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Mapping Information Environments for Marginalised Communities in Central and Eastern Africa

Minority Rights Group

Canal France International (CFI); Advancing Global Innovation and Learning Effectively to Build Resilience in Independent Media (AGILE) (2025), 50 pp.

"1. In rural areas, word of mouth is often the only information system that works: In the DRC, over 80% of media outlets are clustered in the capital Kinshasa, leaving vast rural areas effectively without coverage. Ethnic minority groups such as the Batwa and Bambuti rated the relevance of the infor ... mation they receive at 0.5 out of 3, considering it to be "never relevant”. In these communities, access to information depends less on digital innovation than on trusted local networks: local leaders, women’s groups, grassroots organisations. These systems re resilient, but they are not infallible - information shared informally can be incomplete, delayed, or distorted before it reaches its intended audience. AGILE will support more accessible and inclusive information by working with trusted local intermediaries, community networks, and communication channels that already form the backbone of information access for marginalised communities. 2. Radio is still the backbone of information access – and it is under threat: In Uganda, 87% of respondents reported having a working radio at home. In Zambia, around 60% of the population listens to radio daily. In the DRC, more than 4,000 radio stations serve communities across the country. In a region where digital access remains unequal, radio is not a legacy medium - it is the primary information lifeline for millions. But this ecosystem is now under severe pressure. Following the cut to US foreign aid in 2025, community radio stations, that relied primarily on this funding source, face an uncertain future. Where community radio disappears, so does the locally rooted, trusted voice that keeps misinformation in check and civic life alive. AGILE will work with community radios, local organisations, and trusted community networks to help information reach people in more accessible and relevant ways. 3. Language is the most underestimated barrier, and communities have a clear ask: When asked what would most improve the information they receive, communities across all four countries gave a consistent answer: Translate it into our languages, and simplify it. Language is the decisive and most consistently underestimated barrier to information access. Official communications, media broadcasts, and humanitarian messages are routinely produced in dominant administrative languages that large parts of the population do not fully understand. Even where people speak the dominant language, technical jargon and bureaucratic phrasing can produce near-total incomprehension. On average, marginalised community members report understanding the language used in information only “sometimes”. In the DRC, ethnic minorities rate their comprehension between “rarely” and “sometimes”. In Tanzania, Hadzabe and Akie communities whose languages are oral and rarely represented in any media, rate their comprehension at the bottom of the scale. In contrast, Zambia is the only country where ethnic minorities rated their language comprehension as "often" adequate, a direct result of community radio broadcasting in multiple local languages. Respondents described asking their school-going children to explain official broadcasts, or depending on religious leaders or NGO staff to interpret messages. As information passes through multiple intermediaries, it can be delayed, simplified, or distorted - sometimes significantly - before reaching the people who need it. AGILE will prioritise multilingual, audio-first, and simplified content production across all activities co-designed with community radios, women's groups, and disability organisations to ensure that the needs of different communities are better reflected. 4. When information doesn't reflect communities' realities, they stop trusting it - or stop receiving it altogether: Accuracy is necessary but not sufficient. Communities are more likely to engage with - and trust - information when it reflects their realities and responds to their everyday concerns. When it doesn't, they disengage. Women across all four countries described a consistent pattern: stories about gender issues may be factually correct, but they "fail to reflect women's lived realities, rendering them irrelevant”. In the DRC, women's comprehension of information is rated as “rarely” adequate - not because they cannot understand the language, but because the content does not speak to their lives. The pattern is even sharper for some ethnic minorities. Maasai respondents described appearing in the media “rarely on their own terms” - their way of life consistently framed as a problem to be solved, rather than a legitimate system with its own logic and history. Several communities reported being exposed to derogatory language and hate speech in the way they are described in media. For people with disabilities, the exclusion takes a different form: the near-total absence of accessible formats. Across all four countries, sign language, braille, and audio-adapted content remain the exception rather than the rule. Information that cannot be accessed cannot be trusted - or used. AGILE will work more closely with marginalised communities to ensure their perspectives, experiences, and ways of understanding information are reflected in media and communication efforts. 5. Inclusive reporting already exists but journalists still face major barriers: Across all four countries, many journalists and media professionals recognise the importance of more inclusive, community-focused reporting. The mapping found this awareness to be widespread - the gap is not one of knowledge or intent, but of resources and conditions. Putting inclusive reporting into practice remains difficult. Covering remote communities takes time and money that most newsrooms do not have. Editorial priorities favour urban, mainstream audiences. In Zambia, several journalists described stories about marginalised communities as regularly sidelined because they are considered “unprofitable”. In the DRC and Tanzania, political and legal pressures further narrow the space for sensitive reporting. The result is a gap between what journalists know needs to happen, and what the system allows them to do. AGILE will support media professionals, community radios, and local organisations to strengthen inclusive reporting practices, improve community engagement, and produce information that is more accessible, relevant, and responsive to the needs of marginalised communities." (https://cfi.fr/en/news/5-things-we-learned-about-access-information-underserved-communities-central-and-eastern-africa) more

