"The aim of this report is to understand the paradox of media freedom in Kurdistan. It first addresses the history of Iraqi Kurdistan’s media. A better understanding of the way these outlets emerged over time is essential in order to grasp the complexity of their current challenges. Originally con
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sidered as instruments of propaganda of various armed groups during an era of secrecy, the region’s media are inseparably connected to its politics, hence the difficulty journalists are running into as they attempt to exert their independence. A description follows of the problems now being faced by the media. Reporters Without Borders has included in this report recommendations to the Iraqi Kurdistan authorities, as well as to the region’s journalists." (Page 2)
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"If carried out properly, the digital switchover can safeguard human rights, including freedom of the media and the right to access information. If all parties involved in the process co-operate, including broadcasters, producers, resellers and consumer associations, the result is a media landscape
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that protects plurality of opinion and freedom of expression. Governments must believe that providing their citizens with pluralistic information can only strengthen their democracies. Well-informed people make well-informed decisions, which are the indispensable foundation that democracies can build upon. We already live in the digital age, a time in which we can create truly democratic cultures with participation by all members of society. This guide aims to offer practical help to those OSCE participating States where the switchover is the challenge of the coming years. [...] The guide is a comprehensive examination of issues to be considered by all stakeholders involved in the switchover process, including the successes and pitfalls encountered." (Foreword, page 3-4)
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"This study explores the use of affirmative action as a tool for transformation in the mainstream English-language press in South Africa through a case study at The Durban Post. It seeks to understand the extent to which the newspaper has transformed its staff, coverage and readership in the eyes of
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its reporters and editors. Additionally, this paper investigates staff views on the implementation of affirmative action in their workspace and this policy’s potential to impact on transformation. Observation, interviews and document analysis were used for data collection. This study finds that though The Durban Post’s staff has transformed to some extent, the majority of staff members interviewed feel that the paper has yet to achieve significant transformation of coverage, readership and power structure, due to societal and internal systemic factors." (Abstract)
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"The guiding principle behind the development of this tool has been to produce a ‘user-friendly’ resource for journalism educators who want to include what we might term as ‘anti-discrimination or human rights awareness’ dimension into their teaching. To that end practical exercises which ar
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e easily adaptable and transferable in terms of context and duration have been collected, and are presented here in a brief and “jargon free” manner. The main aim is that these exercises be read, used, adapted and integrated into current teaching practice. In addition, it was taken for granted that all teachers and academics are familiar with the media culture within which they operate and, therefore, this toolbox does not include specific information of that nature. What is included is a selection of links to relevant European codes and laws. This is to help bolster students’ understanding of the importance given to human rights and anti-discrimination at European level and to provide the relevant sources of information for investigating the legal frameworks. The bulk of the content comprises teaching examples. These have been used by tutors in a variety of situations. For the most part, they have been taught to journalism students at Universities and Colleges, but some techniques have also been applied in-service with media professionals." (Descritpion of the practices, page 13)
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"The Media Development Assessment 2010 is an evaluation of the rapidly changing media climate in Bhutan. The study, based on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) media development indicators (MDIs), is the first of its kind to be conducted in the country. Thi
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s assessment of MDIs provides analysis of the media and communications environment in Bhutan against internationally accepted standards and principles. The indicators delineate critical areas of media development, ranging from freedom of expression and diversity of media to professional and infrastructural capacities of the media industry." (Executive summary, page xi)
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"The outcome of this study is a prototype for a European Media Pluralism Monitor – a riskbased, holistic, user-friendly and evolving monitoring tool that includes indicators of a legal, economic and socio-demographic nature. In order to account for the multi-faceted character of media pluralism, t
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hese indicators relate to various risk domains, including media ownership and/or control, media types and genres, political pluralism, cultural pluralism and geographic pluralism. Furthermore, they cover the various stages of the media value chain: supply, distribution and use. The Monitor offers a diagnostic, not a prescriptive tool on the basis of established risk management strategies. Its purpose is to facilitate the collection of empirical data on various risks for media pluralism given the particular economic, sociodemographic and legal situation in each Member State." (Page viii)
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"There are, surprisingly enough, reasons to be cheerful about our media in Europe. Some of them are to be found in the pages of this publication, which reveals that the struggle for diversity and respect for equality is not lost. Far from it, the examples of innovation, originality and commitment sh
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own in some of the initiatives outlined here are inspirational and a tribute to the fact that within media and civil society there have been changes that are beginning to make a difference to the way media report and reflect the increasingly diverse European landscape." (Foreword)
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"There is a need to encourage cultural sensitivity in the production and consumption of communication and information contents, thereby facilitating access, empowerment and participation. To this end, action should be taken to: a. Support the production and distribution of innovative and diversified
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audiovisual materials, taking account of local needs, contents and actors, and having recourse as appropriate to public-private partnerships. b. Assess the impact of ICT-driven changes on cultural diversity, with a view to highlighting good practices of multilingual access to written and audiovisual productions. c. Promote media and information literacy for all age groups in order to increase the ability of media users to critically evaluate communication and cultural contents." (Recommendations 5, page 151)
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"La première partie de l’étude vise à décrire autant le fonctionnement des médias congolais que le comportement de leurs publics, essentiellement à Kinshasa et dans les grandes villes de province. La seconde partie tâche de dresser un bilan des principales contraintes auxquelles sont confro
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ntés les journalistes congolais dans leur travail quotidien et de souligner les défis à relever afin que les médias congolais puissent contribuer efficacement à la consolidation de l’Etat de droit, de la paix et de la citoyenneté. En effet, la pluralité des médias n’est pas forcément synonyme de qualité de l’information du citoyen et, si les expériences positives et volontaristes ne manquent pas, un besoin de professionnalisation des acteurs du secteur des médias se fait encore sentir. A travers ce bilan succinct, mais franc et honnête, le présent document ambitionne d’être utile à la fois aux acteurs du secteur médiatique congolais, aux chercheurs qui souhaitent mieux connaître ce paysage dynamique et pluriel, et aux partenaires soucieux d’appuyer ces vecteurs d’information dont le rôle est capital pour l’avenir démocratique du Congo." (Dos de couverture)
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