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Publishing for Peanuts: Innovation and the Journalism Start-Up

J. J. Robinson, Kristen Grennan, Anya Schiffrin

Columbia University, School of International and Political Affairs;Open Society Foundation (2015), 200 pp.

"Our remit was to look for innovative media outlets that are producing high-quality news, that are technologically innovative and that might actually survive financially. Accordingly, we spent three months interviewing media innovators around the world and reading what others have written on the sub ... ject. This report is divided into seven sections: 1) this introduction, 2) our main findings, 3) two sets of recommendations, one for the media development community and another set for people starting a media outlet, 4) an “Innovation Index” listing practices that we found around the world, 5) a description of our methodology, 6) a review of practitioner reports we read, 7) write-ups describing 35 media outlets, based on interviews we conducted [...] We were inspired and encouraged by what we saw. All over the world, independent media outlets are innovating and overcoming obstacles. Globally, start-ups are demonstrating the drive to take risks for the sake of a good idea. The challenges facing these outlets—and the innovations employed to tackle them—broadly fall into four categories: editorial, business, distribution and security. Operating with agility, media start-ups are finding creative ways to gather and disseminate information. In India, Gram Vaani uses a mobile phone social network to connect the rural poor and circumvent legislative prohibitions on radio broadcasting. In Zimbabwe, The Source survives in the repressive media climate by focusing on business journalism. Oxpeckers in South Africa uses geomapping to report on rhino poaching. Crikey in Australia has built a successful business model based on soliciting tips and scandal from the same audience it reports on and Kenya’s African SkyCAM deploys drones to avoid negotiating with police for access to disaster zones [...] Instead of finding a clear model for what works, we found confirmation of many things we knew or suspected. Independent media outlets vary in size, ambition and model. Few have fully succeeded, while many do one thing well, which typically reflects the founder’s particular strength—usually in journalism or technology [...] Most media outlets we found are small, run by a few full-time staff supplemented by volunteers and freelancers, and supported by a combination of grants, donations and haphazard business endeavors. The leaders at most organizations we interviewed were motivated by a desire to produce high-quality journalism rather than meet particular financial or audience goals." (Executive summary, page 5-7) more

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Good Practice in EU Public Service Media and Contemporary Practice in Jordan

Naomi Sakr

UNESCO (2015), 42 pp.

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Moderation from Bias: A Field Experiment on Partisan Media in a New Democracy

Jeffrey Conroy-Krutz, Devra C. Moehler

Journal of Politics, volume 77, issue 2 (2015), pp. 575-587

"Partisan media are often blamed for polarization in newly liberalized regimes. However, there is little empirical work on the subject, and information-processing theories suggest that extreme position taking is only one possible response to opinionated news. Rather, we theorize that partisan media ... more

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The Emergence and Growth of Vernacular Radio in Kenya: A Case Study of Radio Having a Positive Economic Impact

Edwin Okoth

Oxford: Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism (2015), 32 pp.

"Edwin Okoth, a business journalist at the Daily Nation in Kenya, has examined whether the recent boom in vernacular radio stations in his country has improved the livelihoods of ordinary citizens. In his research paper Edwin uses a case study of how one vernacular radio station called Ramogi FM, wh ... more

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El cine comunitario en América Latina y el Caribe
Top Insights

Alfonso Gumucio Dagron (coord.)

Bogotá: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), Centro de Competencia en Comunicación para América Latina (2014), 534 pp.

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In the Service of the Public: Functions and Transformation of Media in Developing Countries
Inspiring Practice

Jan Lublinski, Petra Berner, Merjam Wakili (eds.)

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2014), 300 pp.

