"The growing trend of non-profit journalism has received much attention of late, but this report takes a unique look at how non-profit funding is affecting journalism in the Global South. Amidst the collapse of traditional business models for news organizations, funding from philanthropic foundation
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s may be critical for the survival of independence, in-depth news – especially in environments where news independence is also threatened. But the report also points to the risk that non-profit funding may carry its own threats for independence journalism. The report offers insights into how such non-profit funding can help to sustain news reporting, while ensuring that the independence of the press is respected." (CIMA website)
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"It is becoming increasingly apparent that fundamental principles underlying democracy—trust, informed dialogue, a shared sense of reality, mutual consent, and participation—are being put to the test by certain features and attributes of social media. As technology companies increasingly achieve
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financial success by monetizing public attention, it is worth examining some of the key issues and unintended consequences arising as a result. Six key issues: Echo chambers, polarization, and hyper-partisanship [...]; Spread of false and/or misleading information [...]; Conversion of popularity into legitimacy [...]; Manipulation by “populist” leaders, governments, and fringe actors [...]; Personal data capture and targeted messaging/advertising [...]; Disruption of the public square [...]" (Executive summary)
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"This report looks at ten factors that have altered the media marketplace and that pose challenges to national and local news producers and their sources of revenue. They include ways in which governments interfere in media markets; changes in the structure of news distribution and audience behavior
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; and the way these changes have transformed how advertising media is bought, sold, and distributed. It then examines the key engagement metrics taken from a sampling of media development partner organizations to offer thoughts on how well these news producers are prepared to compete for audiences and revenue. Finally, it offers thoughts about the implications of these issues for media development organizations." (Introduction, page 2)
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"The study found that among women, access to and use of the internet is highly dependent on the type of mobile device used and on level of education. Connecting with friends and family, entertainment and education emerged as the main reasons why the female respondents used the internet. Unreliable y
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et expensive internet or data services; inadequate technical know-how on internet use and online insecurity were some of the challenges the women reported were hampering their access and use of the internet. On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that existing data prices are reviewed; public education and awareness creation efforts especially among women and girls are intensified; existing policies are updated with targets and budget allocations to facilitate implementation and monitoring; and more research done to provide scientific evidence to inform policies, interventions and advocacy to help improve the women’s rights online situation in the country." (Pages 4-5)
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"To meet the growing needs of disaster-affected communities around the world, we must do more to truly listen to them and tailor our responses accordingly." (Abstract)
"To ensure that African media organizations remain viable players in this changing political and economic landscape, new coalitions need to be built and existing ones strengthened. The existing coalitions in the region display certain weaknesses: they tend to be unevenly spread across the region and
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they tend to focus on a narrow band of concerns. While the existing organizations do important work pertaining to legal protections, constitutional guarantees for freedom of expression, and the safety of journalists, they are weaker in the areas of digital access, infrastructure, and ICT policy. More capacity should be built to enable research into fast-evolving areas of the media such as digital, mobile, and social media, and the questions concerning freedom, independence, and sustainability that arise from this new and rapidly shifting arena. Instead of merely adding more networks and linking existing ones together across the region in a show of solidarity, there is a need for strategic thought around the type of collaborations needed in the region." (Recommendations, page 23)
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"The term ‘digital skills’ refers to a range of different abilities, many of which are not only ‘skills’ per se, but a combination of behaviours, expertise, know-how, work habits, character traits, dispositions and critical understandings. These skills and competencies are interconnected and
