"News Media in the Arab World: A Study of 10 Arab and Muslim Countries is based on ongoing research at the Department of Media and Communication, University of Leicester, and has investigated the rapidly changing nature of the news media in Arab countries. They have investigated the role of newspape
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rs and television in news provision and the impact of new media developments, most especially the emergence of the internet as a platform for news distribution and of international satellite television channels such as Al Jazeera. Examining the constantly developing nature of news, the collection contains separately authored chapters produced by the researchers responsible for each original analysis, covering Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates." (Publisher description)
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"Through the methodological framework of the Networked Readiness Index (NRI), the report measures the extent to which 144 economies, from both the developed and developing worlds, take advantage of ICTs and other new technologies to increase their growth and well-being. The NRI identifies the most r
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elevant factors driving ICT readiness and impacts, providing policymakers, business leaders, and civil society at large with a useful tool for designing national strategies for increased networked readiness and for benchmarking their country’s performance against other relevant comparators. The Global Information Technology Report 2013 features the latest computation and rankings of the NRI, and in referring to this year’s theme, dives deeper into the connection between ICTs and economic growth and job creation. As in previous years, it also showcases a number of ICT development stories of particular interest. In addition, the report includes detailed profiles for the 144 economies covered this year together with data tables for each of the 54 indicators used in the computation of the NRI." (Back cover)
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"This briefing argues that the Iraqi media landscape of 2013 may not be the free, plural and professional fourth estate that many in the West had envisaged in 2003 but that it has real strengths – as well as weaknesses – which reflect the reality and complexity of modern Iraq. The seismic shift
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in attitudes that the Iraqi media was asked to embrace in the reconstruction of the sector after Saddam Hussein’s fall was always likely to take time. It is suggested here that the prospects for Iraq’s media are less bleak than is often assumed." (Executive summary, page 4)
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"Characterized by socio-political changes, instability and conflict since 1990, Nepal is a nation in political transition. The media play a significant role in influencing this transition. Since 1990, various global and local factors have contributed to an unprecedented growth in the mass media in N
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epal. This article analyses the expansion in the media against indicators of media pluralism to ask whether this expansion, within a difficult political transition, translates to media pluralism. The article draws upon qualitative research to assess the media market, the resources available for the media, diversity in media ownership and products, competition and ethics and policy and regulatory provisions within a struggling economy and an environment of poor law and order." (Abstract)
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"The story of Kazakhstani media is of two contrasting dynamics: the increasingly controlled and innovation-shy offline space, and the vibrant, less-restricted digital environment. The rise of digital media has yielded benefits for citizens and democracy, albeit these are limited by the dominance of
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one political party and its leader. Nevertheless, media remain constrained and state interference remains prominent. As opportunities for working directly with policymakers in Kazakhstan are limited, the report calls for civil society organizations to step up their awareness-raising efforts and bring the threats stemming from restrictive legislation and the lack of regulatory independence to public and international attention. It also calls for a debate about the need to reform publicly funded broadcasters so that they serve the public interest." (Open Society Foundations website)
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"Wie kann sich Kirche in einer durch Medien bestimmten Gesellschaft noch Gehör verschaffen? Sind Kirche und Medien überhaupt kompatibel? Und wie gelingt ihr der Spagat zwischen ihrer Aufgabe authentisch zu verkündigen und sich zugleich an die Eigenlogik der Medien anpassen zu müssen? Kirche wird
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sich den Veränderungen stellen müssen, auch weil traditionell kirchliche Medien ihre Adressaten und so ihre Bedeutung zunehmend verlieren werden. Das Katholische Medienhandbuch lässt die Medienmacher der Kirche zu Wort kommen. Kirchliche Kommunikation wird dabei ebenso grundsätzlich in den Blick genommen wie die Vielgestaltigkeit einzelner kirchlicher Medieninstitutionen. Ein Handbuch, das sich grundlegend mit dem Thema Kirche und Medien beschäftigt und Antworten auf die Herausforderungen der Zeit gibt." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"Media interventions by international organizations and NGOs in conflict and post-conflict situations seek to develop and shape a media system to contribute to specific political and social ends. The analyses and assessments that inform these interventions are often based on an overview of the forma
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l media and governance structures, such as mass media and state institutions, and overlook informal structures that may be instrumental for political and development goals. This article proposes a framework that can incorporate both the formal and informal modes of communication and participation that characterize a society. This framework encourages a ‘diagnostic’ approach centred around three areas: power, flows, and participation, and enables researchers to take into consideration features that are often overlooked such as customary law; a range of public authorities from politicians to Imams and local elders; information flows that may vary from poetry to mobile phones; and the culture of communication. Examples from the Somali territories, which are characterized by a weak central government, are employed to highlight how informal structures and actors intervene in shaping information flows and the importance of accounting for them." (Abstract)
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"Dem Klappentext zufolge will diese juristische Dissertationsschrift eine interdisziplinäre "Pionierarbeit, die das brasilianische Medienrecht als solches darlegt und mit der Realität seiner Umsetzung konfrontiert", sein. Im ersten Teil (95 Seiten) stellt die Autorin die Medienlandschaft, ihre Ent
