"This report is an invitation to grapple with the complex interplay between infrastructure, media systems, civil society, and public sector institutions. Our findings suggest that effective policy solutions must: acknowledge the historical, political, economic, and social forces that shape informati
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on flows and sociotechnical systems; develop holistic approaches that consider the entire ecosystem rather than isolated interventions; understand how data governance and AI systems fundamentally influence information production, dissemination, and consumption; use a wider array of authorities and policy tools to create legal, regulatory and normative frameworks that protect democratic values while empowering communities and individuals who are embedded in increasingly opaque sociotechnical systems. By exploring both individual-level phenomena and systemic dynamics, this report suggests how legislative, regulatory, competition, education and other public authorities as well as tech platforms and citizens themselves all have a role to play in cultivating information ecosystems where democracy can better thrive." (Foreword by Courtney Radsch, page v-vi)
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"[...] while information ecosystems encompass a variety of actors (including those within both private and public sectors), this research focuses primarily on civil society actors, including those who use information for their work (as consumers, producers, nodes, or facilitators of information), do
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nors, organisers, activists from digital rights organisations, technologists for social justice and digital security experts, and researchers. In Part 1 of this report, we share an overview of some of the challenges and characteristics that shape the disequilibrium of information ecosystems in the region. In the Interlude, we outline the collective visions for healthy, strong information ecosystems that we gathered as the project developed. This fits in with one of our focus areas for this research, which is bolstering “communicative power” – defined by Fung and Cohen (2021) as the capacity for sustained joint (or collective) action, to associate and explore interests and ideas together with others, aiming to arrive at common understandings and advance common concerns in the public sphere. In Part 2, we share some inspiring strategies used by civil society to restore information ecosystems in the region. Rather than present these strategies as “silver bullets” or “definitive solutions”, the goal of this report is to indicate a variety of potential pathways for restoring information ecosystems and encourage funders, donors and other actors to support the work of those who are striving to materialise that restoration. Additionally, these strategies can also be a source of inspiration for the work that other civil society actors, technologists and digital rights advocates are building. With this in mind, the Conclusion summarises some of the main areas of support needed by actors working to improve information ecosystems in LAC." (Introduction, page 5)
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"This report provides an assessment of the media landscape in Jordan from the perspective of its audiences. Based on audience research, it examines the key issues emerging around media usage, trust, content, and literacy. It is based on data that was collected throughout June and July 2023; the medi
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a landscape may have changed since the war in Gaza began." (Abstract)
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"Between October and December 2018, Internews carried out a rapid assessment in Kyangwali to examine two key issues: the settlement’s information ecosystem, and the formal and informal justice system operational in the settlement and available particularly to survivors of sexual and gender-based v
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iolence (SGBV). The information ecosystem assessment sought to examine communication channels employed and trusted by refugees in Kyangwali as well as languages spoken by refugees, levels of literacy among refugees, and information needs and gaps. Internews also examined the community engagement and communication strategies applied by humanitarian agencies servicing refugees in Kyangwali. Finally, Internews sought to understand the technical capacity of media partners serving the district where the refugee settlement is located in producing high-quality human rights and SGBV – related programming. In addition to the information ecosystem assessment, Internews undertook a mapping exercise to identify credible formal and informal justice mechanisms and other services available to refugee survivors of SGBV within and outside Kyangwali settlement." (https://internews.org)
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"Afghanistan has made great strides in establishing media and communications outlets. However, very little is known about the ways in which Afghans actually engage in information exchange. To inform work with the media and effectively enhance access to information in Afghanistan, Internews commissio
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ned Sayara Research to map information ecosystems in three areas of Afghanistan. The information ecosystem in Afghanistan is vital to understand how Afghans make decisions about everything from personal security to health, migration, and livelihoods. Using a systems approach to analyzing information within and across communities is a powerful way to uncover deficiencies in current approaches and opportunities for future work." (Internews website)
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"This tool is designed to support decision makers in understanding how information contributes to a more connected and resilient community. Whether your community is defined by place, population, issue, or a mix of these, a good understanding of a community's information needs and use are essential
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elements in the design of effective, responsive systems and actions that enable a community to understand and adapt to change." (Page 1)
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"This report: 1. Defines “information ecosystems” and proposes an analytic framework of eight critical dimensions for understanding them; 2. Analyzes information ecosystems across a spectrum of change and their impact on resilience, referencing four case studies of Internews’ previous work [In
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stability and Underdevelopment in Fata, Pakistan; East Japan Earthquake 2011; Myanmar's Democratization and Opening; Three Environmental Disasters in Indonesia]; 3. Shares insights from the Jakarta Information Ecosystems pilot, which investigated the relevance of information ecosystems to communities living in chronically flood-prone environments; and 4. Reveals the utility of an information ecosystems approach and highlights preliminary conclusions on why information matters for resilience." (Page 2)
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