"Twitter is a major tool for communication during emergencies and disasters. This study aimed to investigate Twitter use during natural hazards and pandemics. The included studies reported the role of Twitter in disasters triggered by natural hazards. Electronic databases were used for a comprehensi
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ve literature search to identify the records that match the mentioned inclusion criteria published through May 2020. Forty-five articles met the selection criteria and were included in the review. These indicated ten functions of Twitter in disasters, including early warning, dissemination of information, advocacy, assessment, risk communication, public sentiment, geographical analysis, charity, collaboration with influencers and building trust. Preventing the spread of misinformation is one of the most important issues in times of disaster, especially pandemics. Sharing accurate, transparent and prompt information from emergency organizations and governments can help. Moreover, analyzing Twitter data can be a good way to understand the mental state of the community, estimate the number of injured people, estimate the points affected by disasters and model the prevalence of epidemics. Therefore, various groups such as politicians, government, nongovernmental organizations, aid workers and the health system can use this information to plan and implement interventions." (Abstract)
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"This article makes an exploratory contribution to the theoretical foundations of the study of gaming in radicalization research. It is argued that both top-down and bottom up gamification have already impacted extremist discourse and potentially radicalization processes but that research on gamific
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ation in other contexts points to a much wider application of gamification to extremist propaganda distribution tools in the future. The potential influence of video games on radicalization processes exceeds the transfer of the popular argument that exposure to violent media leads to desensitization to the context of radicalization and includes the exploitation of pop culture references, increases in self-efficacy regarding violence, and the direct experience of retropian visions through the content of games." (Abstract)
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"This brief draws on social science literature and informal interviews with experts to illustrate that vaccine hesitancy is more complex and context-specific, and often reflects diverse, everyday anxieties – not just, or even primarily, exposure to misinformation or anti-vaccine campaigners. Based
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on this, the brief proposes strategies to guide policy makers, public health officials, vaccine developers, health workers, researchers, advocates, communicators, media actors and others involved in vaccine development, communication and deployment to boost confidence in COVID-19 vaccines." (Page 1)
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"The chapter offers an overview of the relationship between media and corruption. In a critical review of literature on the role of journalism in curbing corruption, different models and mechanisms are outlined. By presenting numerous studies, it is argued that press freedom helps to reduce corrupti
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on, and action should be taken in favour of policies for information accessibility, protection of journalists and media independence. The issue of media capture, and how corrupt environments influence the structure and role of news media, is also considered. A section is dedicated to how media contribute to the social construction of corruption: case studies from multiple countries are compared, showing how corruption is framed in different contexts. Finally, directions for future research are suggested, including further theoretical elaboration on the relationship between media framing and public policies in relation to corruption, and research on the role of ICT in relation to journalism and corruption." (Abstract)
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"This document is intended to be used as a resource bibliography for in-depth reading about risk communication best practices. It summarizes academic research and practical guidance on the topic of hazards and disaster risk communication, with a particular focus on socially vulnerable populations. I
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t is organized around three primary sections, including: 1) General Risk Communication Guidance; 2) Risk Communication and Social Vulnerability; 3) Risk Communication Across the Disaster Lifecycle. This bibliography identifies widely accepted risk communication principles that apply across the disaster lifecycle; however, the focus on social vulnerability sets it apart from other published resources on the topic of risk communication. It highlights materials that demonstrate how risk communication insights apply to a diverse array of socially vulnerable groups—defined here as those who face disproportionate disaster risk due to a variety of historical, social, economic, and political conditions." (Overview)
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"This rapid literature review explores the role that media in the Western Balkans plays in issues of gender (in)equality. The countries discussed are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Croatia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia [...] While there is a body of literature that discusses a
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ccess of men and women to media spaces (e.g. airtime and news headlines) and moreover media portrayals of gender groups within the region, there is very limited research on barriers to gender equality within the media sector itself and on media initiatives aimed at promoting gender equality. As such, the barriers section in this report also draws on discussion of gender equality in the region generally; and on issues with the media in the region generally. There are implicit linkages that can be made, however. For example, the persistence of gender inequality and traditional patriarchy throughout the region influences how the media operates and in turn is reflected in the media ..." (Summary, page 2)
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"The media can play a positive role in peacebuilding/conflict prevention. Recognition of this has led to increasing programmes on media/communications and peacebuilding, with common interventions including training of journalists, and development of pro-peace programme content. However, there are si
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gnificant challenges in designing and implementing such programmes, and even more in evaluation. While some interventions have generated positive results (e.g. reduced election-related violence), evidence is limited and it is hard to make causal links between interventions and impact. This highlights the need for more research." (Summary, page 2)
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"This rapid literature review concentrates on the role of communications activity (including communications campaigns and media relations in contributing to the reduction of corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa. The review also determines if there are any evidence-based examples on the impact of communi
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cations (campaigns or related activities) on reducing corruption. Subsidiary questions in the review are to determine if the there are any lessons learned from using specific types of communication activity; the types of corrupt practices that communications activity can help to reduce and, if there are any effective communication tools for reducing corruption. Findings of the review show that there is evidence that communication campaigns have an impact on corruption through reducing bribery and promoting reporting of corruption. However, further research is needed to confirm the sustainability of the impact of such campaigns and interventions. The review also suggests that many of the communication interventions that address corruption are initiated by civil society and some of these are undertaken in collaboration with governments." (Summary)
