"This paper discusses the strength of the evidence that currently exists around the role of media and information in periods of conflict and political change. Key findings: The evidence suggests the need for caution when planning interventions using media and technology for political change; Interve
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ntions using media and technology in fragile and conflict affected situations should be viewed as innovative rather than tried and tested; The media appears to play a different role in the developing world than is often assumed, and local realities are insufficiently explored and understood; Rigorous evaluations should be a key component of future media interventions." (Page 1)
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"This review identifies that while different initiatives can be pursued in different conflict situations, their direction and content needs to be driven by a close understanding of context, which in turn is driven by a range of influencing factors (contextual and programmatic), which in turn reflect
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and build upon existing C4D practice principles. While identifying influencing factors that affect C4D implementation is critical to effective practice, this systematic review also highlights a need for early, more thorough and longer-term C4D interventions within fragile states (especially those that can be characterised by latent conflict and chronic instability). Early communication intervention can help reduce tension and promote reconciliation, but also enable development and humanitarian agencies to be better placed to address situations that may escalate into open conflict." (Conclusions, page 3)
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"There is much literature and examples on how ICTs can be used by peace practitioners. However the bulk of this literature focuses on the use of ICTs before and during conflict, for example in conflict prevention and early warning. What about the use of ICTs in post-Conflict situations; after the ne
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gotiation of peace agreements? How can ICTs be used in post-Conflict interventions; more specifically in post-Conflict peacebuilding and post-Conflict reconstruction and recovery? What role of can be played here by social media and user-generated content?" (Introduction)
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"This annotated bibliography compiles both peer-reviewed literature, typically sourced from academic journals, as well as a range of opinion and technical resources drawn from agencies that have a humanitarian mandate. It is important to note that this annotated bibliography does not seek to present
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an exhaustive or authoritative list, particularly given the contemporary interest in the subject and the ongoing publication of fresh insights. While a rapidly evolving field, our interest in developing this annotated bibliography is two-fold. First, this document will act as a valuable resource for a wide range of stakeholders with an interest in the role of social networking and media in complex emergencies. Second, the evidence presented here underpins a dedicated issues paper that summarises the role of social networking, social media and complex emergencies. For the purposes of this bibliography the term "complex emergencies" is deemed to cover political emergencies, conflict situations, conflict-reduction and peacekeeping processes, as well as disaster responses and associated humanitarian assistance. This bibliography contains sources derived from an extensive search from within a ten-year range (2003-2013). For the purposes of the literature search, we adopted a broad definition of social media encompassing a variety of software, websites and technologies that enable user-generated content to be uploaded and shared." (Introduction, page 3)
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"In developing countries, the media is often confronted by a combination of factors that create fertile grounds for corruption, such as lack of training and technical skills, low professional standards, limited financial resources, opaque or government controlled ownership structures, inadequate and
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undemocratic legal frameworks. Types of corruption in the media vary from bribery in the form of cash for news, staged or fake news, gift giving, concealed advertisement to nepotism and capture by vested private or political interests. Fighting corruption in the media can involve a wide range of approaches, varying from raising awareness of ethical standards, strengthening the freedom of the press, introducing adequate media policies and legislation, promoting media accountability as well as supporting investigative journalism through technical training." (Summary)
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"Los 89 textos analizados se pueden agrupar en tres tendencias principales. 'Las miradas al oficio: riesgos, libertades y garantías para informar en medio del conflicto' ofrece un recorrido por los trabajos que le toman el pulso al estado de la libertad de prensa en Colombia y que dan cuenta de las
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iniciativas dirigidas a mejorar la calidad de la información en contextos de confrontación armada. Por su parte, 'las agendas del conflicto: fuentes, lenguajes y públicos de la información' recoge los informes que indagan por las agendas informativas del conflicto, las representaciones mediáticas de los actores allí involucrados y por el impacto que tiene la información periodística en los públicos de los medios. Finalmente, 'los escenarios emergentes: (post)conflicto, víctimas y memoria' reúne los estudios que se preguntan por la responsabilidad de los periodistas y los medios de comunicación en la construcción de futuros escenarios de postconflicto en Colombia, y que abordan los asuntos de agenda periodística a partir de variantes asociadas a la memoria y el relato." (Página 5)
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"The findings of this global mapping are organized into five main sections: The role of children, adolescents and youth in peacebuilding; mainstreaming C4D for peacebuilding in the education system; C4D for peacebuilding: adding value to education; most effective C4D approaches used for peacebuildin
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g; measuring results of C4D initiatives in peacebuilding." (Page 5)
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"The purpose of this paper is to understand how intergovernmental organizations and international non-governmental organizations have evaluated their communication activities and adhered to principles of evaluation methodology from 1995–2010 based on a systematic review of available evaluation rep
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orts (N = 46) and guidelines (N = 9). Most evaluations were compliant with principle 1 (defining communication objectives), principle 2 (combining evaluation methods), principle 4 (focusing on outcomes) and principle 5 (evaluating for continued improvement). Compliance was least with principle 3 (using a rigorous design) and principle 6 (linking to organizational goals). Evaluation was found not to be integrated, adopted widely or rigorously in these organizations." (Abstract)
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"[...] Amongst those agencies the following OECD DAC definition of evaluability is widely accepted and has been applied within this report: “The extent to which an activity or project can be evaluated in a reliable and credible fashion”.
