"The report documents the threats to civil society in the digital age by examining the legislative and regulatory framework in four countries in Africa: Egypt, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Zambia. These countries were selected from the four main geographic regions of Africa, in order to provide a sense
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of the state of civic engagement in the digital age across the continent. The case studies are clearly not representative of what is happening on the continent, but are illustrative of some prominent trends. The recommendations emanating from the research call for the states to revise and repeal identified restrictive laws and align them with international standards. Civil society organisations and human rights activists are also encouraged to enhance their individual and organizational digital knowledge and expertise to more robust counter disruptive state measures. This expertise should be enhanced through a human rights lens and should extend to other stakeholders including judicial officers, legislators, law enforcement and the general public through sustained multi-stakeholder engagement." (Executive summary, pages 7-8)
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"This book highlights key words for modern India in everyday usage as well as in scholarly contexts. Encompassing over 250 key words across a wide range of topics, including aesthetics and ceremony, gender, technology and economics, past memories and future imaginaries, these entries introduce some
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of the basic concepts that inform the 'cultural unconscious' of the Indian subcontinent in order to translate them into critical tools for literary, political, cultural and cognitive studies. Inspired by Raymond Williams' pioneering exploration of English culture and society through the study of keywords, Keywords for India brings together more than 200 leading sub-continental scholars to form a polyphonic collective." (Publisher description)
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"Due to its Soviet past, the Russian influence in the Republic of Moldova is still very significant. The country is divided between European integration and Russian convergence. After the government of the pro-European coalition ACUM leaded by Maia Sandu and the pro-Russian Party of Socialists (PSRM
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) of President Igor Dodon fell apart in November 2019, pro-Russian powers under the leadership of Dodon are expanding its power progressively. This affects the media market, which already has experienced an enormous state concentration under the long-time government of the Democratic Party and its leader Vladimir Plahotniuc." (Page 1)
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"The relevance of new digital media in Egypt had increased in the past 15 years. Many scholars and commentators attribute the Tahrir Revolution in 2011 directly to the rise of the Internet, as it was widely called Facebook Revolution. However, the article maintains that this is a simplified view of
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the events and interactions between media, politics and the online sphere. While the semi-liberal phase in the mid-2000s and the new technologies led to a vibrant blogosphere and opened up online spaces for otherwise marginalized voices, it took real grievances and real activism on the ground that interacted together. Since 2015, there are increasing signs of controlling the Internet: zero toleration policies towards dissent and criticism have marked the years through increased police control and imprisoning journalists, as well as takeover of all semi-independent media outlets and use of online surveillance technologies. Currently, more than 500 websites and news media are banned within Egypt [...] In addition to the restrictions, the professional media scene faces numerous crises: one of which is the erosion of the economic viability of media in times of a massive journalism crisis. Another crisis is the declining professionalism and reproduction of loyalist and propagandistic practices due to self-censorship and clientelist practices within a highly restrictive environment. These developments fragment the professional community of journalists across numerous political camps and weakens unionizing efforts. Finally, the audiences are increasingly pushed away from politics. Based on the analysis and challenges, the Egyptian media are heading into the unknown: “death of journalism”, extreme depoliticization of the public sphere and restrictive media environment weaken the media system. Under the current circumstances—and unlike former President Mubarak’s policies—no politician will push for progress and investments in the media sector. The Supreme Media Regulatory Council announced an ambitious digitization plan of the media; no clear agenda is seen, except tightening control and advancing loyalist media." (Abstract)
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"El objetivo de este libro colectivo es ofrecer una perspectiva panorámica acerca de la investigación profesional sobre los estudios cinematográficos que se está produciendo en siete países de América Latina: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Chile, México y Perú. En cada uno de los cap
