"On the occasion of its 40th anniversary, RNTC invited stakeholders in the field of media and development for a two-day conference, held in Hilversum on June 5-6, 2008, on "Media and development: future scenarios for international cooperation" [...] This report is an attempt to give a reflection of
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the vibrant discussions and exchange of knowledge and experience during the two days of the conference. We provide some background information about the methodology used, and we describe the key themes that came up in the different sessions." (Foreword)
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"As outlined in the introductory presentation the paths to state failure are various. It is conceivable that corruption, inefficiency and the erosion of state control of the legitimate use of force could lead to the gradual erosion of state capacity. More common, as in the cases of Somalia, Liberia,
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Sierra Leone and DRC, is a situation in which armed conflict leads to the collapse of the incumbent regime and warlordism fills the vacuum that is left behind. In a more extreme case, the complete destruction of the state could be brought about, as has likely happened in Iraq since 2003. In order to rebuild state capacity, it is necessary to provide infrastructure, re-establish law and order, reassert the state’s monopoly on the use of force, make provisions for social services and, through all of these measures, regain political legitimacy. These are all considered to be necessary steps in helping a ‘failed state’ to become re-established in the wake of conflict. The question at the centre of the three themes of debate was where the media should be placed among competing priorities in state and social reconstruction. In order to tease out core issues, IMS created the two categories of ‘Media Purists’ and ‘Media Pragmatists’ to articulate opposing arguments. The background paper for the conference provides a detailed description of both positions. Participants were requested to use these perspectives to identify clashes of opinion and orientate themselves between these positions. Generally speaking, Media Purists would advocate against restrictions prescribed by the state and other bodies, whilst Media Pragmatists would see the need for regulation in order to create the desired media landscape over the longer-term." (Introduction, page 6)
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"The symposium Measuring Change. Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation in Media Development focused on the utilisation aspect of evaluation1: The adding of “Planning” to “Monitoring and Evaluation” in the subtitle indicates that emphasis was laid on learning from monitoring and evaluation experie
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nces, to facilitate the improvement of existing projects and programmes at all levels, from planning to implementation and follow-up." (Executive Summary)
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"Any approach to media development must include systems-wide measures including development of an enabling regulatory framework and increased access to information. Future media development processes must be African-owned and African-led, ultimately empowering Africans at all levels of society. With
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in this, media development strategies must fit the specific contexts of diverse African realities; While new technologies offer new and exciting opportunities, we must focus not on a transition from 'old' media to 'new' media, but on maximizing the potential for expanding networked journalism across the media in all its forms; The media is necessarily political, seeking to foster debate around inherently contentious social, economic, cultural and political issues. Donors and NGOs must recognize the clear-cut distinction between using the media to promote specific development policies and building the media as a component of genuine democratic debate." (Executive summary, page 10)
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