting on TB and other health issues. It concludes with practical suggestions as to how the relationship between the health and media sectors can be strengthened to enhance the media’s contribution to global efforts to control TB. The paper highlights findings from a content analysis of print media in 12 countries undertaken in 2006 by the Panos Global AIDS Programme. It also draws upon recent reports and initiatives around health journalism. Although 7 of the 12 countries included in the analysis are ranked among the highest TB burden countries in the world, the research found little coverage of TB in local or national print media." (Executive summary)
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"In den letzten Jahren hat die Verbreitung der neuen Informationsund Kommunikationstechnologien weltweit zu tief greifenden Veränderungen in Gesellschaft, Wirtschaft und Politik geführt, die inzwischen auch den Bereich der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit erreicht haben. Welche Chancen und Gefahren vor
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allem aber welche Herausforderungen sind mit diesen neuen Kulturtechniken verbunden? Was bedeuten diese, insbesondere für die Sozialisation von Kindern, auch und gerade in den Ländern des Südens? Wie ist das Problem der Gefährdung durch Gewaltdarstellungen in Neuen Medien und deren zunehmende Einbeziehung in Gewalthandlungen und Kriegsstrategienzu bewerten? In dieser Broschüre werden – vor dem Hintergrund der Entwicklungszusammenarbeit – neben zentralen Entwicklungen der Neuen Medien und deren Herausforderungen wichtige Strategien des Umgangs im Kontext der Medienpädagogik diskutiert." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"[...] 1. As used in these guidelines, the term “crisis” includes, but is not limited to, wars, terrorist attacks, natural and man-made disasters, i.e. situations in which freedom of expression and information is threatened (for example, by limiting it for security reasons); the term “media pr
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ofessionals” covers all those engaged in the collection, processing and dissemination of information intended for the media. The term includes also cameramen and photographers, as well as support staff such as drivers and interpreters.
2. Member states should assure to the maximum possible extent the safety of media professionals – both national and foreign. The need to guarantee the safety, however, should not be used by member states as a pretext to limit unnecessarily the rights of media professionals such as their freedom of movement and access to information.
3. Competent authorities should investigate promptly and thoroughly the killings and other attacks on media professionals. Where applicable, the perpetrators should be brought to justice under a transparent and rapid procedure.
4. Member states should require from military and civilian agencies in charge of managing crisis situations to take practical steps to promote understanding and communication with media professionals covering such situations.
5. Journalism schools, professional associations and media are encouraged to provide as appropriate general and specialised safety training for media professionals.
6. Employers should strive for the best possible protection of their media staff on dangerous missions, including by providing training, safety equipment and practical counselling. They should also offer them adequate insurance in respect of risks to the physical integrity. International organisations of journalists might consider facilitating the establishment of an insurance system for freelance media professionals covering crisis situations. [...]" (Page 2)
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"Community Informatics (CI) is the application of information and communications technologies (ICTs) to enable community processes and the achievement of community objectives. CI goes beyond the “Digital Divide” to making ICT access usable and useful to excluded populations and communities for l
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ocal economic development, social justice, and political empowerment. CI approaches ICTs from a “community” perspective and develops strategies and techniques for managing their use by communities both virtual and physical including the variety of Community Networking applications. CI assumes that both communities have characteristics, requirements, and opportunities that require different strategies for ICT intervention and development from individual access and use. Also, CI addresses ICT use in Developing Countries as well as among the poor, the marginalized, the elderly, or those living in remote locations in Developed Countries. CI is of interest both to ICT practitioners and academic researchers and addresses the connections between the policy and pragmatic issues arising from the tens of thousands of Community Networks, Community Technology Centres, Telecentres, Community Communications Centres, and Telecottages globally along with the rapidly emerging field of electronically based virtual “communities." (Abstract)
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"This paper outlines and provides evidence for the effects of five key approaches to health information and communication in relation to the health-related MDGs; according to the different stakeholders involved, i.e. Health policy makers, health researchers, health care providers, patients and citiz
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ens. This paper places emphasis on creating an enabling environment for health through sustainable health systems that are integrated with responses from other sectors, and on pro-poor health services. This paper is not making a case for exceptional status for health communication. Rather it is trying to give examples of the impact of integrating communication approaches into health strategies, and examples of the diminished effect of communication when this is not the case. This paper endorses the knowledge that adequate funding is a prerequisite of a functioning health system, as are management systems and practices, information systems, and human resources (WHO, 2006)." (Introduction)
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"Enterprise development interventions that utilize the mass media can be seen to be impacting on three different areas of the operating environment of small businesses. First, mass media can bring about behavioural change in the business operation by influencing public and individual attitudes and b
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ehaviour through interventions applying for instance social marketing techniques. Second, it can provide enhanced services and information about MSE input and output markets by providing information on the services and products available to small businesses, acting as a feedback mechanism to service and input providers, and playing an important role in opening up new markets and improving existing markets for the services and products that small businesses sell. Third, mass media can act as an agent to improve the policy and regulatory environments for small businesses." (Abstract)
