"This article focuses on state-media relations and the shifts in the overall media landscape in Kenya. Drawing on a political economy approach to media operations in Kenya, it argues that while there are competing meanings over what constitutes "news values", "editorial independence", and "critical
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media", changes in political regimes and unclear media regulations contribute to political and/or corporate interference on media coverage of corruption and political impunity. This renders media operations problematic at the normative and operational levels. The discussion situates these arguments within the contexts of "policy laundering" and "critical junctures", seeking to establish whether the shifting media landscape is a function of increased information and communication affordability or, instead, an indication that critical media are on the decline. Overall, the article provides an assessment of key temporal periods that have shaped media regulatory frameworks to show how political and/or corporate interests have influenced journalistic practices and editorial independence over time and space." (Abstract)
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"This paper investigates the dynamic relationship between hybrid media and hybrid politics in Lebanon and Tunisia. While previous research on the media in hybrid regimes has mainly focused on regime strategies of restricting and manipulating public debate, our analysis moves beyond repression. We ar
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gue that the ambiguities of hybrid politics, which combines democratic and authoritarian elements, not only constrain independent and critical reporting but also open up opportunities for journalistic agencies. We draw on Schedler’s concept of informational uncertainty to capture the epistemological instability of hybrid regimes and the strategies of political actors to control public knowledge. Distinguishing between three dimensions of media hybridity - economic, cultural and technological - we show how the new hybrid media environment significantly increases the volatility of hybrid politics and informational uncertainty for political actors. Our empirical analysis is based on seventy-one semistructured interviews with journalists in Lebanon and Tunisia conducted between 2016 and 2019. The material reveals a broad range of strategies used by journalists who employ the internal contradictions of hybrid politics to pursue their own agenda. The comparison between Lebanon and Tunisia also highlights contextual conditions that enable, or limit, journalistic agency, such as clientelistic dependencies, economic resources, and civil society alliances." (Abstract)
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"As the most widespread and popular form of communication in the country, radio occupies an essential space in the deliberation and the construction of public opinion in South Africa. From just a few state-controlled stations during the apartheid era, there are now more than 100 radio stations, reac
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hing vast swathes of the population and providing an important space for citizens to air their views and take part in significant socio-economic and political issues of the country. The various contributors to this book demonstrate that whilst print and television media often serve elite interests and audiences, the low cost and flexibility of radio has helped it to create a ‘common’ space for national dialogue and deliberation. The book also investigates the ways in which digital technologies have enhanced the consumption of radio and produced a sense of imagined community for citizens, including those in marginalised communities and rural areas." (Publisher description)
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"This book constitutes a journey into the obscure field of sectarian-guided discourses of radical Islamist groups. It provides new insights into the ideological mechanisms utilized by such organizations to incite sectarian conflicts and recruit local and foreign guardians to their alleged cause. Thi
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s book examines diverse aspects and dimensions of the discourses of Sunni-based ISIS and Shia-based al-Hashd al-Shaabi and explores manipulative and ideological discursive strategies utilized by media outlets associated with these groups. It delves into linguistic and contextual activities, implicit and explicit messages within the discourses of various media outlets operating in the heart of the Middle East. It also scrutinizes and explains aspects of politicization, religionization and sectarianization within the media discourse of terrorist groups in the digital era." (Publisher description)
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"In der jüngeren Geschichte wurde wohl noch nie so deutlich die Existenz und die Wirkmacht von Verschwörungstheorien vor Augen geführt wie in der Corona-Pandemie. Was lange als Randphänomen in dunklen Nischen des Internets galt, scheint auf einmal allgegenwärtig. Von der Nachbarin bis zum Abgeo
