"The World Bank should take a more active role in policy and regulatory activities targeting the broadcasting sector because: broadcasting can have a significant part to play in the fight to reduce global poverty; convergence of information and communications technologies (ICT) is allowing broadcast
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services to be provided over telecommunications networks and internet services to use broadcast systems; the broadcast component of the convergent ICT sector is a significant economic sector; reform of the broadcast sector can have a significant development impact; few other international development players are active in the broadcast reform arena; traditional reticence to address a sector that raises political sensitivities appears overblown. The Bank Group’s potential activities in the sector might include: basic reform, involving the opening up of the broadcast sector to private and community involvement, and deconcentrating private media ownership; convergence regulation, involving the harmonization and integration of regulations covering broadcast and telecommunications infrastructure; support for community radio stations to improve access for the poor to the tools of information and communications technologies; pilot projects involving digital television to assess the potential of broadcasting as a tool to widen access to the internet." (Executive summary, page ix)
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"The growth in electoral democracies presents many potential opportunities for human development. Yet in practice transitional and consolidating democracies often remain fragile and incomplete, lacking strong institutions essential for effective voice and accountability, including freedom of express
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ion and widespread opportunities for civic engagement. What can be done to strengthen democratic development and, in particular what is the role of the media in this process? Part I suggests that the mass media will have a positive impact on good governance and human development if they function effectively as a watchdog holding the powerful to account and as a civic forum facilitating a diversity of voices in public debate. Yet in practice the press is often limited in these roles. Liberal theories have long stressed the importance of an independent fourth estate as a check on the abuse of power. The study theorizes that this is necessary but not sufficient, in particular media systems strengthen good governance and promote positive development outcomes most effectively under two conditions: (i) where there is an unfettered and independent free press, [...] Part II operationalizes this typology then compares media systems around the world. Part III examines the cross-national evidence for the impact of these patterns. The study confirms that media systems characterized by widespread mass access and by an independent press are most closely associated with systematic indicators of good governance and human development. In particular, nations with these types of media system experience less corruption, greater administrative efficiency, higher political stability, and more effective rule of law, as well as better development outcomes such as higher per capita income, greater literacy, less economic inequality, lower infant mortality rates, and greater public spending on health. Part IV provides detailed case studies illustrating this relationship in particular countries. The conclusion considers the policy implications, suggesting practical steps to strengthen the channels of mass communications in poorer societies lacking either widespread access or freedom of the press." (http://www.escuelapnud.org)
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"La presente obra recoge trabajos pioneros de investigación que reflexionan, a partir de una perspectiva cualitativa y etnográfica, cómo las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación en su aplicación al sistema escolar y a iniciativas de gestión local reproducen las pedagogías tradic
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ionales y las formas dominantes de ejercicio del poder. Otros, sobre la necesidad de impulsar una cultura Internet, fundamentada en la praxis social de un "Derecho a la comunicación y a la cultura" y un "Derecho Internet" que permitan la concreción de una verdadera participación ciudadana y un libre acceso al conocimiento, con respeto de los derechos personales e individuales, como los de la privacidad e intimidad." (Tapa posterior)
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"Evaluations of the Internet and Development have tended to focus on the extent to which a websites content, or message, has affected development activities. This research examines the usage of the medium itself, by conducting an applied evaluative study of eight urban-focused websites disseminating
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development research findings. Evaluated websites are decomposed into six components of website production, namely: architecture, technology, style, content, strategy and management. Key qualities associated with these components are then examined, in order to assess the suitability of each website from the perspective of an international audience. This paper's purpose is to help build the capacity of organisations working in the field of international development, which intend to evaluate their own website(s). It aims to support the evaluation process so that websites can be improved as a medium for communicating research to an international audience." (INTRAC website)
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"In a cross-section of more than 150 countries, Kaufmann, Kraay, and Zoido-Lobatón provide new empirical evidence of a strong causal relationship from better governance to better development outcomes. They base their analysis on a new database containing more than 300 governance indicators compiled
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from a variety of sources. They provide a detailed description of each of these indicators and sources. Using an unobserved components methodology (described in the companion paper by Kaufmann, Kraay, and ZoidoLobatón, “Aggregating Governance Indicators,” Policy Research Working Paper 2195), they then contruct six aggregate indicators corresponding to six basic governance concepts: voice and accountability, political instability and violence, government effectiveness, regulatory burden, rule of law, and graft. As measured by these indicators, governance matters for development outcomes." (Summary findings)
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