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Info-Monitor 2025

Berlin: Die Medienanstalten (2025), 80 pp.

"Der Info-Monitor der Medienanstalten dokumentiert, wo und wie sich die Bevölkerung in Deutschland zum aktuellen Zeitgeschehen informiert. Nutzung: Der Bedarf in der Bevölkerung an Informationen zum aktuellen Zeitgeschehen ist groß. Mehr als 90 Prozent interessieren sich für aktuelle Themen und ... more

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Fighting Misinformation: A Critical Look at Disinformation in Indonesia

London: BBC Media Action (2025), 10 pp.

"The research reveals that while digital platforms dominate Indonesia’s information environment, TV remains highly popular and more trusted than social media or the internet as a source of information. Trust in international media is notably low, while trust is higher in local outlets. Audience se ... more

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Our Online Lives: Messages from Pre-Teens

Adrienne Katz, Ebru Ozbek

Youthworks (2025), 19 pp.

"This report describes responses from pre-teens about their digital lives, delivering insights into their experiences, feelings, and concerns. While there are challenges in educating children aged 11-12 about online safety, hearing firsthand about their experiences can help direct our attention to t ... more

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Internationale Daten Jugend und Medien 2022

Heike vom Orde, Alexandra Durner

München: Internationales Zentralinstitut für das Jugend- und Bildungsfernsehen (IZI) (2025), 105 pp.

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Exploring Mental Health and Digital Technologies Among Young People in Rural Areas

C. M. Gonzales

Hopelab (2025), 19 pp.

"Young people in rural areas report distinct patterns in how they engage with digital technologies compared to their suburban and urban peers. These notable patterns are both shaped by and contribute to their experiences with digital connection, mental health, and well-being. This report highlights ... more

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Zwischen Bildschirmzeit und Selbstregulation: Soziale Medien im Alltag von Jugendlichen

Düsseldorf: Vodafone Stiftung Deutschland (2025), 44 pp.

