"This study carried out between May and June 2013, seeks to establish levels of transparency in public institution in Southern Africa. The study in currently in its fourth year, and findings highlight the difficulties faced by Southern African when trying to seek, access and receive information from
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public bodies. The research, conducted by seven different MISA chapters in the region, again revealed the lack of openness, transparency and accessibility on the part of public institutions, as well as their reluctance to disclose information proactively or respond to specific requests for public information, although there has been a significant improvement with respect to the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) across the region." (Fesmedia website)
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"This report focuses on six types of media outlets based outside mainland China that together reach news consumers in dozens of countries: major international media; local outlets in Asia, Africa, and Latin America; mainstream media in Hong Kong and Taiwan; exile Chinese outlets providing uncensored
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news to people in China; and media serving Chinese diaspora communities around the world. In many cases, Chinese officials directly impede independent reporting by media based abroad. However, more prevalent–and often more effective–are methods of control that subtly induce self-censorship or inspire media owners, advertisers, and other international actors to take action on the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) behalf. The interviews and incidents analyzed in this study suggest a systematic effort to signal to commercial partners and media owners that their operations in China and access to Chinese citizens will be jeopardized if they assist, do business with, or refrain from censoring voices the CCP has designated as politically undesirable. These efforts–ranging from discreet to blatant–are successful in some cases, and encounter significant pushback in others, with journalists and activists at times scoring important victories. But whatever the outcome of each contestation, the “China Factor” is palpably present." (Executive summary)
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"Das in zweiter Auflage überarbeitete Lehrbuch führt konsistent und verständlich in Theorie, Methodik und Gegenstandsbereiche der international vergleichenden Mediensystemforschung ein. Es macht mit deren Fragestellungen vertraut und arbeitet die für den Vergleich relevanten Strukturelemente her
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aus. Der Forschungsbereich wird einerseits inhaltlich, d. h. durch ausgewählte Themenstellungen (z. B. Kommunikationspolitik, Medienkonzentration), und andererseits räumlich, d. h. durch bedeutende Länder und Weltregionen, erschlossen." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"Bamako adults are avid news users; 92.5% say they receive news from television, radio, the Internet or newspapers at least once a week; 78.4% report they receive news from these sources at least once a day. Mobile phone, radio, and television ownership is widespread in Bamako. Nine in 10 Bamako adu
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lts say they have a mobile phone in their household, 86.6% report owning a radio, and 83.8% say they have a working television. Bamako adults are most interested in the topics of religion (93.1%), health and healthcare (89.8%), and education (89.0%). Bambara is the preferred radio broadcast language. It is also the most commonly understood language (99.3%), and the language the majority of those adults (99.4%) report they would understand in a newscast." (Page 1)
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"Through two case studies, this paper evaluates the value of the feminist visual methodology Photovoice as an interactive consultation tool with rural Rwandan women working in agriculture. This exploratory study suggests that it is possible, through an adapted Photovoice process, to engage and empow
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er women in the production of information about what is most relevant to them, and reach and engage practitioners and officials through an exhibition of participants' photographs and captions. This confirmation of Photovoice's applicability with rural women in the generation of information that captures the attention of stakeholders demonstrates its potential for reproducibility in other development contexts." (Abstract)
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"The objective of this work is approaching the political crisis occurred in Côte d´Ivoire after the contested elections of 2010, through the perspective of the Ivorian media and media professionals. This study draws theoretically on the media political economy and critical understanding of the rel
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ationship between democracy and the media. After a brief description of Côte d´Ivoire political history, as well as its media political economy, perceptions from foreign correspondents and Ivoirian journalist were gathered. Conclusions show the sheer complexity of the role played by the media, which goes beyond its information provider responsibility to turn into platforms for the political struggle in a highly political polarized environment. At the same time, it is demonstrated how foreign perceptions of Ivorian media performance are built against ideal representations of media that often fail to grasp particular contexts." (Abstract)
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"The Nigerian media focuses little on business, and the business coverage that does exist is often dominated by macro-economic, large and international business issues, or is one-sided, representing only the views of government or the elite. The real issues that impact on Nigeria’s millions of sma
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ll businesses and its huge agricultural sector are often neglected, and the poor are denied an effective voice on business environment issues [...] ENABLE [the Enhancing Nigerian Advocacy for a Better Business Environment program] [...] recognis[es] media as a key driver of change and working to reinforce the incentives and improve the skills around small business and agricultural reporting. This involves developing the media as a major actor in the business environment policy process, and working with them to increase the quality and quantity of sustainable (commercially viable) coverage of small business and agricultural issues. The underlying premise for sustainability in media is simple: media coverage that focuses on the real issues that impact on how the majority of Nigerian’s make their living, and which does this in a dynamic and relevant way, will gain significant audience. These popular media products will then attract advertisers and sponsorship. In other words, effective programmes that focus on the livelihoods of the poor can be both popular and profitable for media houses." (Executive summary)
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"A collection of debate and report articles on community media and community communication, this book presents experiences, thoughts and forethoughts from Cyprus, Ghana, Kenya, Malaysia and Nigeria. In the first section of the book are found studies of the practice and impact of community media, esp
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ecially community radio, in Ghanaian and Kenyan communities. The second section presents thoughts on how community media might better serve communities, democracy and development. The third section of the book, that is the forethoughts, focuses on the foreseen or preferred structure, role, funding and management of community radio in Nigeria – a country that is yet to have community radio. In that rather oracular section, contributors look into the future quite counterfactually, imagining and painting the envisioned character of community radio when the Nigerian government finally permits its establishment. The studies and discussions in this book potentially advance the conversations on the role of community media in promoting democracy and development as they affirm, modify or confute some of the known assumptions on the subject." (https://imesoimeso.org)
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"Considering the lessons learned from US engagement in Iraq and especially Afghanistan, military engagement can only be sustained with the support of local populations. The concept of “winning hearts and minds” has emerged as an essential component of the counterinsurgency-counterterrorism doctr
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ine. Therefore, it is essential to monitor public reaction to any foreign intervention on a constant basis to measure the effectiveness of a given military campaign. ConStrat monitored social media content—in Arabic, French and English—related to the French intervention in Mali and the unfolding of the terrorist attack in southwestern Algeria. The three media environments were diverse both qualitatively and quantitatively." (Introduction)
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