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stehung und ihre Hauptakteure vor und führt einige Beispiele zu ihrem Einfluss im politischen und gesellschaftlichen Leben Brasiliens auf. Im zweiten Teil (75 Seiten) behandelt sie die brasilianische Verfassung, die darin verankerten Grundrechte, und die verfassungsrechtlichen Rechtswege zum Schutz der Grundrechte. Der dritte Teil (180 Seiten) behandelt "das Recht der Sozialkommunikation und ihre übergreifenden Rechte". Dabei werden alle für die Medienregulierung relevanten Bestimmungen aufgeführt: Pressefreiheit, Urheberrecht, Persönlichkeits- und Jugendschutz, Regelung der Wahlberichterstattung, Lizenzvergabe und Organisation der Regulierungsbehörden, journalistische Selbstregulierung, Bestimmungen zu Internet- und Multimediakommunkationsdienstleistungen, die nationale Filmförderpolitik, Werbung und Verbraucherschutz, Anti-Monopol-Bestimmungen u.a. Leider geht diese Fleißarbeit (933 Fußnoten!) aber nicht über das Stadium einer Datensammlung hinaus. So werden zwar verschiedene Fallstudien vorgestellt wie etwa eine Klage gegen den Fernsehsender Record, der 2005 in reißerischer Aufmachung das Schicksal eines leukämiekranken Kindes zur Schau gestellt hatte. Die Klagebegründung wird ausführlich dargestellt, warum es aber zu einem faktischen Freispruch des beklagten Senders kommen konnte, analysiert Camargos Becker nicht. Hinzu kommt, dass die zusammengetragenen Daten etwa zur Medienlandschaft unvollständig und manchmal auch falsch sind, z.B. ist Radio nicht das meistgenutzte Medium in Brasilien. Immerhin: wer sich einen Überblick über die Gesetzeslage und Regulierungsbestimmungen verschaffen will, wird in dieser Arbeit fündig." (commbox)
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"The Pakistani media’s democratising function is constrained by its historic role as a state-building tool. The media remains vulnerable amid on-going threats to media professionals and the limitations imposed by the industry’s financial model, which must rely heavily on advertising revenue. The
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government, military, intelligence agencies, judiciary and non-state actors such as militant groups exploit this vulnerability as part of their competition for political power. The geographic imbalance of the broadcast media in Pakistan further limits the industry’s potential to play a truly national role. But the experience of the last decade shows there are many reasons to be hopeful about the media’s future as a driver of democratic inclusion and accountability in Pakistan. The growth of regional-language television and FM radio stations reflects the country’s ethnolinguistic diversity." (Executive summary)
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"Cinema in Central Asia is the first comprehensive and up-to-date account of the cinema of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan from its origins to the present day. Bringing together specialists from Central Asia, Russia, Europe and the United States, this companion to the
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cinema of the region combines serious scholarly study with practical accessibility to construct an historical narrative, discuss aspects of film production and consider the impact of film. The book also offers a deeper understanding of Central Asian culture that is invaluable with the geopolitical and economic emergence of this exciting region. The book opens with a broad history, paying particular attention to the emergence and expansion of the film industry, competing visions of nationalism and distinct phases of the post-Soviet film experience. A series of incisive articles written by specialists on Central Asian film follows. They explain early film institutions and themes, the impact of the Second World War, expressions of identity and protest during the Soviet era, as well as regional variations of post-Soviet filmmaking and political involvement. The final section comprises biographical and filmographical entries on the principal figures of Central Asian cinema that offer a much-needed reference for scholars and filmgoers." (Publisher description)
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"The 2nd Conference on Media Development in Myanmar took place from May 20-21 2013 in Yangon. With over 300 participants, the conference marked another significant milestone in Myanmar’s media reform process. This report is a summary of the presentations held at this conference. Under the theme
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The Role of Media in Democratic Transitions: Successes, Challenges and the Way Forward”, government officials, private and state-owned media companies, professional journalist associations, academia, civil society representatives and international organisations met to take stock of the media reforms in Myanmar and develop a set of practical recommendations for further media development in the country. The conference was organised by the Ministry of Information (MoI) and the Myanmar Media Development Thematic Working Group (MMDTWG) in partnership with UNESCO and International Media Support (IMS). The theme of the 2013 conference was linked to the previous year’s conference, which focused on media’s potential to strengthen democratic processes, bringing international experience and exposure to Myanmar. This year, the main emphasis was to take stock and bring to the forefront the successes and challenges faced by Myanmar stakeholders. It provided a venue for participants to report on concrete progress achieved in pursuing media development and reforms. The fact that the conference drew over half of its participants from outside Yangon was a testament to the strong regional focus and relevance of this year’s theme." (Introduction, page 5)
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"Since the late 1990s South Korea has emerged as a new center for the production of transnational popular culture – the first instance of a major global circulation of Korean popular culture in history. Why popular (or not)? Why now? What does it mean socially, culturally and politically in a glob
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al context? This edited collection considers the Korean Wave in a global digital age and addresses the social, cultural and political implications in their complexity and paradox within the contexts of global inequalities and uneven power structures. The emerging consequences at multiple levels – both macro structures and micro processes that influence media production, distribution, representation and consumption – deserve to be analyzed and explored fully in an increasingly global media environment. This book argues for the Korean Wave’s double capacity in the creation of new and complex spaces of identity that are both enabling and disabling cultural diversity in a digital cosmopolitan world." (Publisher description)
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