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broadly complementary. They are also, in today’s technology-saturated communities, foundational to full participation in society and, as such, need to be developed and refined over time and according to the personal and professional circumstances of individuals. Countries are increasingly seeking to map and define digital skills and competencies that change constantly because of technological advancements. These flexible maps and definitions provide a basis for the development of inclusive, equitable and sustainable educational interventions." (Executive summary)
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"Ein alberner Tweet kann den Job kosten, freizügiges Verhalten und Sorglosigkeit einem die Lust am Leben rauben: Der digitale Pranger kennt oft keine Vergebung und keine Gnade. Höchste Zeit umzudenken und zu differenzieren. Anhand von Studienbefunden wird die aktuelle Dimension dieses generationen
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übergreifenden Phänomens gezeigt und dann der Fokus auf Schulen gerichtet. In Deutschland wird pro Woche in jeder dritten Schule ein Cybermobbing-Fall gemeldet, aber nur jede fünfte geht das Thema systematisch an. In Norwegen zum Beispiel sind Schulen verpflichtet, digitalen Demütigungen vorzubeugen. Normativ und auch mit dem ethischen Prinzip der Tatherrschaft begründet, ist es keine Option, bloß zuzusehen, wenn andere virtuell geplagt werden. Es gilt zu handeln - so wie wir uns dies wünschten, wenn wir selber ähnlich angegriffen würden. Handlungsvorschläge und beispielhafte Initiativen bilden das Fazit des Beitrags." (Abstract)
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"The purpose of this document is to define IREX’s new approach to information with vibrant information systems. This will enable IREX to help partners and people generate, disseminate, consume, and use content that matters and take positive transformative action. The document provides the foundati
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on for IREX program design, implementation, and technical products." (Introduction)
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"This publication is what we call our Transfer Guide. It serves three different purposes. First, it documents the work done by the IGF Academy team and the eight fellows in 2016. Together, we mapped those stakeholders involved (or who should be involved) in Internet governance in the eight countries
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[Bangladesh, Bhutan, Congo-Brazzaville, Myanmar, Namibia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Togo] [...] Secondly, the Transfer Guide is an iterative document in that the fellows will continue to work on or adapt various aspects of the process, such as creating more detailed funding and communication strategies or mapping a changing stakeholder environment. As such, the Transfer Guide shows past as well as future tasks and also serves as a reminder of actions to review. Thirdly, this publication aims to transfer knowledge and experience so that others can benefit from the results of this process." (Page 3)
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"The idea of rules limiting concentration of media ownership is often cast by media owners as a restriction on their right to freedom of expression. Unfortunately, the behaviour of States in Latin America has often lent support to this perspective, especially when States abuse for political ends the
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ir power to provide for regulation of the media. International law has a clear answer to both of these problems. By protecting the rights of both the speaker and the listener, international law provides an alternative view of the claim that limits on media ownership are simply restrictions on freedom of expression. Instead, by promoting a plurality of voices in the public sphere, such limits enhance the right of listeners to receive a diversity of information and ideas, which is essential to the exercise of full citizenship, political participation, robust cultural expression and many other important values in society. Thus what at first blush may appear as a restriction on the expressive rights of speakers is also a form of protection for the freedom of expression rights of listeners." (Conclusion)
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"Key findings: Only 21% of news items on asylum and migration reference a refugee or migrant [...] Of the 21% of articles that mentioned a refugee or migrant, only in about one-quarter (27%) was that person a woman [...] Of the 21% of the news items that reference migrants or refugees, less than hal
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f (40%) of the articles quote them directly [...] Refugees and migrants are most often only identified by their displacement [...] Terminology and impartiality may be positive signs." (Pages 5-6)
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"Social media and digital technology offer immense potential for citizens, policymakers and practitioners to raise awareness of, monitor, and respond to violence. With Kenya’s elections approaching, technology can help to raise awareness of insecurity, support early warning, combat incitement of v
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iolence and promote accountability. However, digital technology also carries a number of risks. To maximise effectiveness and inclusivity, 1) greater support must be given to locally legitimate peace messaging and counter-speech; 2) government, media and civil society should collaborate to improve transparency and accountability in the regulation of online activity; and 3) social media monitoring of violence should be undertaken in conjunction with other reporting systems that seek to overcome inequalities in digital access and use." (Abstract)