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tulos de este volumen se ofrece un puntual registro de la producción bibliográfica nacional y la ponderación de estos materiales desde una perspectiva especializada. En las primeras dos décadas del nuevo siglo se observa un crecimiento exponencial de los estudios sobre cine en la región latinoamericana. Es de esperarse que esta tendencia se mantenga y que propicie un diálogo internacional para la creación de redes de cooperación académica, videotecas compartidas y publicaciones conjuntas. La investigación sobre cine producida en América Latina se encuentra en un momento de crecimiento y efervescencia, y este impulso podrá llevar a la producción de modelos teóricos de alcance universal. Esperamos que la presentación de estos materiales contribuya a la consolidación y el crecimiento de este terreno emergente de la investigación interdisciplinaria." (Resumen)
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"Cuando en 2012 se publicó el primer estudio del Mapa de Radios de América Latina y el Caribe se contaron 25.000 emisoras repartidas por todos los rincones de esta Patria Grande. En 2020, nueve años después de aquel primer censo de radios de Abya Yala, ya existen 35.334 estaciones. Unas más mod
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ernas y con mejor sonido que transmiten en FM, resistiendo ante el avance de los servicios de streaming y las emisoras online. Otras en AM, que sigue aguantando y no pierde audiencia en zonas rurales y alejadas. El mapa, tras estos años, sigue evidenciando un gran desequilibrio entre las emisoras comerciales, que utilizan la mayor parte de frecuencias de radio y televisión del espectro radioeléctrico, y los otros dos sectores: el comunitario y el público. Pero lo más interesante es que las emisoras del dial radiofónico latinoamericano siguen aumentando, lo que demuestra la buena salud de la que goza la radio [...] Agradecemos este esfuerzo colectivo que Tito Ballesteros López y Santiago García Gago han editado y en el que han participado 19 radialistas aportando una lectura nacional de los datos recopilados. Un libro que se completa con una versión web donde se pueden observar los estudios de los diferentes años de una forma gráfica e interactiva." (Prólogo)
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"Indigenous Peoples have been excluded from accessing media for many reasons, including their geographic location, languages, and legal barriers. Indigenous Peoples living in isolated areas have little physical access tu urban-centred media. Similarly, a lack of awareness of human rights, freedoms,
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and the right to access information on State and municipal services contributes to obstacles. Indigenous journalists work in difficult conditions in remote areas, and are often the only mediums informing their communities on rights violations and cultural, environmental, and social issues, which would otherwise be ignored by other media sources. Although all journalists face similar threats, it is often indigenous journalists and communicators who are most impacted, as in most cases they work in informal settings in rural areas that are inaccessible to the mainstream media and even to government officials. They often lack access to protection mechanisms and justice. Indigenous journalists are generally not formally recognized as journalists because they do not have formal university training or they are not affiliated with a major press or news agency. This additional safety risk often goes unreported and is overlooked by both government and international agencies. In this regard, the Indigenous Media and Communication Caucus conducted and published this study in order to better understand the status of indigenous media globally, and to bring the problems faced by indigenous communit media broadcasts to a larger audience. The aim is for this study to be the basis of international advocacy in international forums, including the United Nations. This report will also be helpful in advocating for the right to freedom of expression within legal frameworks, as well as in advocating for better laws and policies to access community or non-commercial radio frequencies." (About htis report, page 5)
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"The Media Landscape Analysis is Component I of the Jordan Media Assessment, a comprehensive review of the media sector in Jordan. Based on a thorough desk review of existing research on Jordan’s media scene, it focuses on the legal framework, political will and economic context that affect the wo
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rk of media and journalists; provides an overview of the media landscape; and an overview of the journalism educational system. It also includes a summary review of previous, existing and planned media assistance/development programs (2009 onwards) implemented by international and national media development actors." (Page 3)
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"This collection charts the emergence of modern science communication across the world. This is the first volume to map investment around the globe in science centres, university courses and research, publications and conferences as well as tell the national stories of science communication. How did