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"This desk review examines the available evidence on the extent to which digital content can influence knowledge, attitudes and practices of adolescents and young people (aged 10–24 years), and looks at the potential for digital spaces to be used to add value to the delivery of comprehensive sexua
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lity education (CSE). Technologies are constantly changing, so this report should be seen as a snapshot of the evidence at a specific point in time. The report is in two parts. Part 1 explores which young people engage with digital spaces and how; social media influencers; the intersections between pornography and sexuality education; and lessons from mHealth and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in education. To do this, it draws on purposive searches of the literature, the knowledge and expertise of the interdisciplinary team of researchers, and recommendations from a range of experts. Part 2 draws on a robust review of the literature on interventions designed to educate young people about sexuality. It focuses on existing evidence in five key areas: (1) reaching and engaging young people; (2) influence and impact; (3) opportunities and risks; (4) content, guidelines and standards; and (5) literature gaps." (Executive summary)
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"[...] this study provides an extensive overview of conceptualizations and operationalizations of media diversity in different fields using a systematic literature review (1999–2018). This showed a lack of theorizing and linking of conceptual with empirical work in media diversity research. Based
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on this, we develop a framework on how to move forward: Regarding conceptualization, we call for focusing on different places in the journalistic information chain instead of the classical exposure-supply distinction. Methodologically, automated approaches (e.g., analyzing digital traces) and qualitative approaches (e.g., capturing perceptions of diversity) should receive more attention. For analysis, matters of balance and disparity need to be stressed more, especially discussing possible limits to diversity. Overall, research into media diversity thus needs to be addressed in interdisciplinary collaboration." (Abstract)
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"In this large and up-to-date systematic review and meta-analysis, we looked at the impact of suicide reports in news and information media on subsequent numbers of suicides. Our results support the continued use and promotion of guidelines on responsible media reporting of suicide, which are the be
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st available interventions to address and prevent imitation effects in the population. Collaboration between suicide prevention experts and media professionals in implementing these guidelines is an essential part of any suicide prevention strategy. Caution should be exercised in reporting suicides by celebrities in particular. The media will continue to report on newsworthy suicides but have a social responsibility to mitigate the likelihood of the Werther effect." (Conclusions, page 7)
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"Comunicar o risco de inundação para as partes interessadas, sobretudo os vulneráveis, é um dos principais desafios que a gestão pública e demais atores possuem na busca pela construção de cidades e sociedades resilientes, e pelo desenvolvimento regional. Baseado nisso, o presente trabalho t
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em como objetivo apresentar o status quo e as tendências e padrões na pesquisa de comunicação de risco de inundação ao longo do tempo. Para tanto, empregou-se a análise bibliométrica como técnica de pesquisa, visando ampliar e atualizar o arcabouço de referências que compõem a temática. Como principais resultados, tem-se a identificação de 59 artigos em 31 periódicos distintos, os quais foram publicados principalmente a partir de 2007. A maior parcela dos 189 autores identificados é oriunda de países europeus e norte-americanos, influenciando no estabelecimento de redes de colaboração. Há uma baixíssima ou até mesmo ausência de autores dos demais continentes, sobretudo os países em vias de desenvolvimento na África e na América Latina, onde o risco de desastres tem causado grandes impactos, sobretudo nos grupos mais vulneráveis. Embora seja um tema emergente e ainda pouco explorado, os trabalhos realizados até o momento têm apresentado resultados extraordinariamente elucidativos no que diz respeito à gestão e aos efeitos da comunicação de risco na sociedade." (Resumo)
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"Information and communication technologies (ICT) along with the internet have fueled advancements and growth in banking, transportation, economics, and most of all in education in the 21st century. The 21st century citizens are provided with new opportunities that have been created with the advance
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ment of ICT. Hence, individuals need a wide range of abilities, competencies, and skills to adapt to the technological era. This paper provides a literature review of the growing importance of ICT, its wide array of usage, and its influence on various facets of people’s daily lives. In addition, the emerging concept of digital literacy through ICT developments, contribution of digital literacy towards the achievement of sustainable development goals, contribution of ICT towards the development of various sectors particularly the education sector, and the work done in this area of digital literacy are summarised. The paper concludes with three new models of digital literacy: four gear model, model for flexible learning, and a model showing the impact of ICT on the learning process." (Abstract)
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"Research indicates that the reach of fake news websites is limited to small parts of the population. On the other hand, data demonstrate that large proportions of the public know about notable fake news stories and believe them. These findings imply the possibility that most people hear about fake
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news stories not from fake news websites but through their coverage in mainstream news outlets. Thus far, only limited attention has been directed to the role of mainstream media in the dissemination of disinformation. To remedy this, this article synthesizes the literature pertaining to understand the role mainstream media play in the dissemination of fake news, the reasons for such coverage and its influences on the audience." (Abstract)
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"Specifically, the review focuses on the means, barriers, and associated cybersecurity and privacy concerns that refugees face around connectivity. This includes but is not limited to mobile connectivity and social media, particularly in displacement contexts. While these subjects may at times inter
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sect with parallel conversations on digital identity or biometrics, the latter are not the focus of this chapter. UNHCR provides support and international protection to forcibly displaced persons, including refugees, returnees, stateless people, the internally displaced and asylum-seekers. This report will reference ‘refugees’ and this can be read broadly to encompass refugees and other persons of concern, unless explicity stated otherwise. This literature review is divided into different sub-themes. An annex also provides a brief overview of who are the main actors writing about connectivity in humanitarian contexts, and with what angles and / or interests." (Introduction)
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