"On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, RNTC invited stakeholders in the field of media and development for a two-day conference, held in Hilversum on June 5-6, 2008, on "Media and development: future scenarios for international cooperation" [...] This report is an attempt to give a reflection of
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the vibrant discussions and exchange of knowledge and experience during the two days of the conference. We provide some background information about the methodology used, and we describe the key themes that came up in the different sessions." (Foreword)
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"In the last two decades, western governmental and nongovernmental organizations have invested heavily in the development of media in countries outside their borders in an effort to foster the development of democratic institutions and liberalized economic regimes. This paper examines the assumption
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s behind those investments in media assistance as well as the dominant views of the donors about democratization itself and the operation of market forces. It also examines the empirical work that either supports or contradicts these assumptions." (Abstract)
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"In der Debatte um die politische Wirkung von Medien wird häufig übersehen, dass internationale Akteure schon längst auf ausländische Kommunikationsräume Einfluss nehmen. Thema dieser Arbeit ist das Instrument der externen Medienhilfe, bei der mit finanzieller, materieller und beratender Unters
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tützung, aber auch durch verhindernde Maßnahmen ganze Mediensysteme beeinflusst werden. Die Fragestellung betrifft die handlungsleitenden Motive, die jeweiligen Ziele der Akteure und ihre Konzepte und Implementierungsstrategien, die theoretisch und praktisch am Beispiel wichtigsten Medienhilfe-Implementierer in den Nachkriegsregionen Bosnien-Herzegowina und Kosovo von 1995 bis 2006 nachgezeichnet werden." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"This paper has demonstrated that the benefits for the general Afghan and Iraqi public derived from the ‘promotion of independent media’ by institutions like the NED are questionable, especially for parties interested in encouraging more deliberative or participatory forms of democracy. Instead,
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the promotion of ‘independent’ media in Afghanistan and Iraq seems to be playing a key role in the promotion of low-intensity democracy or polyarchy. Additionally, it also appears that countries of greater geostrategic value need more ‘democratization’, for example, both countries have roughly the same population but ‘oil rich Iraq received 20 times more American media development assistance per year than war-ravaged Afghanistan, one of the poorest nations on earth’ (Rohde, 2005: 29). With such large amounts of money being wielded by ‘democracy promoters’, their short term influences may impact heavily on both countries, yet perhaps the most significant effects of these media interventions will be felt in the long term. Previous case studies have shown that groups or individuals supported by ‘democracy promoters’ are expected to move on to fill leading roles within their societies." (Conclusion, page 124)
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Extracted and summarised texts from selected international declarations and statements on the role of media and communication in democratisation and development, from the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) to the 10th UN Inter-agency round table on communication for development.
"Communication is a prerequisite for better, more transparent and accountable governance, and for wealth creation and economic growth. It underpins all the MDGs and is arguably as central a need of human beings as food, shelter, health and security. Governments and development actors need to recogni
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se the central role of information and communication in development - especially the importance of strengthening the capacities of poor and marginalised people to participate in political and development processes. Addressing the challenge of communication is urgent. New ICTs can expand opportunities for poor and marginalised people to participate - but strategic support is needed to ensure that ICTs fulfil their development potential rather than widening the wealth gap between rich and poor. The establishment and maintenance of diverse, dynamic and free media is also vital to successful development. The importance of getting the media 'right' is especially great in young democracies, as media play an important role in forming the nature of society." (Conclusion, page 59)
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"Discussions on how to support sustainability of independent media generally focus on the political conditions, the legal framework and – especially in German development cooperation – on the quality of journalistic coverage. Nevertheless, economic factors are of equal importance, not only for p
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ure survival but also with respect to editorial independence and the resources available to enhance or guarantee the quality of media outlets. The German Forum Medien und Entwicklung (Media and Development) highlighted in its annual international Symposium, “Money Matters – How independent media manage to survive”, two dimensions marking economic sustainability: factors constituting a restricting or enabling media environment; factors supporting the business management of media in their endeavour to become self-sustainable." (Executive summary, page 5)
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"Medien können eine zentrale Rolle für Transparenz, Korruptionsbekämpfung und Bürgerbeteiligung spielen. Die Stärkung eines unabhängigen Mediensektors muss daher ein Grundpfeiler der Demokratieförderung werden." (Abstract)
"Exporting Press Freedom examines the history and practice of media assistance, and argues that the dilemma of media independence and sustainability is best understood as an economic problem rather than one of poor editorial standards or lack of will. It includes profiles of news and public affairs
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media in developing and democratizing countries, and also of two non-governmental organizations that have pioneered the use of low-interest loans in media assistance. These profiles exemplify strategic and entrepreneurial approaches to developing and supporting public service media. Such approaches may be of use not only in the developing world, but in the consolidated Western democracies as well, where concern has grown about poor journalistic performance and its consequences for democratic governance." (Publisher description)
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"This publication is a short, easy-to-read introduction to the field of media assistance. Following the usual steps of the project cycle, it describes the principal elements to analyse needs in media assistance and to select specific intervention strategies. The document distinguishes six interventi
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on areas: training of individual journalists; the organisational level of media outlets; the strengthening of media support institutions (research institutions, press councils, etc.); enhancing the sustainability of media; establishing and enforcing favourable media laws and regulations; and activities aiming at cultural values and societal beliefs. For each area, appropriateness, strengths and weaknesses, key issues for analysis and simple monitoring techniques are briefly listed." (CAMECO Update 1-2008)
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