"It is a simple fact that it is hard to find reliable information on the media in South Eastern Europe. The 'South East Europe Media Handbook' bridges this gap in a unique way and offers basic information about the situation of the media in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,
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Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro/Kosovo, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and Ukraine. It hereby supports the better understanding of the particular situation of the media in the countries of South Eastern Europe. On the other hand, it gives a very good overview and provides a useful database of all important media in South Eastern Europe. Last but not least it is an outstanding source of information regarding press freedom violations in the past year. Once again I want to emphasize that the media are the agents of democracy. Hence it is very important to encourage the governments in the region to establish safe working conditions for journalists and this is one of the basic objectives of this handbook." (Erhard Busek, Special Coordinator Stability Pact for Eastern Europe, page XI).
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"This is a brief overview of international assistance to media development in Iraq from the time of the invasion in 2003 to the formation of the Iraqi government and first weeks of the constitutional process in April-May 2005. This paper does not claim to give an exhaustive picture. It is meant as a
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n introduction to the main foreign actors and to some of their initiatives and plans. It is written with the clear premise that media development in Iraq has been, is and should of course continue to be led and inspired by the Iraqis themselves." (Introduction)
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"This paper derives from a seminar on Media Development and OSCE field missions, which was organised by Press Now and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, and hosted by the Netherlands Foreign Ministry in The Hague on 16 June 2005. These remarks convey the summary thoughts and practical recommendatio
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ns that emerged at the seminar, together with our own conclusions as moderators of the event. They amplify the analysis and recommendations offered in Press Now’s 2004 report on media development by selected OSCE missions. Introduction: OSCE missions have done excellent work in media development. At the same time, limited resources have not always been well used. Lessons can be learned from the experiences of a decade and turned into practical proposals. Missions are affected by many variables largely or even fully beyond their control, including but not limited to their mandates, the situation in their host countries (political, military/security, economic, cultural), the level of international interest in their activity, and their staffing. Nevertheless, we believe it has been demonstrated again and again that media development – apart from its importance in its own right – is also a litmus test of a host government’s commitment to other democratisation and liberalisation efforts, and an enabler of such reforms." (Conclusions, page 6)
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"This report shares the findings of five studies of media coverage of HIV/AIDS, carried out in Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe by the Panos London AIDS Programme, with the support of Johns Hopkins University. The studies aimed to explore some of the issues and tensions involved
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in the relationship between the media and HIV/AIDS. In particular, they aimed to identify how the media could better fulfill its potential role in responding to the epidemic, for example by 'moving beyond awareness raising' and acting as a channel to encourage individual and social change, providing a forum for debate and holding decision-makers to account. According to the writers, the studies focused on radio and print media. They used desk research, individual interviews and group discussions, involving editors, broadcasters, journalists, academics and health workers, as well as representatives of HIV/AIDS agencies, non-governmental organisations, faith-based groups and the general public. They were carried out by local consultants over two months during 2004, with supplementary desk research and interviews in 2005. Sections 1 & 2 of this report provide an analysis of the context, themes and recommendations that emerged from across the different studies. Sections 3-7 summarise the audit for each country, including: a summary of the national political and HIV/AIDS context; information about policy and ownership issues in relation to radio and print; an analysis of the relationship between the media and HIV/AIDS; and conclusions and recommendations." (www.comminit.com, January 30, 2006)
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