"This study analyses statistical correlations between press freedom and human development, human security, stability, poverty reduction, and good governance, using indicator systems from Freedom House and Reporters without Borders, UNDP's Human Development Index, the Human Poverty Index, the World B
...
ank's Governance Indicators and others. According to the abstract "all the findings confirm the importance of press freedom for development. A free press always has a positive influence, whether it be on poverty and its different aspects, on governance or on violence and conflict issues. It serves as an intermediary between individuals and government, informing the latter of people's needs and acting as a buffer against crises and situations of extreme deprivation; it holds governments accountable and makes their actions more transparent; and, along with other indicators of good governance, it creates a business-enabling environment, a climate conducive to more effective public affairs management, and so forth. The results thus suggest that a freer press can contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and, most importantly, to the attainment of an acceptable and viable level of development. By promoting freedom of the press, states and international organisations provide themselves with a powerful development tool. A free press constitutes an instrument of development as such, in the same way as education or investment." (CAMECO Update 1-2009)
more
"This paper begins by analyzing the trends and technologies comprising new media. Social networking sites, new mobile phone technologies, and online broadcasting sites like YouTube are assessed to show how they can be incorporated in media assistance projects. The second section continues to examine
...
these changes by providing a resource base of new media tools and suggestions for developing competitive, sustainable media businesses. With a goal of establishing sustainable media businesses, development professionals should understand how quality web design principles, professionalism, and innovative approaches to measuring success all affect the long-term viability of projects. Third, this paper assesses and explains how freedom of expression, security, and privacy are affected by new media and the current legal and policy frameworks concerning new media. Widespread state-sponsored internet filtering is not common in Europe and Eurasia, though there are other forms of surveillance and instances of targeted blocking have been observed. This section also provides additional resources on governance issues covering media law and freedom of information for more in-depth reading. As media assistance projects constantly struggle to analyze impact, the fourth section provides audience and demographic information on new media technologies. Audiences using new media tend to consist of younger groups and those who are likely to drive public policy debates. Further, these resources provide useful guidance regarding new media use in Europe and Eurasia. Finally, this paper contains several reference points, including three case studies of new media technologies in Europe and Eurasia, a listing of resource-rich websites, and a glossary of new media terminology." (Executive summary)
more
"Donors and practitioners could make greater use of evaluations, and their findings, to increase the effectiveness and results of public communication, advocacy and education about global development. The first step is to understand the evaluation process and respect its rigours. The second is to ac
...
knowledge and learn how to deal with the political nature of evaluation, the third is to understand its limitations. DAC members, along with their partners, should work together to strengthen evaluation of public awareness and learning by creating a space (e.g. website) to share perspectives, experiences and results from evaluation; pooling resources for scientific research on the long-term impact of public awareness raising activities; building a stronger knowledge base for what works and what doesn't work in this sector; and finally, working together to develop minimum standards for the evaluation of communication, advocacy and education about global development." (Abstract)
more
"In order to work towards a more constructive role for the media in Bolivian society in the present context, this report suggests a strategy which could focus on the following four areas: advocacy for changes in the legal framework; spaces for debate and reflection; strengthening the quality of jour
...
nalism; protection for journalists. For each of these areas specific interventions of immediate action are recommended. Such interventions focus on attending to the more pressing needs by seeking ways in which the media are not led to play an adverse role in the growing tension and the deepening of the conflict in Bolivia but rather to fulfill a role that makes it possible to create a bridge among the different political positions and current interests, and between these and Bolivian society." (Executive summary, page 3)
more
"The media’s impact on the escalation of conflict is more widely recognized than the media’s impact on peacebuilding. Yet it is not uncommon to hear experts pronounce that the media’s impact on peacebuilding must be significant given its powerful impact on conflict. However, this simple relati
...
onship must not be taken for granted and should be critically examined in order to most effectively use the media for conflict prevention and peacebuilding. There are ways the media can assist peacebuilding. The Global Partnership for the Prevention of Conflict’s Awareness Raising Toolkit (this document can be downloaded from www.gppac.net and www.peoplebuildingpeace.org) details, amongst other things, how to use the media. Knowing why and when to use the media for conflict prevention and peacebuilding is the focus of this issue paper." (Introduction, page 7)
more
"This paper intends to look at the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a communication tool instead of an object of communication. The MDGs possess the potential to make development more understandable to people at the centre of development policies: the poor, vulnerable and socially excluded. Th
...
e potential to make development interventions more effective and, ultimately, to achieve the MDGs, lies in improving the capability of these people to use information about development to claim their rights and to hold authorities accountable for their commitments. Based on the available literature and international conventions, the paper will elaborate a framework for the application of communication for development in promoting the MDGs at the country level. The framework will be used to examine the Albanian experience in using the MDGs to mobilize participation around national and local development strategies. It will also highlight the contribution that communication can make in Serbia to the social inclusion of marginalized groups such as Roma, refugees, internally displaced persons and people with disabilities. The proposed framework can be used to identify gaps, opportunities and entry points in each country. It can help make the best use of the MDGs at the national level through including excluded groups in the policy debate, which will enhance transparency, accountability and responsiveness to their needs." (Abstract)
more
Extracted and summarised texts from selected international declarations and statements on the role of media and communication in democratisation and development, from the The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) to the 10th UN Inter-agency round table on communication for development.