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"The second chapter is devoted to the public service media as producers, commissioners, distributors, disseminators and mediators of high-quality cultural content. The author has been able to identify many substantial improvements in the legislative base for media freedom and diversity, as governmen
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ts update their public service media goals and systems. She notes that creativity and diversity in both the public service and private media are being enhanced through quota regulations, currently applied by 90 countries around the world. New policy frameworks adapted to the digital context are beginning to respond to the challenges of horizontal and vertical media convergence. Yet gaps remain. Notably, there is an overriding need for a forward-looking public service media policy model that serves the needs of all individuals and groups and responds to changes in public thinking as well as processes of convergence." (Executive summary, page 14)
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"The application of Communication for Development (C4D) in conflict prevention, conflict reduction and post-conflict reconstruction interventions is a relatively new field. International organisations that have begun to adopt new communication & media designs in their peace work are progressively of
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fering a credible baseline to engage in the assessment of this practice. In this paper, I offer a short compendium of the evaluation frameworks I have developed through my empirical research on the impact of Communication for Development in Peacebuilding; this is presented alongside a number of reflections and followed by concluding considerations on the state of the field." (Abstract)
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"La comunicación para la transformación de conflictos es un área relativamente nueva dentro del vasto campo de prevención de conflictos y construcción de paz y por tanto ha sido sometida a escasos procesos evaluativos. Con el fin de comenzar a crear un modelo evaluativo que posibilite un análi
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sis de las acciones emprendidas en el marco de la comunicación para la transformación de conflictos y una aproximación holística que permita que la evaluación se convierta en una verdadera herramienta de aprendizaje, este trabajo repasa las propuestas evaluativas que han surgido desde las áreas de prevención de conflictos y construcción de paz así como las reflexiones generadas en la línea de medios de comunicación y conflictos. Desde el análisis de un proyecto llevado a cabo en Colombia, propone nuevas aproximaciones a la evaluación que reincorporen los procesos presentes en la transformación de conflictos." (Resumen)
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"In September 2016, the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) broke new ground with the unanimous adoption of HRC Resolution 33/2 on the safety of journalists. The HRC is the world’s highest human rights body and its resolutions are a strong collective commitment from States to act on priority human right
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s violations and abuses. On paper, the Resolution is the most ambitious global agenda yet to act on the safety of journalists. However, the reality for journalists facing daily threats and attacks remains dire [...] This important UN resolution must be met with action from States if it is going to ensure safety for journalists and end impunity for crimes against them. To break the cycle of violence, HRC Resolution 33/2 commits States to act on three fronts to: prevent, protect, and prosecute [...] Is HRC Resolution 33/2 legally binding? No. The HRC is a political body constituted by States (rather than by international judges or independent experts), and its resolutions constitute political commitments. Nevertheless, HRC Resolution 33/2 is a significant commitment by States to take action. It is rooted in their international human rights law obligations, and gives an insight into how States view their legal obligations relating to the safety of journalists." (Introduction, page 5-6)
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"De acuerdo con los estudios de análisis de medios reseñados, se confirma con claridad que las poblaciones que sufren más discriminación de manera sistemática en los medios son las comunidades indígenas y afroperuanas. Por un lado, la población indígena es comúnmente representada en asociac
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ión con escenarios de pobreza, violencia, ignorancia, torpeza y poco atractivo físico; en tanto los afroperuanos, además de ser menos visibilizados, son mostrados como objeto de burla o son estereotipados con facilidad, encasillándolos con temas como la vitalidad sexual, la afinidad por la danza o el deporte, y dejando de lado las características individuales de cada persona, así como otros posibles logros o aportes a la sociedad. Todo ello es mostrado en contraste con el protagonismo de personajes blancos, que suelen vincularse con modelos de éxito, autoridad, veracidad, etc. En esa línea, en los programas informativos opera una discriminación por invisibilización; mientras que en los programas de espectáculos opera la perpetuación de representaciones y estereotipos asociados a raza, procedencia social, sexo, entre otros." (Conclusiones y recomendaciones, página 119)
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