"This study constitutes the attempt to draw some initial conclusions from the work conducted by DW Akademie and other media development organizations in the past. It aims at a better understanding of which public service functions former state broadcasters can provide at all and which approaches of ... media development actors have proved to be successful. Reforming of state mouthpieces into public service media can indeed be achieved. This is one of the most important findings of this study. DW Akademie researchers here present examples of media outlets that fulfill their public service remit of creating a public sphere and supporting integration to a substantial degree. Even among the success stories, not all the media outlets studied here have adopted a public service ethos to its full extent. Their work, however, improved considerably. In assisting reform, media development actors were thus able to enhance the public’s freedom of expression as well as its access to information – two basic human rights we see as important prerequisites for peace and democracy. On the other hand, this study shows how difficult and complex transformation is. State media are often highly politicized. Successful transformation, therefore, requires support of a lot of different actors: the political elite, civil society, the management of the broadcaster, its staff, and last but certainly not least, the public as a whole. It is vital that media development actors identify windows of opportunity and profit from them in order to propel change forward. At the same time, this study demonstrates that media development organizations have to think beyond their traditional fields of expertise: capacity development and newsroom consultancy. A much broader approach is needed if substantial and sustainable development is to be achieved. DW Akademie is currently implementing a new, more complex strategy for successful media development cooperation that takes this into account. Political and legal frameworks have become a strategic area of activity. Other equally important areas comprise qualifications, professionalism, and economic sustainability of the media sector, participation in society, and digital change. With regard to public broadcasting, political and legal frameworks are especially important in order to ensure editorial independence of former state broadcasters. Furthermore, media development actors have to engage more in organizational development. Therefore, at the end of this study, we dedicate a whole chapter to this question. This study of selected media outlets from twelve countries does not attempt to provide a final answer to the question of successful public service transformation. It aims at giving an overview of what has been achieved in practical work in this field in the course of the past years. More research is needed to understand which steps of reform are needed for a genuine transformation that is sustainable in the long term. The media are undergoing crucial developments. Digital change, convergence, and social media have increased pluralism of opinion substantially in many parts of the world. At the same time, the media face new challenges with respect to their economic sustainability. The notion of public service media that offer a model for providing journalistic quality without financial dependence deserves further thought." (Preface) more

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Communications, Technology and Humanitarian Delivery: Challenges and Opportunities for Security Risk Management

Raquel Vazquez Llorente, Imogen Wall (eds.)

European Interagency Security Forum (EISF) (2014), 68 pp.

"The articles contained in this publication are dispatches from a new frontline in humanitarian action: the digital frontier. All are written by those observing, experiencing and attempting to respond to the challenges created by the digital revolution and the very real threats it is creating for hu ... more

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What Was the Role of the Debate Programme Sema Kenya in the 2013 Kenyan Election?

Angela Githitho Muriithi, Georgina Page

London: BBC Media Action (2014), 62 pp.

"This paper seeks to identify the extent to which the national TV and radio programme Sema Kenya (Kenya Speaks), part of BBC Media Action’s governance work in Kenya, supported accountability, peace and inclusion at the time of the 2013 Kenya election. It shows the specific value placed on Sema Ken ... more

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Social Media and Political Participation

Geraldine de Bastion, Melanie Stilz, René Herlitz

Bonn; Eschborn: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (2014), 35 pp.

"The study will begin by defining and classifying social media and will go on to explain the reach and role of these media in developing contexts, in particular when used for political communication, interaction and decision-making processes. In a second chapter, risks and benefits of social media a ... more

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Africa's Voices: Using Mobile Phones and Radio to Foster Mediated Public Discussion and to Gather Public Opinions in Africa

Cambridge: Centre of Governance and Human Rights, University of Cambridge (2014), 21 pp.

"This paper presents the findings from a one-year applied research pilot project, Africa's Voices, run by the University of Cambridge's Centre of Governance and Human Rights (CGHR). Africa's Voices developed out of CGHR's wider research programme on politics, ICTs and interactive media in Africa. Th ... more

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More or Less Equal: How Digital Platforms Can Help Advance Communication Rights

Philip Lee, Dafne Sabanes Plou (eds.)

Geneva: Globethics.net (2014), 158 pp.

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Reflections on a Two-Week Global LinkedIn Debate: Community Participation for Radio Financial Sustainability

Birgitte Jallov, A. Sofie Jannusch

Glocal Times, issue 21 (2014), 10 pp.