Eighteen recommendations about the use of Evaluability Ass
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essments are presented here, based on the synthesis of the literature in the main body of the report. The report is supported by annexes, which include an outline structure for Terms of Reference for an Evaluability Assessment.
An Evaluability Assessment should examine evaluability: (a) in principle, given the nature of the project design, and (b) in practice, given data availability to carry out an evaluation and the systems able to provide it. In addition it should examine the likely usefulness of an evaluation. Results of an Evaluability Assessment should have consequences: for the design of an evaluation, the design of an M&E Framework, or the design of the project itself. An Evaluability Assessment should not be confused with an evaluation (which should deliver the evaluative judgements about project achievements).
Many problems of evaluability have their origins in weak project design. Some of these can be addressed by engagement of evaluators at the design stage, through evaluability checks or otherwise. However project design problems are also likely to emerge during implementation, for multiple reasons. An Evaluability Assessment during implementation should include attention to project design and it should be recognised that this may lead to a necessary re-working of the intervention logic." (Executive summary, page 1)
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"This report focuses on the role of factual debate and discussion programming, defined for the purposes of this review as “dialogic formats”, on political participation, knowledge and efficacy [...] The review of the existing evidence base is followed by an in-depth look at the relationship betw
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een exposure to one of BBC Media Action’s own debate programme formats and political participation. Factual debate and discussion programme formats have been implemented in a number of countries in which BBC Media Action has worked in recent years. This paper presents data from Nepal, where the political debate programme Sajha Sawal (Common Questions) has been broadcast nationally on radio and television for more than five years. The analysis provides evidence that exposure to a debate programme on the radio – which fulfils a mediated deliberation function – is positively associated with both latent and manifest forms of political participation. While it is not inferred that there is a causal relationship between the media output and political outcomes, the evidence presented goes some way to adding to the body of evidence of the impact dialogic programme formats have on interpersonal political discussion and more manifest types of participation in a developing country context, even when controlling for demographic factors and other personal characteristics." (Executive summary)
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"Highlights the findings of the LSE students’ work undertaken between October 2012 and March 2013: a literature review and analysis of BBC Media Action data from Palestinian Territories and Bangladesh on use of social media and civic participation. Findings include: Use of social media is positive
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ly associated with political efficacy and offline participation in the BBC Media Action data. These findings imply that BBC Media Action should engage purposefully with social media as a catalysing complement to traditional TV and radio programming." (BBC Media Action website)
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"The review starts by elucidating the potential role of the media as a democratising agent. We then explore the relationship between media reform and institutional change during democratisation periods, and move to review the literature on the contribution of media to institution building and due pe
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rformance in Central and Eastern Europe. We continue the discussion on the effectiveness of media for democratisation by assessing the relationship between political accountability and the accountability function of ‘watchdog journalism’ in Latin America. This is followed by a review of major works that look at the media as an instigator to or determinant of changes in individuals’ political attitudes or behaviour during periods of democratisation. Later, we discuss in detail the relationship between the media and change for democracy in the most recent region of interest in terms of potential democratisation, the Arab world, and finally, we assess the media’s revolutionary roles in regime changes with particular focus on the rising debate about the connection between social media and the Arab Spring." (Executive summary)
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"From this short survey of some key thinkers, can we conclude that there is a causal link between digital media and good governance? The sum of the arguments and cases presented here do not point to a causal link, but they certainly show that digital technology is shaping social movements and politi
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cal processes as never before. What is clear is that digital technology is a tool, and that, as such, it can be an important contributor to “bad” governance as well as “good.” It can help topple dictators, but it can also help authoritarian regimes oppress their citizens; it can empower people, and it can anesthetize and manipulate them [...] Of course, the question about a causal link between digital media and good governance is purposefully simple– even crude–in order to make a good title. The job of academics is to go beyond the simple journalistic headlines that have hailed “Twitter revolutions” on the one hand, or have dismissed “slacktivists” on the other. All the scholars profiled here clearly show that those who assume a simple relationship between digital technologies and political change are making serious mistakes. As ever, context is all." (Abstract)
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"This issue of 'Communication Research Trends' provides a survey of the field of sustainable social change and communication in a global context. It starts with a review of introductory works and general overviews and lists some manuals, resource books, journals, and organizations, which are relevan
