"Charts the history of the Nigerian book and from its earliest days through to the 1980s and 90s - when the publishing industries went into a period of marked decline - and through to the present day. Examines various aspects of the contemporary publishing scene including issues such as copyright an
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d piracy, and presents the author's views on the history, merits, and future of Nigerian book fairs. The author is Executive Director of the Nigerian NGO Synergy Educational." (Hans M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 810)
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"In order to promote a mass media that is both professional and supportive of democratic culture, funders should give special attention to distinguishing opposition media from independent media, integrating media support with other efforts at civil society and democratic development, and ensuring di
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versity within the mass media." (Page 117)
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"Since the end of the Cold War, a virtual army of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from the United States, Britain, Germany, and elsewhere in Europe have flocked to Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. These NGOs are working on such diverse tasks as helping to establish competitive political
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parties, elections, and independent media, as well as trying to reduce ethnic conflict. This important book is among the few efforts to assess the impact of these international efforts to build democratic institutions. The case studies presented here provide a portrait of the mechanisms by which ideas commonly associated with democratic states have evolved in formerly communist states, revealing conditions that help as well as hurt the process." (Publisher description)
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"The media cannot be neutral towards peace: While news journalists may react strongly against such a claim by holding their ’professional objectivity’ above everything else, they must realise that the way in which they report on and about a certain conflict can drastically affect the audience’
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s perception of the situation and thus may influence further developments. While we would not want to endorse the idea that the news media may be controlled and used for specific purposes, even that of peace, the perception that journalists ought to be ‘neutral’ needs to be overcome. Simply by being there and reporting on a conflict, the media alter the communication environment and are thus inherently involved in the conflict and non-neutral. Furthermore, there is a very fine line between discarding one’s objectivity and viewing events with a certain attitude towards conciliation. In other words, though the media are usually run for profit, and, moreover, conflict sells better than cooperation, journalists should ensure balanced reporting with a view to preventing the escalation of tensions. It is possible to move in this direction by covering peace initiatives - at the very least – in as much detail as renewed escalations, by choosing to counter hate speech, and thus reducing the negative potentials of the media in conflict situations. Media that are sensitive towards the task of promoting tolerant and diverse viewpoints can be both informative as well as entertaining and have a large potential audience. In strengthening local capacities’ efforts, assistance can focus on three different aspects of local media structures: creating an open media culture that allows different voices to emerge and be heard, enhancing professional training and education for journalists, and supplying technical equipment to local media institutions." (Pages 2-3)
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"Our research confirmed that many IFI (international financial institutions)-watchers are struggling to utilise ICT efficiently. The majority of organisations we studied do not have a communications strategy that takes into account the possibilities ICT affords. If they do have a website, it is not
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updated regularly. Almost everybody we consulted complained about information-overload, while at the same time lacking information relevant to them specifically. These difficulties are, of course, also experienced by NGOs, campaigners and specialists in other issue areas. We identified a range of obstacles that make effective information sharing and co-operation more difficult. Some are easy to grasp, although not necessarily easy to tackle (i.e. language), while others are extremely complex and cause much frustration (i.e. internal politics and structures of NGOs). Many have been around for years. The introduction of ICT is accompanied by new difficulties, such as information overload and computer viruses, but can also have a multiplier effect on the "old" problems. This is not news, but it makes sense to point out again that new technology relies on "traditional" factors to succeed in establishing effective communications. It depends less on working with the latest software than on how people relate to each other. Power structures and democratic or non-democratic procedures can, directly or indirectly, promote or hinder communications." (Executive summary)
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"Evaluations of the Internet and Development have tended to focus on the extent to which a websites content, or message, has affected development activities. This research examines the usage of the medium itself, by conducting an applied evaluative study of eight urban-focused websites disseminating
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development research findings. Evaluated websites are decomposed into six components of website production, namely: architecture, technology, style, content, strategy and management. Key qualities associated with these components are then examined, in order to assess the suitability of each website from the perspective of an international audience. This paper's purpose is to help build the capacity of organisations working in the field of international development, which intend to evaluate their own website(s). It aims to support the evaluation process so that websites can be improved as a medium for communicating research to an international audience." (INTRAC website)
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"The aim of this article is to introduce and analyze the case of the South Africa media NGO ‘Soul City – Institute of Health and Development Communication’ in order to discuss how an entertainment-education based communication strategy can co
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ntribute to a participatory development process. Firstly, I introduce the history and development of Soul City. Secondly, I provide a brief historical overview of the developments within entertainment-education in relation to the general discussions of communication for development. Finally I present Soul City’s communication strategy, the edutainment model, and analyze how Soul City contributes to the further development of entertainment-education strategies in both theory and practice. As so often seen before, practice comes prior to theory, and I thus argue that what Soul City is de facto doing is anticipating the theoretical advancement I wish to argue for referent entertainment-education (EE). The point I argue is that Soul City represents a third pathway in a field which traditionally has been divided between two major schools of thought: the diffusion of innovation-oriented theories and methodologies on one hand and the participatory theories and methodologies on the other. A new paradigm within communication and development is emerging." (Abstract)
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"In transcending territorial boundaries, satellite television has the potential to liberate viewers from government controls on national media. Why is this potential liberation yet to be fully realized in the Middle East? This dynamic book explores the development through the 1990s into the 21st cen
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tury of cross-border television in the Middle East, exploring issues at the heart of the international political economy of communication." (Publisher description)
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"Child pornography and the sexual abuse of children through misuse of the media and the internet are complex yet closely related issues. Not only do they necessitate complex solutions, they also demand a social response from all sectors of society. This volume records the response of these various s
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ectors and shows how individuals and organizations can cooperate effectively. It describes the major work being carried out in some African countries, in Albania, Brazil, Guatemala, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, and shows the efforts being made to share information and build networks. A reference section provides the site locations of organizations that have made significant advances in protecting children online. In addition, this book offers an action plan to encourage cooperation with others in the fields in a coherent and coordinated manner." (UNESCO website 11/2007)
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"What follows is a fascinating account of 50 experiments in empowering people— living in poor communities across the world—to seize control of their own life stories and begin to change their circumstances of poverty, discrimination and exclusion. Alfonso Gumucio spent nearly one year researchin
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g and interviewing sources for “Making Waves,” and has been actively involved in every phase of production. “Alfonso’s voice” is evident throughout this work, and it is a tribute to what makes him the ultimate communicator: he has the soul of the good poet and filmmaker that he is, combined with an unwavering sense of justice and fairness. Following the first introductory chapter—which explains the field of participatory communication for social change and how it is evolving—you will read 50 illustrations of the power of community decision-making and action. Many of the stories are about community radio.We hope you don’t find this tedious; but our research and conversations certainly suggest that community-based radio is one of the best ways to reach excluded or marginalised communities in targeted, useful ways." (Foreword by Denise Gray-Felder, page 1-2)
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