"This learning brief provides an overview of the rites of passage that coalitions may experience as they attempt to chart their way through what is often unknown territory. The findings of the PRIMED workshop suggest that, via media development agencies, they can tap into a wealth of local and inter
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national experience which can help shape new initiatives and give them impetus. Balancing inclusion with focus is a particular challenge as alliances attempt to cater to multiple agendas and accommodate conflicting viewpoints. The risks of coalitions falling victim to infighting, disenchantment, funding gaps and political capture are very real. Nevertheless, the approaches highlighted in this document have proven their worth. Coalitions worldwide have marked up an impressive tally of achievements ranging from greater protections for media practitioners to the introduction of new legislation that supports regulation and decriminalises libel. They have helped forge lasting links between stakeholders and sectors that previously had limited experience of cooperation and even considered themselves to be diametrically opposed." (Conclusion, page 13)
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"How can sound be utilized as a tool for political conscientization? COVID-19 has disrupted face-to-face organizing tactics for progressive movements globally, making it necessary to branch out to more mediated forms of grassroots political organizing. In this article, we explore how sound might be
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employed to invoke an imagined working-class community across ethnic, gender and generational divides against a backdrop of crisis and corruption on the structural level. Through a close listening of a South African radio drama, 'Plague in the Time of King Kapital and Queen Corona' (KKQC), we find that the use of sound enables a worldmaking that is both attuned to structural inequities and imagines a utopian, solidaristic working-class community. KKQC offers a case of worldbuilding and political conscientization through radio drama that is relevant to understanding the possibilities of the genre in the contemporary South African context." (Abstract)
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"With attacks against storytellers increasing year-on-year, concern has grown about the lack of safety and security resources available to them. This is the focus of our study. Through a series of 120 interviews with artists, filmmakers, journalists, funders, activists, academics and others, along w
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ith desk research, we have sought to identify how storytellers can be better resourced to continue to confront and speak truth to power. The study is global in its overview, with a spotlight on Central and South America where in-depth research and interviews were conducted." (Abstract)
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"The eight articles in the publication can be broadly grouped into two main sets. The first set discusses the different types of digital skills required from a more academic perspective, in particular in the context of the pandemic and post-pandemic period, as countries accelerate their move towards
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the digital transition. It also features an article that looks at a specific development sector – humanitarian assistance – and demonstrates how digital skills training can help communities affected by crisis. The second set of articles presents concrete examples, from countries in different regions, of digital skills initiatives, policies and programmes; and provides insights on lessons learned and recommendations on the way forward." (Page 4)
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"ICTs have an enormous role to play in helping society adapt to the dislocations caused by the pandemic. This enhanced role comes in addition to the already central part that digital technologies have assumed in driving innovation, digital disruption and economic growth and development, particularly
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in emerging economies. It is critical, then, that national governments, regional cooperative organizations and NGOs collaborate with industry stakeholders to ensure that digital technologies are used as effectively as possible to soften the economic burden of the pandemic and ease, to the maximum extent possible, the social dislocations associated with it.
This report identifies four main themes that should be addressed globally by regional and national governments supported by national regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders: (i) addressing the digital divide; (ii) driving digital deepening; (iii) effecting digital transformation; and (iv) building digital resilience." (Executive summary)
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[...] Early-warning systems play a crucial role in informing people about impending disasters and should therefore be deployed in disaster-prone areas. Effective information transmission and dissemination are important before, during and after a disaster. A workshop on early-warning systems held dur
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ing the study period received many good inputs on the topic, which is therefore the subject of a chapter in this report.
Disaster preparedness involves drills and exercises, which range from table-top exercises to full-scale drills. The gaps revealed by such drills and exercises require analysis and corrective action, so that, in the event of an actual disaster, everyone acts as expected, coherently and in coordinated fashion. It is important to learn from the best practices adopted by other countries, particularly those that are prone to disasters and have learned from experience. This report therefore contains case studies from various countries describing the lessons they have learned. Following a dedicated workshop on drills and exercises held during the study period, the experts' deliberations were put together in a set of guidelines for small island and landlocked countries, and included in this report.
An enabling policy environment is a must for managing any disaster. The policies should be such that they enable flexibility when deploying emergency communication equipment and ensure successful use of telecommunications and ICTs for disaster preparedness and response. It is important to ascertain the components of an enabling policy environment, one that improves emergency telecommunication preparedness, network resilience, disaster risk reduction and disaster management." (Executive summary)
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"There is need for further studies focusing on access to broadband services and how emerging technologies can be used to transform rural and remote areas into digital economies.
There is no one-size-fits-all model for financing rural connectivity and engaging all stakeholders, but creating public-pr
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ivate partnerships (PPP) provides a workable solution.
Community networks are an important part of connectivity ecosystems, and they help bridge the digital divide.
While 4G is the predominant technology for connectivity in the world, a number of countries are turning to 5G for connectivity in rural areas.
