"Only a handful of the estimated 150 FM radio stations in Mali could properly be called ‘community’ stations, with administrative structures to ensure representative listener participation in decision-making. However, due to regulations and scarce funding sources, virtually all stations depend o
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n their audiences for direct financial support in return for mediated listener-to-listener communications. This article, based on over a year and a half of fieldwork in the southern Malian city of Koutiala, outlines the system of social and technical interdependence that links stations and their listeners in Mali. FM radio depends fundamentally on systems of transportation, and, to a lesser degree, other communication technologies like telephones. Social interdependence is emphasized in the speech of announcers, through an insistence on Islam as a common religion and fictive joking relationships. Referencing the operational structures of the stations in the city, including one community station, I show that a socio-technical system has developed in which local FM blurs standard understandings of ‘community’ media." (Abstract)
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"Nearly one woman in ten does not listen to radio at all. However, the results of the survey indicate that over half (51.4%) of women does not listen at all, or seldom listens to radio. This situation is not due to the competition from television, but rather to the fact that the majority of women do
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not have a radio and, to a lesser extent, to their core duties which leave them little time to listen to radio. The effect of the high impact of household core could be reduced if these women had their own radio sets. Indeed, an overwhelming majority of the women was classified as "housewife", which is not incompatible with listening to radio. Young people, in particular teenagers, have a lower level of access to information through radio. Health programs usually target this age group which should also be a focus for women promotion programs. It is all about women, who, while being still young, are becoming mothers and heads of a family. Their needs for information would seem to be thus more significant than those of other women. This is, however, the group that shows the least interest in radio. Moreover, radio management should see to it that these teenagers get more interested in their programs. This lack of keen interest from teenagers could be due to the fact that they have a more significant access to television. Women with lower incomes and those from the regions have the lowest rates of access to radio programs. These results tally with the low rate of radios owned by women. The results show a positive link between radio ownership rates and the percentage of women who listen to radio everyday. Very few female listeners (5%) contacted radio stations to take part in a program. This participation is somewhat easier for women who have access to telephone. However, the costs of communication could be a deterrent considering the low incomes of the population." (Executive summary)
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"The summary of findings for this study is drawn from extensive research conducted in the form of questionnaires and focus groups. The aim of the study was to assess the level at which community radio stations in Africa are involved in programming of content on sustainable development themes/ topics
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. Investigations conducted through the study indicate that in general, community radio stations are still struggling with producing content on sustainable development. One of the reasons is the lack of understanding and distinction of what sustainable content is especially in the specific context of the different communities. Findings however also indicate that despite challenges faced by the sector, community radio stations are making some efforts to produce programmes on sustainable content although they are also faced with challenges on identifying and working with relevant stakeholders for content development. This report makes specific recommendation on how community radio stations can improve on sustainable programming." (Executive summary of findings, page 5-6)
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"Volume 2 examines the setting, operations, and effects of community telecentres. It describes the telecentre experiences of a variety of local and often rural communities, exploring the management structures and mechanisms that have been established to support these telecentres. The book provides p
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rofiles of telecentre usage and discusses the potential and challenges of setting up and maintaining community telecentres in the context of poor information infrastructure and limited human capacity. It will be useful for researchers, policy- and decision-makers, and development practitioners and professionals with interests or active programs in the area of "ICT for development," particularly those with a focus on universal access and universal-service or public-access centres. It will also be a very useful reference tool for scholars, students, and academics." (Publisher description)
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Dans nombre de pays africains, la liberté de la presse est encore toute relative, et surtout vulnérable, menacée par le pouvoir ou fragilisée par les excès dont les médias eux-mêmes se rendent coupables. Dans ce contexte sont apparues les premières instances africaines d'autorégulation des
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médias, visant à faire respecter la déontologie, à forger dans l'esprit des journalistes une éthique de l'information et à engager la presse dans une dynamique de professionnalisation. En charge d'un programme d'appui aux instances africaines d’autorégulation financé par l'Union européenne, en collaboration avec la Fédération internationale des journalistes (Fij), l'Union des journalistes de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (UJAO) et l'Observatoire ivoirien (Observatoire de la liberté de la presse, de l'éthique et de la déontologie - Olped), le Gret a travaillé sur la question dans un objectif double : apporter des références sur l'autorégulation des médias et donner un éclairage sur les expériences naissantes en Afrique. Dans une première partie sont présentées les approches de l'autorégulation et différents mécanismes utilisés par les médias dans plusieurs pays du monde. La deuxième partie est consacrée aux instances africaines. Elle expose le fonctionnement de l'Observatoire béninois (Odem), analysant ses acquis et difficultés, puis étudie les défis à relever pour des instances qui, si elles veulent remplir pleinement leur mission, doivent se pérenniser.
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"The aim of this study was to examine some of the models through which the school population in Africa gain access to supplementary reading material, and to reach some conclusions which methods work best, and in which circumstances, and to recommend strategies that are affordable and sustainable. Gi
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ven the lack of published data, it was decided that a case study approach was the most feasible and practical. A range of different modalities were examined and evaluated in depth in seven different African countries: school library services (Ghana and Tanzania); school libraries (Mali); NGO-supported classroom libraries (South Africa); book box libraries (Mozambique); teachers resource centres (Kenya); and community resources centres (Botswana). The case studies, carried out by academics and librarians in these countries, highlight various issues which contribute to the effectiveness, or otherwise, of ways of providing access to supplementary education materials to school pupils in Africa. Many of the case studies conclude that a corollary of any strategy to provide supplementary reading materials is local book production, and the way forward is to develop a viable indigenous publishing industry in tandem with improved professional training of teachers, and in teaching with books. The book includes an extensive bibliography." (Hans M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 1884)
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"Une synthèse des politiques de plusieurs pays africains francophones en matière de développement et d'utilisation des langues africaines en tant que stratégie essentielle pour l'amélioration et l'expansion des programmes d'éducation, et la fourniture de matériel didactique pertinent." (Hans
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M. Zell, Publishing, Books & Reading in Sub-Saharan Africa, 3d ed. 2008, nr. 2081)
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Media Résistance a publié en 2000 le réçit de 23 expériences de journaux, de radios et de télévision indépendantes. Le livre entend répondre à quatre questions: comment les médias résistent aux diverses pressions par les mots, quel est leur rôle dans le renforcement de la société civi
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le, l'alliance en réseaux permet-elle de mieux répondre aux pressions politiques, comment certaines initiatives luttent contre les stéréotypes et les clichés. Expériences d'Afrique: L'Indépendant (Burkina Faso), The News & Tempo (Nigeria), N'Djamena Hebdo (Tchad), The Post (Zambie), Le Journal (Maroc), Citizen FM (Gambie), Studio Ijambo (Burundi).
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