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it all begin? How has development varied from one country to another? What motivated governments, institutions and people to see science communication as an answer to questions of the social place of science? Communicating Science describes the pathways followed by 39 different countries. All continents and many cultures are represented. For some countries, this is the first time that their science communication story has been told." (Publisher description)
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"Direkte Förderung: In Dänemark, Italien, Kanada, Luxemburg, Norwegen und Schweden existiert eine direkte Produktionsförderung für textbasierten Onlinejournalismus, in Finnland zumindest eine für Publikationen in Minderheitensprachen, in Frankreich für Lokalmedien. Eine wirklich konvergente di
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rekte Produktionsförderung (Audio, Video und Text; online und offline) stellt bisher die Ausnahme dar (Schweden und teilweise Kanada). Neben der direkten Förderung des eigentlichen Betriebs von Medien gibt es in fast allen untersuchten Mediensystemen auch eine direkte Projektförderung (für Innovationen und digitale Transformation, Start-ups und/oder journalistische Recherchen). Indirekte Förderung: In allen untersuchten Mediensystemen profitiert die gedruckte und elektronische Presse von einer Mehrwertsteuerreduktion oder -befreiung. Ferner existieren zahlreiche weitere indirekte Fördermassnahmen (bspw. Steuerabzüge, Unterstützung von Aus- und Weiterbildung, Selbstregulierung und/oder Nachrichtenagenturen)." (Executive summary)
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"[...] The DECA is a decision-making tool to help USAID Missions, their partners, and other relevant stakeholders identify the opportunities, maximize the benefits, and manage the risks associated with digital technology. The goal is to help USAID’s partner countries along their journey to self-re
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liance through a better understanding of each country’s digital ecosystem. The DECA pilot phase began September 2019 through August 2020 and USAID/Colombia was the flagship pilot. This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Colombia DECA pilot, which was conducted between November 2019 and February 2020. The pilot DECA included desk research, consultations with USAID/Colombia, and two weeks of in-country research. A total of 60 key informant interviews and three site visits were conducted with stakeholders from civil society, academia, the private and public sectors, and USAID/Colombia technical offices. The DECA pilot was guided by four key USAID/Colombia priorities: implementing the peace agreement, promoting licit economies, integrating Venezuelan migrants and Colombian returnees, and strengthening citizen security." (Executive summary)
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"The world is facing an unprecedented climate and environmental emergency. Scientists have identified human activity as primarily responsible for the climate crisis, which together with rampant environmental pollution, and the unbridled activities of the extractive and agricultural industries, pose
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a direct threat to the sustainability of life on this planet. This edition of Global Information Society Watch (GISWatch) seeks to understand the constructive role that technology can play in confronting the crises. It disrupts the normative understanding of technology being an easy panacea to the planet’s environmental challenges and suggests that a nuanced and contextual use of technology is necessary for real sustainability to be achieved. A series of thematic reports frame different aspects of the relationship between digital technology and environmental sustainability from a human rights and social justice perspective, while 46 country and regional reports explore the diverse frontiers where technology meets the needs of both the environment and communities and where technology itself becomes a challenge to a sustainable future." (Back cover)
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"Said AlDailami untersucht die tiefen Konfliktlinien entlang von konfessionellen, regionalen und tribalen Zugehörigkeiten sowie wirtschaftlichen Interessen, um auszuloten, wie und wann Frieden möglich werden könnte. Zahlreiche äußere Mächte – wie Saudi-Arabien, die Vereinigten Arabischen Emi
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rate, der Iran und westliche Länder – sind direkt oder indirekt an dem Konflikt beteiligt und tragen massiv zur Intensität und Weiterführung der Kämpfe bei. Gründe dafür sind nicht zuletzt Hegemonialinteressen, die geostrategisch bedeutsame Lage des Jemen und auch sein kultureller Reichtum. Luftangriffe der arabischen Koalition haben inzwischen zahlreiche antike und islamische Bauten und Kulturobjekte irreversibel beschädigt oder gar vollständig zerstört. Mit ihnen drohen auch die Identität, die Geschichte und das kulturelle Gedächtnis der Menschen verloren zu gehen." (Klappentext)
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