"Soziale Medien sind aus dem Alltag junger Menschen in Deutschland nicht mehr wegzudenken: Ein großer Teil (69 %) der Jugendlichen verbringt mehr als die vom Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit empfohlenen zwei Stunden täglich am Bildschirm (vgl. BIÖG, o. D.). Davon weisen 27 % eine tägl ... iche Bildschirmzeit von fünf Stunden oder mehr auf. Darunter häufiger Mädchen (32 %) als Jungen (23 %), ebenso Jugendliche mit formal niedriger oder mittlerer Bildung im Vergleich zu solchen mit höherer Bildung (32 % zu 20 %). Erstes Smartphone und Regeln im Elternhaus: Jugendliche bekommen ihr erstes Smartphone im Schnitt mit elf Jahren, 72 % der Jugendlichen erhalten es zwischen neun und zwölf Jahren, am häufigsten mit zehn Jahren (28 %). Mit 16 Jahren besitzen fast alle ein eigenes Gerät. In der Hälfte der Haushalte mit Jugendlichen unter 18 Jahre gibt es keine Regeln zur Mediennutzung. Wenn es Regeln gibt, dann meist zeitliche (30 %) oder inhaltliche Begrenzungen (27 %) von bestimmten Apps oder Seiten. Dabei wird häufiger das Gespräch gesucht, als dass Verbote ausgesprochen werden. 57 % der Jugendlichen finden, dass sie selbst über ihren Medienkonsum entscheiden sollten. Zwei Drittel der Befragten (64 %) geben an, dass ihre Eltern über das von ihnen genutzte Plattformangebot informiert seien, und 47 % sagen, ihre Eltern wüssten auch, welche Inhalte sie konsumieren – bei jungen Frauen häufiger (52 %) als bei jungen Männern (42 %). Soziale Medien und Gefühle: Bei der Nutzung sozialer Medien überwiegen für das Gros der jungen Menschen positive Gefühle wie Freude (83 %), Neugier (81 %) und Entspannung (67 %). Negative Emotionen wie Einsamkeit (37 %), Neid auf andere (34 %) oder Stress (33 %) empfindet etwa ein Drittel. Rund ein Fünftel (21 %) fühlt sich nach der Nutzung sozialer Medien sogar schuldig. Junge Frauen berichten dabei häufiger von negativen Gefühlen als junge Männer. Neben den individuellen Emotionen zeigt sich auch, wie stark soziale Medien mit Gruppenzugehörigkeit und dem Selbstbild verbunden sind. [...] Funktionen von und Belastungen durch soziale(n) Medien: Soziale Medien dienen Jugendlichen als Plattform für Unterhaltung und Kommunikation, bringen aber auch Ausgrenzung, soziale Vergleiche und digitalen Stress mit sich. Fast alle Jugendlichen (95 %) nutzen soziale Medien zur Unterhaltung. Auch der Austausch mit Freund:innen (85 %) und Inspiration (81 %) spielen eine zentrale Rolle. Die Hälfte (50 %) der Jugendlichen nutzt soziale Medien, um nichts zu verpassen. Gleichzeitig berichten 29 % von sozialem Druck sowie Ausgrenzung und Abwertung (46 %). Junge Frauen berichten häufiger von sozialen Vergleichen als junge Männer (52 % zu 31 %) und geben deutlich öfter an, regelmäßig emotional belastenden Inhalten zu begegnen (46 % zu 27 %). Selbstregulierung: Strategien für bewusste Nutzung: Die Mehrheit der Jugendlichen schafft es nicht, ihre Nutzung sozialer Medien zu begrenzen: Knapp drei Viertel (73 %) verbringen mehr Zeit damit, als ihnen lieb ist. 56 % würden soziale Medien gern weniger nutzen, schaffen es aber nicht. 61 % geben an, dadurch andere Dinge zu vernachlässigen – bei jungen Frauen liegt dieser Anteil mit 70 % deutlich höher als bei jungen Männern (53 %). Auch wenn es Jugendlichen nach eigenen Aussagen schwerfällt, ihre Nutzungszeit auf den sozialen Medien zu begrenzen, reflektieren 47 % das eigene Nutzungsverhalten regelmäßig. Sie entwickeln Strategien, um ihr Verhalten zu steuern: bestimmte Mitteilungen werden deaktiviert (69 %), das Handy wird bewusst auf „Nicht stören“ gestellt (51 %) oder die sozialen Medien werden während des Lernens gemieden (58 %)." (Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse, Seiten 4-5) more

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Télécoms en Mauritanie: L’impact des crédits de communication

Taghi Cheikhna Mohamed Taghioullah

Paris: L'Harmattan (2025), xviii, 224 pp.

"Cet ouvrage propose une lecture croisée du marketing et de la régulation dans le secteur des télécommunications mauritanien. À partir des comportements d’achat de crédit de communication, il interroge les enjeux de transparence tarifaire, d’équité et de gouvernance publique. L’auteur ... more

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Redes que atrapan: La explotación sexual de la infancia y la adolescencia en entornos digitales

Clara Burriel

Save the Children España (2025), 94 pp.

"Con este informe, se pretende arrojar algo de luz sobre un fenómeno especialmente complejo y todavía difícil de delimitar, en parte por la falta de una definición única y por la ausencia de datos que revelen su prevalencia real, pero también en parte por la normalización de determinadas cond ... more

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Klassisches Radio ist gut in der Region verankert: Ergebnisse und Methodik der ma 2025 Audio I

Karin Gattringer, Sabine Jaeger

Media Perspektiven, issue 9 (2025), 10 pp.