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"This book offers a methodology for the classification and comparison of broadcasting systems, both for positive and normative analyses. It is based on the assumption that the revenue structures of broadcasters determine the incentives for the broadcasters' staffs, and that these incentives in tur
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n determine the broadcasters' program outputs (content, journalistic and artistic style, target audiences etc.) and its private and public effects." (Publisher description)
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"This report represents input from twenty-three practitioners who have observed, planned, and implemented media education programs of the U.S. and other Western governments, as well as those of private funders. The group discussed broad lessons learned and specific recommendations for policymakers,
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donors, and implementers on how to improve U.S. foreign assistance for professional development of journalists. The executive summary (page 4) concludes: "Their recommendations are encompassed in three main ideas. First, improving media is a local project that requires local remedies, local partners, and deep understanding of local values and circumstances. One solution never fits all—just as ethical norms must be put into practice to fit local realities, so must programs fit local limitations. Second, success requires that the right people do the right job, preferably in concert on mutually determined goals, moderated by flexible rules and evaluated on long-term and qualitative goals. This means that donors should support creative programming by dedicated trainers and teachers who work with engaged journalists and persevering managers. Third, donors who want to be effective need to understand that short-term funding and training have not created long-term impact." (commbox)
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"This report explores the rapid growth of investigative journalism overseas and suggests ways to best support and professionalize its practice in developing and democratizing countries. Among its findings:
• A substantial investment into investigative journalism programs can have significant posit
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ive impact in a wide range of countries, including those in the Middle East and former Soviet Union. Such funding will be most effective if long-term and integrated into broader initiatives that include legal reform and freedom of information.
• Nonprofit investigative reporting centers have proved to be viable organizations that can provide unique training and reporting, while serving as models of excellence that help to professionalize the local journalism community.
• The centers are part of an expanding global network of training institutes, reporting organizations, journalism associations, grant-making groups, and online networks that have great potential to effect change. Different programs will be appropriate for different regions and markets.
• Commercially based training, even in the West, plays little role in furthering investigative journalism, leaving nonprofit organizations to take the lead. Although university-based training has potential, it appears limited in scope outside the United States and Western Europe.
• Because of its emphasis on longer-term, high-impact journalism, investigative reporting projects can be difficult to evaluate. Training and reporting projects aimed at creating a culture of investigative journalism should be evaluated based on their quality and impact, not broad numbers of people trained and stories produced." (Executive summary)
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"This report explores the current state of university-based journalism education and describes avenues for engaging those international media developers by highlighting three strategies: • Universities are important for entry-level journalism training. International media developers should conside
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r investing in journalism schools; however, the type and level of assistance should depend on local circumstances. • International funders are showing interest in mapping journalism education worldwide. Such efforts must draw information from every part of the world in order to help media developers find the most promising entities for investment of their limited development funds. • The media sector has changed dramatically, but many journalism programs fail to meet the new challenges of the industry. Media developers can help overcome this gap in several ways: funding teacher training and curriculum development, providing updated educational materials and adequate equipment, facilitating the creation of student-run media to develop practical skills, and funding cross-disciplinary partnerships and programs." (Executive summary)
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"The Palestinian media, taken as a whole, generally offered voters a variety of views concerning the campaign. Respect of legal provisions for free airtime on the public TV and radio, as well as televised debates and talk shows, permitted parties and candidates to convey messages to the electorate.
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Outside the free time, however, Palestine TV and Voice of Palestine, through news coverage, favoured the incumbents and their candidates. In contrast to the news coverage by public media, the two popular pan-Arab networks monitored by Filastiniyat, Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya, provided more balanced coverage, with a greater diversity of views. In its news programmes, Watan TV clearly favoured Mustafa Barghouthi and his party list Independent Palestine. The time granted on Watan, Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera for all the contesting parties, was a positive public service by the three private broadcasters. The print media provided a plurality of views, generally with coverage of Fatah being most dominant. The legal framework regulating media coverage during the election campaign remains inadequate. Majority of interlocutors placed restrictions to the freedom of movement for journalists at the forefront of concerns in Palestine." (Executive summary)
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"The working group considered how international media development programs—particularly those that are U.S.-supported—have succeeded or failed, discussed best practices, and made recommendations. Journalist Ann McFeatters served as the rapporteur for the meeting. The discussion focused on severa
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l questions: What has succeeded in international media law development? What has not performed as planned and why? What is needed for success? What should be the role of the U.S. government and private donors? What new strategies should be tried? This report highlights working group’s main recommendations and points of discussion." (Executive summary, page 4)
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