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rdneten im US-Kongress reicht das Spektrum derer, die hinter der Pandemie ein Komplott vermuten: das Coronavirus existiere entweder gar nicht oder sei absichtlich in die Welt gesetzt worden. In beiden Varianten steckt die Vorstellung, dass die Pandemie bloß ein Vorwand einer Gruppe Verschworener sei, deren eigentliches Ziel die Errichtung einer weltumspannenden Diktatur ist. Derartige „Theorien“ werden nicht geglaubt, weil sie inhaltlich überzeugend wären. Sie werden von Menschen geglaubt, die an sie glauben wollen. Denn sie bieten eine Erklärung der Welt an, die komplexe Ereignisse und Prozesse auf eine einfache Ursache zurückführt – in der Regel die Machenschaften dunkler Mächte. Derartige Behauptungen verbreiten sich in einem Netzwerk aus Medien, vermeintlichen Expertinnen und Aktivisten, die Fakten umdeuten, aber auch „alternative“ Fakten und Statistiken – oder: alternatives Wissen – verbreiten. Anlass zur Sorge bietet nicht nur die Verbindung von Verschwörungstheorien mit Rechtsextremismus und Antisemitismus, sondern auch die Entkopplung eines Teils der Bevölkerung von der Realität." (Editorial, Seite 3)
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"Esta publicación, de libre acceso, comprende 32 reportajes y crónicas periodísticas de investigación en materia de inversión pública, de 32 periodistas, 20 varones y 12 mujeres, correspondientes a 16 regiones del país: Cusco, La Libertad, Piura, Junín, Lambayeque, Arequipa, Lima, Puno, Ica,
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Huánuco, Pasco, Áncash, Tumbes, Amazonas, Ayacucho y Tacna. Las y los periodistas han revelado las problemáticas que son más sensibles en sus regiones; denunciando, visibilizando, sensibilizando, y también dando una señal de esperanza de que las cosas pueden mejorar en el contexto actual que el país atraviesa, con un nuevo gobierno, que pretende ser mucho más cercano a la ciudadanía más vulnerable. Con mucha satisfacción podemos concluir que el curso denominado con el mismo nombre de la publicación, en su primera edición, ha logrado su objetivo principal: fortalecer las capacidades de las y los periodistas en el análisis, producción y difusión de noticias para fomentar acciones de vigilancia ciudadana sobre los recursos públicos y reconocer el rol fundamental que cumple el periodismo para la defensa de la democracia." (Presentación, página 6-7)
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"Digital technologies have changed the public arena, but there is little scholarly consensus about how they have done so. This Element lays out a new framework for the digitally mediated public arena by identifying structural changes and continuities with the pre-digital era. It examines three count
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ry cases - the United States, Germany, and China. In these countries and elsewhere, the emergence of new infrastructures such as search engines and social media platforms increasingly mediate and govern the visibility and reach of information, and thus reconfigure the transmission belt between citizens and political elites. This shift requires a rethinking of the workings and dysfunctions of the contemporary public arena and ways to improve it." (Publisher description)
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"El retroceso económico causado por la pandemia no define a la región, sino simplemente acentúa sus características. En otras palabras, en América Latina se han robustecido las razones por las cuales sus pueblos han estado en las calles de sus ciudades, como refleja esta medición 2020 de Latin
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obarómetro, realizada en plena pandemia. Los resultados muestran que no hay ilusión, no se ha disipado el malestar anterior, sino que parece reafirmarse la decisión de no ceder en la demanda de una vida mejor. En este escenario, todas las demandas se vuelven más inelásticas. La pandemia puso en el celular de cada persona, las redes sociales y a través de las pantallas de la televisión, la imagen del mundo, como viven y son tratados los ciudadanos en otras partes del planeta. Se universalizó la demanda de “¡Dignidad Ya!”. El aumento de la conexión de Internet produce una revolución social al enseñarle al más analfabeto de los ciudadanos de la región, que lo tratan mal, que es discriminado, que tiene derechos y que puede reclamarlos. En ese sentido, la pandemia termina siendo una lección de humanidad y de democracia, del derecho a ser tratado como igual, toda vez que cada persona observa cómo funcionan las sociedades en otras latitudes. Por primera vez masivamente, el ciudadano toma consciencia de su condición y aprende qué hacer con ella." (Página 5-6)
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"[...] el libro propone un diálogo a partir de tres categorías, a saber: 1) las limitaciones al acceso a la información y sus impactos en la vida política; 2) el régimen jurídico de la comunicación; y 3) los medios de comunicación y la representación política. Esta perspectiva, nos ayuda a
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fundamentar un estado de la discusión al tiempo en que vislumbramos una reflexión posicional que contribuye al análisis comparado del caso latinoamericano." (Introducción, página 15)