"Knapp 93 Prozent der deutschsprachigen Bevölkerung ab 14 Jahren hören der ma 2025 Audio I zufolge regelmäßig Audioangebote. Fast drei Viertel schalten täglich mindestens ein Radioprogramm ein und dies über vier Stunden lang. Der Radiomarkt fragmentiert weiter – die Anzahl der genannten Send ... more

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Exploring news gratifications across age groups: A European study in 23 countries

Mónica Recalde, Alfonso Vara-Miguel, Jorge del Río Pérez, Cristina Sánchez-Blanco

European Journal of Communication, volume 40, issue 1 (2025), pp. 70-86

"Research on motivations for news consumption has primarily focused on uses and gratifications (U&G) from both conventional and new media. However, there is a gap regarding age perspectives in this field. This study aims to address this gap by examining whether differences and similarities exist in ... more

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Understanding Mis- and Disinformation in Nepal

BBC Media Action (2025), 10 pp.

"Social media dominates daily internet use, while use of traditional media is declining: overall, 7 in 10 Nepalis use the internet daily, with Facebook and YouTube being the most used platforms (63% daily usage for both). Among those with internet access, 80% are heavy users of social media, i.e., ... they go on social media platforms at least once a day. Only 40% use the internet for purposes beyond social media, such as online search and emails. Internet users are using TV and radio less. Only 24% watch TV daily and 19% listen to the radio daily. Sharing information is an emotionally driven and socially performative behaviour: content is often shared not for its accuracy, but for its emotional impact, shock value, or social appeal. People are motivated by a desire to entertain, impress, provoke, or find hope, making them less likely to question the credibility of what they share. Drawing on qualitative data, we identified segments of the Nepali population who differ by how they share information: • Exaggeration Sharers: This group will often amplify exaggerated claims in order to gain visibility. They will often share contents that may elicit emotional responses, such as crime and violence. When sharing it, they may add their own take on the issue to exaggerate it further. • Show-off Enthusiasts: Similar to Exaggeration Sharers, they choose to share content that makes them look important, ‘wanting to impress others’ and ‘seek praise’. This is particularly true when sharing may reach people they respect. • Controversy Seekers: This group seeks out explicit content such as the commonly highlighted Bhojpuri songs (typically mentioned in Madhesh), as well as celebrity scandals. Contents often shared by this group tend to have a negative tonality, including topics like ethnic and religious scuffles. • Bystanders: This group tends to use social media by watching and listening without interacting or sharing. However, they enjoy novel content (particularly religious and political content) that may become a topic of discussion within their social network. • Naïve Consumers: This group focuses their attention on content that seeks to give hope in the face of challenges such as unemployment and economic difficulties. However, they tend to be less aware of, or concerned with, implications of online sharing and privacy issues, indicating lower digital and media literacy." (Pages 3-4) more

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Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025
Deep Insights

Nic Newman, Richard Fletcher, Craig T. Robertson, Amy Ross Arguedas, Rasmus Kleis Nielsen (eds.)

Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (2025), 170 pp.

"• Engagement with traditional media sources such as TV, print, and news websites continues to fall, while dependence on social media, video platforms, and online aggregators grows. This is particularly the case in the United States where polling overlapped with the first few weeks of the new Trum ... p administration. Social media news use was sharply up (+6pp) but there was no ‘Trump bump’ for traditional sources. • Personalities and influencers are, in some countries, playing a significant role in shaping public debates. One-fifth (22%) of our United States sample says they came across news or commentary from popular podcaster Joe Rogan in the week after the inauguration, including a disproportionate number of young men. In France, young news creator Hugo Travers (HugoDécrypte) reaches 22% of under-35s with content distributed mainly via YouTube and TikTok. Young influencers also play a significant role in many Asian countries, including Thailand. • News use across online platforms continues to fragment, with six online networks now reaching more than 10% weekly with news content, compared with just two a decade ago. Around a third of our global sample use Facebook (36%) and YouTube (30%) for news each week. Instagram (19%) and WhatsApp (19%) are used by around a fifth, while TikTok (16%) remains ahead of X at 12%. • Data show that usage of X for news is stable or increasing across many markets, with the biggest uplift in the United States (+8pp), Australia (+6pp), and Poland (+6pp). Since Elon Musk took over the network in 2022 many more right-leaning people, notably young men, have flocked to the network, while some progressive audiences have left or are using it less frequently. Rival networks like Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon are making little impact globally, with reach of 2% or less for news. • Changing platform strategies mean that video continues to grow in importance as a source of news. Across all markets the proportion consuming social video has grown from 52% in 2020 to 65% in 2025 and any video from 67% to 75%. In the Philippines, Thailand, Kenya, and India more people now say they prefer to watch the news rather than read it, further encouraging the shift to personality-led news creators. • Our survey also shows the importance of news podcasting in reaching younger, better-educated audiences. The United States has among the highest proportion (15%) accessing one or more podcasts in the last week, with many of these now filmed and distributed via video platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. By contrast, many northern European podcast markets remain dominated by public broadcasters or big legacy media companies and have been slower to adopt video versions. • TikTok is the fastest growing social and video network, adding a further 4pp across markets for news and reaching 49% of our online sample in Thailand (+10pp) and 40% in Malaysia (+9pp). But at the same time people in those markets see the network as one of the biggest threats when it comes to false or misleading information, along with Facebook. • Overall, over half our sample (58%) say they remain concerned about their ability to tell what is true from what is false when it comes to news online, a similar proportion to last year. Concern is highest in Africa (73%) and the United States (73%), with lowest levels in Western Europe (46%). • When it comes to underlying sources of false or misleading information, online influencers and personalities are seen as the biggest threat worldwide (47%), along with national politicians (47%). Concern about influencers is highest in African countries such as Nigeria (58%) and Kenya (59%), while politicians are considered the biggest threat in the United States (57%), Spain (57%), and much of Eastern Europe." (Executive summary, page 10-11) more