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t to the field. The second section continues with definitions that circulate in the field and provides entries to materials discussing the history of development communication and related policy and rights issues. Section three reviews approaches and is structured according to dominant paradigms, such as modernization, dependency, globalization and localization, multiplicity, and participation. The final section takes a look at practices and methodologies." (Introduction, page 4)
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"Behaviour change communication is vital for increasing the enactment of particular behaviours known to promote health and growth. The techniques used to change behaviour are important for determining how successful the intervention is. In order to integrate findings from different interventions, we
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need to define and organize the techniques previously used and connect them to effectiveness data. This paper reviews 24 interventions and programs implemented to change four health behaviours related to child health in developing countries: the use of bed nets, hand washing, face washing and complementary feeding. The techniques employed are organized under six categories: information, performance, problem solving, social support, materials, and media. The most successful interventions use three or even four categories of techniques, engaging participants at the behavioural, social, sensory, and cognitive levels. We discuss the link between techniques and theories. We propose that program development would be more systematic if researchers considered a menu of technique categories appropriate for the targeted behaviour and audience when designing their studies." (Abstract)
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"Kommunikative Grenzüberschreitungen finden auch im Hinblick auf Marktstrukturen und Managementstrategien von Medienunternehmen statt. Bei solchen grenzüberschreitenden Aktivitäten stehen aus medienökonomischer Perspektive strukturelle Zusammenhänge zwischen Beschaffungs- und Absatzmärkten sow
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ie zwischen Medienmanagementstrategien und Medienorganisationen in ländervergleichender Perspektive im Vordergrund. Analysen zu grenzüberschreitenden Medienmärkten und Medienprodukten mangelt es ebenso wie solchen zu medienunternehmerischen Strategien und Transaktionen an theoretischer Fundierung. Dieser Beitrag verfolgt daher das Ziel, ein Modell rekursiver Beziehungen zwischen Marktstrukturen und Managementstrategien vorzustellen. Im Verlauf der Darstellung werden die verschiedenen Ebenen grenzüberschreitender Medienkommunikation in medienökonomischer Perspektive anhand einer Aufarbeitung des Forschungsstandes begrifflich schärfer gefasst. Dazu gehören die drei zentralen ökonomischen Entitäten grenzüberschreitender Medienkommunikation: Märkte, Unternehmen und Produkte. Dies betrifft auch Unterscheidungen von Beschaffungs-, Publikums- und Werbemärkten und diejenigen von Information, Unterhaltung und Werbung, da sowohl Märkte wie Produkte unterschiedliche strukturelle Prämissen bei Grenzüberschreitungen bilden. Auf dieser Grundlage wird ein Medienmarkt- / Medienunternehmensmodell vorgestellt, mit dem rekursive Beziehungen zwischen Märkten und Unternehmen erfasst werden können. In Verbindung mit Ressourcentheorien und den Strukturmodalitäten grenzüberschreitender Medienaktivitäten entsteht ein Modell, mit dem die abschließend diskutierten Prozessdimensionen grenzüberschreitender Aktivitäten untersucht werden können." (Abstract)
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"Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) interventions have variable effects on knowledge, attitudes and behaviour with regard to HIV/AIDS. Studies show that peer education is successful at increasing knowledge, increasing condom use, and providing youth with information and condoms; however, effects o
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n primary or secondary abstinence and number of sexual partners are less encouraging. The effects of mass media campaigns with regard to perceived HIV risk and attitudes are positive, but it is unclear which factors make the campaigns effective or not. For the Join-In-Circuit there are only a few pre-post studies showing positive effects on knowledge and condom use but no solid evidence. The same is true for the Intergenerational Dialogue and community dialogues where some studies show an effect on people to discuss relevant issues and be aware of risks. We found some positive effects of entertainment education with long-term exposure being an impotant factor. Culture-sensitivity is important for BCCs to work." (Key findings, page 1)
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"La socialización de los niños y jóvenes a través de los medios compite fuertemente con la escuela desde hace tiempo, pero se agudiza con la incesante multiplicación tecnológica y su penetración en todos los intersticios de la vida cotidiana. La teoría de los consumos culturales brinda una m
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irada multidisciplinaria para intentar comprender algunos aspectos de este fenómeno complejo en un grupo especialmente sensible como es el de los adolescentes. El presente trabajo se propone ofrecer un estado de la cuestión acerca de los consumos digitales de los jóvenes desde dicha perspectiva. La cantidad y diversidad de conocimientos, textos y productos que circulan y se producen aumenta en forma permanente y esto parecería obstaculizar la reflexión y la posibilidad de un análisis crítico de la información que circula, lo que significa que el exceso de información produce paradójicamente desinformación. Es importante abordar la literatura y las investigaciones que exploran y reflexionan sobre los consumos digitales de los jóvenes. Más aún, nos interesa ahondar en el análisis de los consumos digitales de los adolescentes en la franja etaria correspondiente a la escuela secundaria, con el propósito de contribuir a construir una comprensión más acabada y profunda de las características, formas de comunicación y socialización, necesidades de aprendizaje y formas de producción que definen a estos jóvenes." (Introducción, página 9)
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