mediadev library

"This report presents the result of a quantitative survey carried out in March 2017 using a representative sample of 1104 individuals (Syrian refugees and host community members over 12 years old), weighted for location, gender and age, across the three main host countries for Syrian refugees (Jorda ... n, Lebanon and Turkey). Some results are presented aggregated on this whole population (with a ratio of 70% Syrian refugees / 30% of host communities), while others are presented in a segregated way (refugees compared to host communities), or by various other break-downs mentioned throughout the report. Finding 1: Both Syrian refugees and host communities are well equipped in terms of media and means of communication (92% have access to television, 97% to phones and 56% to internet), sometimes through ad hoc means (shared dishes, shared internet subscriptions, use of a relative’s phone, etc.). They are intensive users, spending about two and a half hours per day on television and the same on the internet. The more educated, richer segments follow various kinds of news, cross-check, are members of numerous Facebook communities, and spread information themselves. But even at the other end, among the poorer and the less educated, very few people are completely disconnected. Finding 2: Satellite television, whose use is almost universal, is a major entertainment tool in terms of time spent: families put cartoons for their children and watch movies, musical videos and series. It is also widely used for news, with a few pan-Arab channels dominating the landscape (Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Al Hadath), but also use of some host country channels (particularly Al Jadeed in Lebanon) and pro-revolution Syrian channels (particularly Orient). Internet is less pervasive, but still very significant for a large proportion of the population, who are connected on social media (over half on WhatsApp, over a third on Facebook) and use the network for private chat, entertainment and information, especially on the numerous existing Syrian community pages or information portals. On the contrary, radio usage is low and limited to particular circumstances (absence of electricity, in transportation, etc.): to a large extent, it has been replaced by television and/or internet. Finding 3: There is a lot of humanitarian information circulating, both on official channels (official SMS, outreach teams, direct visits to offices, national announcements, etc.) and unofficial channels (a burgeoning, ever-changing world of Facebook pages and groups with tips and announcements, of SMS or messages being re-forwarded and re-published, of rumours or facts spread by word of mouth). But this information is not coordinated in a systematic manner by actors, and people in need still lack accurate information on various issues. They are often forced to rely on unofficial sources, or do not trust fully the information they have. Moreover, in many cases the only way to obtain information is to go personally to the relevant institution or office, which is sometimes a barrier." (Executive summary and recommendations) more

"In 2004-2005, the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Office of Transition Initiatives commissioned Altai Consulting to conduct the first comprehensive media evaluation of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, looking at the impact of the Afghan media on opinions and behav ... iors three years after the beginning of the country’s reconstruction. The evaluation found, among other things: that Afghans were avid and sophisticated media users and that cultural barriers to media use were less significant than previously expected; that the radio played a predominant role throughout the country; and that media are instrumental in social progress and education. However, since publication of that report1, Afghanistan’s media sector has seen important changes. To inform future assistance from the international community to the Afghan media, it was deemed necessary to assess the current state of the Afghan media – by reflecting a full and accurate audience profile, to determine program preferences, to measure the impact of the Afghan media on local opinions and behaviors and to gauge Afghan expectations in terms of programming and messaging. A large-scale research project was thus planned and conducted from March to August 2010. This research included a deep probe into the media sector and the public’s behaviors and expectations. The methodology used to achieved this included a combination of: literature review; direct observations; key informant interviews with most relevant actors involved in the media sector; 6,648 close-ended interviews in more than 900 towns and villages of 106 districts, covering all 34 provinces of the country; an audience survey on more than 1,500 individuals run daily for a week; about 200 qualitative, open-ended interviews; and 10 community case studies. Such an effort guarantees that results presented here are fairly representative of the Afghan population at large. This document provides a comprehensive synthesis of data collected during the survey. A database of media actors, 16 priority district reports, 10 case study reports, a complete description of the methodology and the original datasets from the main quantitative research and the audience research are publicly available, allowing anyone interested to access more focused information as needed." (Introduction, page 8) more

Information Needs of Syrian Refugees and Host Communities in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey

Afghan Media in 2010: Synthesis Report