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Stabiles Medienvertrauen auch in Zeiten politischer Umbrüche: Mainzer Langzeitstudie Medienvertrauen 2024

Media Perspektiven, issue 13 (2025), 20 pp.

"Das Medienvertrauen in Deutschland bleibt 2024 gegenüber dem Vorjahr weitgehend stabil und ist auch in einer langfristigen Perspektive recht robust. Das öffentlich-rechtliche Fernsehen ist nach wie vor die Mediengattung, der am meisten vertraut wird. Das Vertrauen in den öffentlich-rechtlichen ... more

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Ugandans support free media that holds government accountable

Jane Mercy Muthoni Kamunyi

Afrobarometer (2025), 10 pp.

"Findings from the Afrobarometer Round 9 survey (2022) show that a strong majority of Ugandans supported media freedom and believed the media should play a watchdog role by investigating and reporting on government mistakes and corruption. Most citizens said the public should have access to governme ... more

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Au Togo, la radio résiste encore à la croissance des médias sociaux comme source d’information

Victor Emmanuel Ekwa Bebe III

Afrobarometer (2025), 9 pp.

"Selon la récente enquête Afrobarometer, la radio, média classique, demeure néanmoins en tête des sources d’information au Togo. La majorité des citoyens s’y informent régulièrement, loin devant les réseaux sociaux, la télévision et la presse écrite. Cependant, les usages évoluent : ... more

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Me, myself and AI: Understanding and safeguarding children’s use of AI chatbots

London: Internet Matters (2025), 56 pp.

"This report explores how children are interacting with AI chatbots, which are computer programmes designed to simulate conversation with a person. Our findings show that while these tools can offer clear benefits, such as 24/7 learning support and a non-judgemental space to ask questions, they pose ... more

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Who’s engaged, who’s excluded? Ugandan citizens’ opinions and experiences on media engagement and citizen participation

Kampala: Twaweza East Africa (2024), 16 pp.

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Media Mapping on Educational Content Production and Dissemination in Afghanistan

Aida Sahraoui Soler et al.

Paris: UNESCO (2024), 16 pp.

"Within the complex media and educational landscape of Afghanistan, characterized by the takeover by the de facto authorities, a study of the current Media-Based education was facilitated by the Afghanistan Independent Journalists Union (AIJU) and Integrity Watch Afghanistan (IWA) with the support o ... more

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Nuestras apps de cada día 2024: Segundo informe sobre el uso de plataformas digitales en Costa Rica

Carlos Brenes Peralta, Ignacio Siles González, Larissa Tristán Jiménez

San José, Costa Rica: Universidad de Costa Rica, Centro de Investigación en Comunicación (CICOM) (2024), 30 pp.

"La información que se presenta a continuación desafía premisas establecidas sobre el uso de plataformas digitales en Costa Rica. Por ejemplo, sen confirma que Facebook sigue siendo la red social más utilizada en el país, a pesar de la variedad de oferta, el surgimiento de nuevas opciones y not ... more

Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025 Deep Insights

Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025
Deep Insights