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"[...] this book explores the complex construction of democratic public dialogue in developing countries. Case studies examine national environments defined not only by state censorship and commercial pressure, but also language differences, international influence, social divisions, and distinct va
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lue systems. With fresh portraits of new and traditional media throughout Africa, Latin America and Asia, authors delve into the essential role of the media in developing countries. Case studies illuminate the relationship between the State and the media in Russia, as well as the challenges faced by journalists working in Kurdistan. Further cases reveal bureaucratic censorship of books in Brazil, regulatory dilemmas in Australia, state policies in post-colonial Malawi, and the potential of oral culture for the strengthening of democratic conversation. Media, Development and Democracy brings the liberal democratic media model into new terrains where some of its core assumptions do not hold. In doing so, the authors' collective voices illuminate pressing issues facing our current global dialogue and our liberal and democratic expectations concerning communications and the media." (Publisher description)
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"Social media technology is having a dramatic impact on social and political dynamics around the world. The contributors to this book document and illustrate this "techtonic" shift on violent conflict and democratic processes. They present vivid examples and case studies from countries in Africa, So
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uth and Southeast Asia, Latin America as well as Northern Ireland. Each author maps an array of peacebuilding solutions to social media threats, including coordinated action by civil society, governments and tech companies to protect human minds, relationships and institutions. Solutions presented include inoculating society with a new digital literacy agenda, designing technology for positive social impacts, and regulating technology to prohibit the worst behaviours." (Publisher description)
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"Verständnis der technischen und kulturellen Besonderheiten der algorithmusgetriebenen App, die vorhandene Bestandteile bereits bekannter Social-Media-Plattformen kombiniert und weiterentwickelt. Statt Reichweitenaufbau geht es bei TikTok um Vertrauensaufbau. Mithilfe eines Analyserasters werden im
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Folgenden die Möglichkeiten und Bedingungen der Plattform anhand ihrer Gestaltungselemente identifiziert und erklärt. Es wird mittels qualitativer Beobachtung exemplarisch gezeigt, wie deutsche Politiker*innen die App bereits erfolgreich nutzen und wo dies misslingt. Ein Überblick der deutschsprachigen linken Öffentlichkeit bei TikTok zeigt die Vielgestaltigkeit der Themen und Akteur*innen. Daraus werden konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen abgeleitet, die auf Interaktion, Dialog und dem Beherrschen jeweils aktueller Kulturtechniken beruhen – von der Wahl des richtigen Emojis bis zur Verwendung eines geschickt eingesetzten Zooms im Bild. In Anbetracht einer fehlenden One-size-fits-all-Lösung empfehlen wir die Ausgestaltung eines digitalen Werkzeugkastens, der neben einem gut sortierten und stets aktuellen Instrumentarium auf das geschickte Bedienen der Werkzeuge setzt." (Zusammenfassung, Seite 6)
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"[...] The MPM2021 covers, on this occasion, 32 countries, 27 EU and 5 non-EU (Candidate countries) [...] The results of the MPM2021 show an increase in the risk level for all the areas that the Media Pluralism Monitor analyses: Fundamental protection, Market Plurality, Political Independence and So
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cial Inclusiveness. The increase is higher in the Social Inclusiveness and in the Market area; in the last case, causing the shift from the medium to the high risk level for the average of EU + 5." (Conclusions and recommendations, page 145)
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"Entgrenzt, entfesselt, entgleist? Im digitalen Zeitalter ist Kommunikation prinzipiell schrankenlos, die Anlässe für Debatten sind unübersehbar – und die Art und Weise, wie in der (Netz)öffentlichkeit weniger mit- als vor allem übereinander gesprochen wird, oftmals weit jenseits überkommene
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r Standards. Konflikte auszutragen sei in offenen Gesellschaften unabdingbar, und zugleich, so Bernhard Pörksen und Friedemann Schulz von Thun, stelle sie das vor neue Herausforderungen. Wie, so fragen die Autoren, lässt sich den vielen vergifteten Auseinandersetzungen begegnen, die Vorbehalte vor Inhalte setzen und in der Herabwürdigung von Menschen oder im Erobern von Deutungshoheiten dem Zusammenhalt und der Offenheit unserer Gesellschaft schaden? Wo liegen die Grenzen des Erträglichen? Um welche Art von Kommunikation geht es? Mit wem kann oder muss man, nicht mehr oder immer noch, reden, und wenn ja, wie? Dialogisch leuchten der Medienwissenschaftler Pörksen und der Psychologe Schulz von Thun das Bewusstsein um die Macht der Kommunikation mit ihren Untiefen, ihrem Potenzial für Kränkungen und Missverständnisse aus. Der Anspruch bestehe darin, den Dialog gleichermaßen authentisch und wertschätzend, ebenso reflektiert und situationsgerecht wie der Wahrheit verpflichtet zu führen." (Buchrücken)
