"The following report is an exploratory case study analysis of social accountability monitoring of the Eastern Cape Department of Education by the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) and mainstream media in the Eastern Cape. It provides in-depth analysis of the education programme’s work
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within PSAM and a study of newspaper coverage of education in the Eastern Cape. The argument made herein, is that for either civil society or the media to be effective in holding duty bearers to account, and to equip citizens to hold public officials to account, they have to work collaboratively in their efforts. What is required is a shift in the assumption that simply reporting on or highlighting events of maladministration or mismanagement of public resources is sufficient. Highlighting poor resource management is necessary but not sufficient to equate to social accountability. The current media coverage, while extensive and voluminous, does not provide citizens with the contextual knowledge they need to effectively hold duty bearers to account for poor service delivery. Rather, as a result of the formulaic reporting style, corruption and maladministration are further normalised. Fostering a more strategic, conscious and direct relationship between civil society and the media, will ensure a symbiotic relationship of effective society accountability resulting in better public resource management." (Executive summary)
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"This kit is comprehensive and contains 40 modules with several different components, with each component having its own specific method of instruction or pedagogy. In some areas, there will be the need for an instructor, and a sizeable number of learners. In other cases, the learner (depending on h
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is/her level and experience in a specific area) will be able to follow components of the course on his/her own using available modern technology. In this respect, certain modules will be stand-alone and will be user-friendly. The end result will be that the kit will enable users to pursue a process that would strengthen their abilities as individual journalists or communication officers/experts, or as institutions such as ministries of education, finance, media houses, and even societies that would make efficient use of this tool kit as a resource to achieve the goals of Education for All initiative on a sustainable basis." (Page 11)
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"[...] This setting directly underscores the challenge Latin America confronts as the most unequal continent on earth. It also reinforces the regional news media’s critical role in monitoring government action and fostering debate on public policies aimed at guaranteeing and promoting the rights o
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f children. This publication is designed to assist the media on these two fronts. The pages below are based on a study conducted by the Brazilian News Agency for Children’s Rights (Agência de Notícias dos Direitos da Infância – ANDI) and the member agencies of the ANDI Latin America Network (Rede ANDI América Latina) of the news media’s coverage in 12 countries from 2005 to 2007. A total of 795,000 stories were reviewed covering a diversity of topics related to the rights and quality of life of the youngest age groups. The results point to progress, particularly in the number of published articles, a development that is both promising and reveals, in relation to the previous survey, a growing interest on the part of the media in issues connected to the social agenda. At the same time, the analysis indicates the need to foster a more pluralistic and contextualized approach through more indepth consideration of the phenomena affecting children and of the proposed solutions to the challenges confronting them." (Introduction)
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"Learn how to use fundamental news reporting and writing skills, from gathering sources and tracking information, to interviewing and pursuing investigative stories on a variety of beats with the Investigative Reporter's Handbook." (Publisher description)
"The guide is divided into 7 sections. Each section explores a different aspect of working with the media on gender and education issues, starting with looking at education campaigning in general before focusing on gender issues in education, and the role of advocacy and the media. You will find pra
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ctical advice for working with the media on gender and education issues and suggestions of activities to help individuals or groups generate discussion and develop their understanding of the issues addressed in more depth. These activities can be used as the basis for training others. A set of worksheets that correspond to these activities accompanies the guide and can be photocopied and used alongside the guide." (Using this guide, page 4)
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"A pesar de que Educación (22,45%) y Violencia (13,72%) aparezcan como temas destacados en la pauta periodística, otros asuntos relevantes para el universo de la infancia y de la adolescencia – como Salud (10,68%), Deportes y Recreación (9,39%) o Derechos y Justicia (6,38%) – también tienen
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repercusión en la cobertura. Por otro lado, todavía se dejan de lado cuestiones importantes como Discapacidad (0,78%), Trabajo Infantil (0,71%) y Medidas Socioeducativas (0,60%). Sin embargo, es interesante señalar que en algunos países, la diferencia entre la cantidad de textos publicados sobre Educación y Violencia no es tan significativa. Este es el caso de Colombia, Guatemala y Nicaragua. A su vez, Argentina es el único país donde la cobertura de Violencia supera cuantitativamente a la de Educación." (Resumen ejecutivo, página 6)
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