The establishment of community telecentres or information centres is helping to achieve universal service for many countries and is key to attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
ICT community information centres are useful in training communities to become ICT literate.
The principle of universal access has proven to be an essential development tool, and proper use of universal service/access funds offers a good opportunity for economic growth and poverty alleviation in developing countries." (Lessons learnt, page viii)
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"The Girls Online (GO!) Cybersafety project (GO! Cyber) aims to equip young women and girls with the skills and resources to participate meaningfully and safely in cyberspace. The project is implemented by CARE Vanuatu and Sista with the support of Australia’s Cyber and Critical Tech Cooperation P
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rogram and ABC International Development. The GO! Cyber project started with a series of co-design workshops, supported by Portable Design Studio, with young women aged between 18-30 years old to understand how young women and girls navigate cyberspace. While there have been interventions to enhance cyber safety in Vanuatu in recent years, there is little research to understand the experiences and behaviours of young women and girls in cyberspace. The guiding principle of the GO! Cyber project is recognising young women as experts of their own experience, so they led the identification and exploration of cyber safety rights, experiences, and issues. The young women then proposed contextually relevant, needs-based and practical solutions for their online safety, which included a series of informative videos and this booklet." (Why this booklet, page 6)
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"In 2019, the Fund partnered with Purposeful, a feminist movement-building hub for adolescent girls, to pilot a participatory grant-making initiative in Sierra Leone aimed at promoting youth leadership and amplifying the voices of young people. As our first foray into realizing the potential of part
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icipatory grant-making, this experience taught us many valuable lessons about how to foster genuine participation of children and young people.
A targeted and intentional approach to reach a diverse group of children and youth is essential. This helps prevent a participatory process that only benefits young people in urban areas and those from higher socio-economic backgrounds.
We also learned that true participation requires letting go of power while ensuring that young people have what they need to make meaningful and informed decisions. Support to child and youth-led groups should go beyond grant money to include a comprehensive package of grantee-led learning and accompaniment.
The biggest lesson is about the need to be open and flexible throughout the process. Being willing to adapt as we went along allowed us to respond and make changes (almost) in real time. It also allowed us to learn from the young people about what it means to use your voice and make yourself heard in ways far beyond what we could have anticipated." (Executive summary)
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"Digital technology, while an important enabler of many COVID-19 mitigation measures, has also contributed to the rise of misinformation and disinformation surrounding the pandemic. The circulation of rumours, conspiracy theories, false claims and misconceptions about the novel coronavirus has had a
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pronounced impact on the world. Leveraging digital tools to facilitate access to reliable (and potentially life-saving) information and reduce exposure to misinformation and disinformation is a new skill that policy makers and communities at large need to master in the context of the events of the past two years.
Some efforts have been successful, while others have faced challenges and stalled. While the situation remains globally fluid and continues to evolve, it is possible to conclude that there is a wealth of innovative applications of ICT for infodemic management. The choice, design and implementation of any given solution or strategy need to be supported through a number of steps that should be coordinated and comprehensive in scope." (Conclusion, page 60)
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"Intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts the physical and mental health of one in three women globally, with equally high rates in rural Nepal. The risk of physical violence, stalking, harassment, and homicide between intimate partners increases when alcohol is used by the perpetrator. This study ev
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aluates the impact of Change Starts at Home, a nine-month intervention to prevent IPV in which 360 married couples in the Terai region of Nepal listened to a serial radio drama and engaged in Listening Group Discussions. A sub-sample of 18 couples were selected for individual in-depth interviews that were taken at the end of the intervention and 16 months later. Participants strongly and consistently associated alcohol use with IPV against women in their own and others’ relationships. Husbands and wives agreed that men sustained reductions in alcohol use, conflict, and perpetration of IPV, attributed to improvements in communication, conflict resolution, and a reduction in alcohol expenditure following the intervention. The results of this study suggest that integrating programming on alcohol reduction within IPV prevention interventions in the Terai region of Nepal has benefits on couple functioning, alcohol consumption, and IPV perpetration." (Abstract)
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"El libro está organizado en cuatro capítulos: narrativas, periodismo local, audiencias y sostenibilidad. Cada uno contiene casos de estudio, herramientas y entrevistas, así como consejos de reconocidos maestros y emprendedores de medios. Los casos de estudio, herramientas y entrevistas incluidas