"A lively debate on (community) radio sustainability took place on the LinkedIn platform, with more than 200 people, from all continents, sharing and discussing simultaneously in English, French and Spanish. The debate was initiated in April 2014 by the communication consultancy CAMECO, run by its t ... more

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Nvtramkaiñ Kom Taiñ Ixofil Mogen: Reflection, Learning and Knowledge Sharing Through Indigenous Community Filmmaking. Final Technical Report

Thora Herrmann, Ariella Orbach

Montréal: Université de Montréal;International Development Research Centre (IDRC) (2014), 34 pp.

"Our project used video as a tool for enabling two Indigenous Mapuche communities in Chile, and particularly their youth, to approach and analyze local development issues and bring local perspectives to the forefront of debates on biocultural diversity conservation and equitable development. The pro ... more

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Sending Messages to Reduce Violent Conflict

Sumedh Rao

GSDRC (2014), 11 pp.

"Sending messages is likely to only be effective in conjunction with a comprehensive approach involving a wider range of activities, such as dialogue or training. The media, such as newspapers, radio and television, are the main way that messages to change attitudes and behaviour are communicated in ... more

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WorldCat (10)

Curtailing Corruption: People Power for Accountability and Justice

Shaazka Beyerle

Rienner (2014), vi, 325 pp.

"Campaigns and movements targeting corruption often face decentralized targets rather than an identifiable dictator or external government, and can be found both in undemocratic and democratic systems. Graft and abuse are manifested in a systemic manner rather than a hodgepodge collection of illicit ... more

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Reporting on Solutions Internationally

Sariika Bansal, Tina Rosenberg

Solutions Journalism Network;Pulitzer Center (2014), 31 pp.

"The four Pulitzer Center projects highlighted in this guidebook are powerful examples of solutions-oriented reporting—and proof that when done well, such projects get the traction they deserve. For Amy Maxmen, the topic was malaria, new thinking regarding an effective method of malaria prevention ... more

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Communicating with Communities: A Case Study and Guide from Pakistan and Elsewhere

Brian Kelly, Ariane Quentier

Geneva: International Organization for Migration (IOM);Humanitarian Accountability Partnership (HAP) (2014), xix, 109 pp.

"The purpose of this handbook is to highlight achievements, as well as ongoing efforts and future plans, in improving information delivery to and communication with affected communities. This guide highlights the lack of critical information in emergency response and what needs to be done to ensure ... more

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WorldCat (2)

Türkisches Fernsehen in Deutschland: Narrenfreiheit und mangelnde Medienaufsicht

Çiçek Bacik

Würzburg: Königshausen & Neumann (2014), 205 pp.

"Ethnische Medien in Deutschland befinden sich in einer Nischenökonomie und sind aufgrund der mangelnden Einbindung in den deutschen Medienmarkt informellen Strukturen unterworfen. Die Schattenwirtschaft der ethnischen Medien in Deutschland mündet demzufolge in einen Schlamassel. Diese Studie befa ... more

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Harnessing the Potential of ICTs for Literacy Teaching and Learning: Effective Literacy and Numeracy Programmes Using Radio, TV, Mobile Phones, Tablets, and Computers

Ulrike Hanemann

Hamburg: UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning (2014), 195 pp.

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Verification Handbook: A Definitive Guide to Verifying Digital Content for Emergency Coverage
Key Guidance

Craig Silverman

Maastricht: European Journalism Centre (2014), 121 pp.

"In a crisis situation, social networks are overloaded with situational updates, calls for relief, reports of new developments, and rescue information. Reporting the right information is often critical in shaping responses from the public and relief workers; it can literally be a matter of life or d ... more

El cine comunitario en América Latina y el Caribe Top Insights

In the Service of the Public: Functions and Transformation of Media in Developing Countries Inspiring Practice

Verification Handbook: A Definitive Guide to Verifying Digital Content for Emergency Coverage Key Guidance

El cine comunitario en América Latina y el Caribe
Top Insights

In the Service of the Public: Functions and Transformation of Media in Developing Countries
Inspiring Practice

Verification Handbook: A Definitive Guide to Verifying Digital Content for Emergency Coverage
Key Guidance