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"À l’heure où les fractures sociales s’aggravent dans le pays, cet ouvrage examine le lien entre la volonté politique de bâtir une nation, socle du vivre ensemble dans une société marquée par la pluralité des appartenances, et la définition du rôle social des médias – ici la premiè
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re chaîne de télévision publique. En s’appuyant sur une approche institutionnelle des moyens de communication, croisée avec une analyse socio-sémiotique, l’auteur écrit la socio-histoire de cette télévision en la situant comme un instrument d’État chargé d’étatiser la société et d’oeuvrer à l’avènement d’une nation. Puis il analyse, à travers les journaux télévisés diffusés en 2014, les référents nationaux, les modes de figuration des dirigeants de l’État, des acteurs politiques. L’auteur dresse enfin le profil des producteurs de contenus, s’interrogeant sur leurs perceptions en tant que médiateurs dans une nation en construction. Un livre qui vient à point nommé pour comprendre au Gabon cette relation stratégique et complexe entre médias et construction de la communauté nationale." (Dos de couverture)
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"Malaysia’s Pakatan Harapan government fell rapidly in late February 2020 as a result of coalition infighting and power struggles among the political elite. A major factor in the government’s sudden collapse was rising ethnoreligious tension between Muslim-Malay nationalists in the opposition an
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d ethnic Chinese who formed part of the ruling coalition. Such tension appeared to have grown over the 22-month period of the multi-ethnic coalition government, leading to concern about political polarization and the potential for communal unrest in Malaysia. Malaysia follows a pattern seen recently in other countries (e.g., Indonesia, United States) where the rise to public office of a minority has been followed by an anti-pluralist backlash. Social media played an important role in Malaysia during this period in amplifying and reinforcing religious and ethnic-based appeals. An analysis of social media data shows that, by one measure, the volume of anti-Chinese sentiment online spiked in the days around the fall of the government. Although unrest was avoided during these events, more research is needed on the interplay between social media and polarization in Malaysia. The events leading to the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government indicate that Malaysia may be following the Indonesian trend, where the primary cleavage is not one of race but of religious conservatives versus cosmopolitan pluralists." (Executive summary)
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"To advance interdisciplinary understanding, Shifting Dynamics of Contention in the Digital Age outlines a communication-centered framework that articulates the intricate relationship between technology, communication, and contention. It systematically explores the influence of mobile technology on
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political contention in China, the country with the world's largest number of mobile and internet users. Using first-hand in-depth interview and fieldwork data, Shifting Dynamics of Contention in the Digital Age tracks the strategic choice of mobile phones as repertoires of contention, illustrates the effective mobilization of mobile communication on the basis of its strong and reciprocal social ties, and identifies the communicative practice of forwarding officially alleged "rumors" as a form of everyday resistance. Through this groundbreaking study, Shifting Dynamics of Contention in the Digital Age presents a nuanced portrayal of an emerging dynamics of contention--both its strengths and limitations- through the embedding of mobile communication into Chinese society and politics." (Publisher description)
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"Political divisions, the economic downturn after 2006, and technological disruptions have enabled Thai authorities to limit public space for political discussion and expression. People in Thailand have turned to social media instead. At present, the hashtag (#) is a growing tool for all kinds of po
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litical expression, intruding even into the taboo issue of the monarchy. Facebook, YouTube, Line and Twitter are popular platforms for netizens to publicize their political views. Authorities under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha have moved aggressively to put restrictions on these channels. Netizens in the country are now seeking new platforms for political expression." (Executive summary)
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