"In democracies with adjectives, the freedom of press also comes with adjectives." If the political regime is situated between a pure democracy and despotism, the freedom of press is also stuck in an in-between-situation. This statement sums up the results of Marie Soleil Frères empirical analysis
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of the role of media in reporting the election processes in six central African countries (Burundi, Central African Republic, Congo, DRC, Rwanda and Chad) with a long history of violent conflict. By carving out nine major obstacles of the role of media in these elections from the role of the parties' campaign strategies to the dangerous liaison between media and politics, the book describes how and why their role became problematic, and different from the democracy tool kit of international donors. This may not be a new subject, and most of the findings are familiar to readers with an interest in African media. But the empirical rigor and the in-depth analysis of the cases makes the book a good read and a starting point for a new debate on media support in African election processes." (commbox)
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This report details the results of the first year of a two-year impact assessment being conducted on the Interactive Radio for Justice project at its sites of operation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic (CAR). Interactive Radio for Justice is a project designed t
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o encourage dialogue between people in regions where the International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating serious crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes) and the national and international authorities responsible for rendering justice to them. The project produces a number of serial radio programmes dealing with child soldiers, peace and reconciliation, and justice which broadcast over community radio in several languages.
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"This in-depth investigation of the role that local news media play in Central African conflicts combines theoretical analysis with case studies from nine African countries: Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republi
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c of Congo, and Rwanda. Each case study presents a comprehensive discussion of media influences during the various conflicts that have spread in the region and their impact on the peace process. Enriching the exploration, a chapter by Jean- Paul Marthoz (former director of information at Human Rights Watch) focuses on the ways in which the media in the global North cover crises on the African continent." (About the book, page 287)
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"Tel est donc l’objectif de cet ouvrage : allier la réflexion théorique sur le rôle des médias dans les conflits et les processus de paix à des études de cas pratiques issus de l’expérience récente de neuf pays d’Afrique centrale. Cette recherche vise donc, d’une part, à mieux compr
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endre les dynamiques qui sont en jeu dans les paysages médiatiques de ces États et, d’autre part, à identifier des voies pouvant contribuer à les renforcer ou à les freiner. La documentation et la réflexion devant préparer l’action, ce livre ambitionne de fournir certains éléments d’analyse susceptibles d’aider à mieux comprendre et donc à mieux agir." (Introduction, page 8)
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"Dans cette région d'Afrique, dont plusieurs pays ont connu, au cours des dernières années, des conflits violents ou des troubles importants, l'outil radiophonique joue un rôle essentiel dans les processus de reconstruction et de consolidation démocratique. A travers cet ouvrage, nous souhaiton
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s fournir aux acteurs du pluralisme radiophonique en Afrique centrale, aux partenaires au developpement, aux autorités publiques et aux associations professionnelles, un état des lieux des législations en vigueur, pays par pays, mais aussi de leur degré d'application, des éventuelles difficultés constatées et des expériences positives à souligner." (Description de la maison d'édition)
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"Les informations récoltées sur le terrain, dans chacun des neuf pays étudiés, et livrées ici permettent de dessiner un état des lieux d'une région où le pluralisme de l'information et la démocratie nécessitent encore de nombreux débats et avancées. Nous espérons qu'elles constitueront
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autant de clés pour mieux comprendre une région en pleins boulversements au coeur de l'Afrique." (Description de la maison d'édition)
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"Annotated listings of over 4,600 libraries, publishers, booksellers, magazines and periodicals, and major newspapers throughout Africa." (commbox)
"The editors attempt to provide "comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date information, in both English and French, on libraries, publishers and the retail book trade, research institutions with publishing programs, book industry and literary associations, major periodicals and newspapers, government a
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s well as commercial printers, throughout Africa, South Africa excepted for the last name group." In all, 4,621 institutions and organizations are represented. Data varies according to the type of organization or institution and completeness and accuracy also vary because, the editors tell us, 45 percent of addresses failed to update their entries or retum the questionnaire. These cases are indicated with a dagger or asterisk. Even so, it provides a formidable amount of information. Librarians proved the best respondents; consequently data about libraries is more likely to be the most complete. Arrangement is alphabetical by country. Appendixes include a subject index to special libraries and to periodicals and magazines, and listings of book clubs, awards and principal dealers in African books in Europe and the U.S. Text is in English and French." (Eleanor Blum, Frances G. Wilhoit: Mass media bibliography. 3rd ed. Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1990 Nr. 1127)
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