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en el libro fueron seleccionados a partir de los proyectos presentados en el blog Laboratorio de periodismo innovador, un espacio en el que la Fundación Gabo continuamente comparte iniciativas y aprendizajes de periodistas y medios de Iberoamérica, en su búsqueda por crear nuevas y mejores formas de hacer periodismo y sostener proyectos informativos. Estos casos abordan temas que van desde la experimentación con nuevos formatos hasta formas creativas de generar ingresos y fortalecer modelos de negocio. Por su parte, muchos de los consejos de maestros y emprendedores surgieron a partir de los ciclos de clases magistrales “Narrativas digitales para cubrir lo local” y “Sostenibilidad, modelos de negocios e innovación”, que se impartieron de manera virtual durante mayo y junio de 2021, en el marco del programa “Innovación y periodismo local en América Latina”. 207 periodistas de medios nativos digitales latinoamericanos participaron en este programa, profundizando en temas como la creación y sostenimiento de un medio en una época de economía digital, cómo amplificar historias locales para darles un alcance global y cómo repensar la relación con las audiencias." (https://fundaciongabo.org)
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"The contents of this book deals with an overview of traditional folk media, characteristic elements of the study, empirical data of Jathara, Importance of Jathara as a medium of communication for the development of society. The analyzed the role of Jathara as a local and traditional mode of communi
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cation for rural development. In addition, it has portrayed the historical perspective of Raj Gonds' Nagobha Jathara as a conduit of communication and development, Paatha Pantala Jathara of Sangham women, Deccan Development Society, Zaheerabad region of Telangana State." (Back cover)
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"The two objectives that this compilation set for itself were documenting community radio best practices and creating a robust sector through knowledge sharing and collaborative learning. The 96 stories [from Bangladesh, India and Nepal] included in the compilation capture the various ways in which
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the diverse sector is identifying, prioritizing, and addressing concerns in the community’s vis-a-vis the SDGs. These stories describe the creative ways in which content has been developed by using the folk format, engaging the community through discussions, games, and cultural events, and innovative outreach activities. Further, they also highlight collaborations with local institutions and civic administrations and the way in which CRS’ core strengths like youth power especially in educational institutions are harnessed to provide inclusive community programming that truly provides a voice to the voiceless. Finally, the stories also highlight how social media and internet have been co-opted for a wider and on-demand access. The stories embody within them elements worthy of replication and emulation. Several community radio stations are already networking and sharing content and ideas. If these stories are also shared across content aggregation platforms and through the community radio networks, they could reach much wider audiences and initiate new conversations and exchange of ideas building a robust community of practice." (Way forward, page 34)
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"Hacer comunicación participativa en Radio Vilardevoz es aprender a tomar la palabra, una palabra que ha sido encerrada y empastillada por ser considerada “delirante” o “falta de valor”. Aquí aprendemos que nuestra palabra vale y hacer radio nos permite buscar la forma de hacer llegar nues
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tro mensaje, informarnos, discutir y generar una posición colectiva. Como medio de comunicación, tenemos una intencionalidad política: liberar la locura de la enfermedad mental, cerrar los manicomios, visibilizar las condiciones de atención de la Salud Mental en Uruguay y desarrollar un dispositivo alternativo de psicología y comunicación participativa. Como radio, tenemos un proyecto comunicacional, que es la forma en que expresamos nuestros propósitos. Para esto contamos con espacios de discusión, de producción y de salida al aire. La producción radiofónica, desde una perspectiva comunitaria, supone pensar el modo en que traducimos nuestro Proyecto Político Comunicacional (PPC) en lenguaje de radio. Por eso en Vilardevoz estamos en producción permanente (se produce en los rincones del patio, en la fonoplatea, en los espacios del sábado de tarde), pero además, dentro de la radio, tenemos espacios diseñados para esa tarea. Es el caso del Taller de Producción y Sala de Redacción. La salida al aire en vivo se da los días sábados y tiene dos formatos. Desde las 9 a las 13 horas es una trasmisión con fonoplatea abierta. Esto le da características especiales a la trasmisión ya que se reciben visitas y se plantea una dinámica de diálogo entre las personas que realizan sus programas y las personas que concurren a la fonoplatea. Desde las 14 hasta las 17, la “tarde de Vilardevoz”, realizamos una salida al aire en estudio, a puertas cerradas y con programas más estructurados que se sostienen sábado a sábado." (Capítulo 1)
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"With rapidly changing digital platforms and the impact of globalization on cultural diplomacy that has provoked the increasing mediatization of the field, non-state actors are now able to expand networks and gain legitimacy by addressing new publics using digital spaces. While the research about th
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e use of social media as a vehicle for cultural diplomacy continues to increase, little work has been done reflecting on the potential of another digital medium: video games. This study intends to fill that gap by assessing video games’ potential to serve as tools for cultural engagement in cultural diplomacy programming. Using the video game Never Alone as a case study, this dissertation explores the opportunity to provide a digital third space where imagined contact can occur to foster cultural understanding. Never Alone is a puzzle platformer video game developed in collaboration with the Iñupiaq Alaska Natives to showcase their culture. The game’s inclusive development process also works to examine virtual third spaces as a site for decolonial action at the microlevel regarding the Iñupiaq and the video game industry and at the macrolevel regarding Inuit diplomacies. This research attempts to critically explore the possibility for non-state cultural diplomacy initiatives using video games as tools to shape perceptions about the world." (Abstract)
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