"[...] Radio is still the region’s most popular medium, especially in rural parts of the region where the majority of the population still live. The little advertisement revenue that still goes to media houses in the region lies in the hands of very few media outlets with a national reach. Most of
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these are entertainment-focused commercial radio stations. Most of the digital media revenue from advertisers go straight into the hands of big-tech corporations like Google, Facebook and Twitter. The little that remains is shared among social media influencers and fad bloggers. Smaller radio stations and digital publications in the region have been forced to find alternative models to finance their operations. These include partnerships with development agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and religious institutions. There are numerous opportunities in the digital space than those in legacy media – or traditional media (such as print and analogue broadcast media) – can still take advantage of to achieve sustainability. Paywalls, a model introduced by Kenya’s leading newspapers the Daily Nation and The Standard on their digital publications can be replicated across the region. The radio of the future will need to converge with digital media if it is to maintain its position as the most preferred medium." (Summary of findings, page 2-3)
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"In this article I contend that the saturation of information and images of human suffering and death in contemporary warfare has not ushered in a new era of “compassion fatigue”. Rather, algorithmically charged outrage is a proxy for effects. It is easy to misconstrue the velocity of linking an
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d liking and sharing as some kind of mass action or mass movement. Humanitarian catastrophes slowly unfold in an age of continuous and connective digital glare, and yet they are unseen. If the imploded battlefield of digital war affording the most proximate and persistent view of human suffering and death in history cannot ultimately mobilize radically effective forms of public response, it is difficult to imagine what will." (Abstract)
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"With over 309 licensed radio stations, numerous public and private TV stations, and rapid growth in internet accessibility and usage, the media landscape in Uganda is dynamic, diverse, and rapidly evolving. Ugandans across the country from rural villages to urban centers are presented increasingly
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with more channels to meet their wide-ranging information needs. While radio remains the dominant medium of information for both women and men across Uganda, there remains enormous divides across the country that fuel unequal access to information and media consumption behaviors. The media sector is further challenged by poorly skilled media professionals, low quality journalism, a complex regulatory environment that is often not understood by media professionals and broadcasters, and high levels of self-censorship. The COVID-19 pandemic has both cemented the media’s position as an essential service provider, as well as challenged the sector, affecting advertising revenue, employment, the quality and quantity of content production, and the ability to meet the information needs of their audiences." (Publisher description)
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"L’étude de base du projet « Renforcer la résilience communautaire et la désinformation dans les régions du nord et du centre du Mali intitulé “Tabalé Kunkan’’ a pour but d’établir la situation de référence du projet à partir de laquelle les progrès seront mesurés. Elle a util
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isé une approche mixte incluant la revue documentaire, la collecte de données quantitatives et qualitatives sur la base de questionnaires et de guides d’entretien pour répondre aux objectifs indiqués dans les termes de référence." (Résumé exécutif)
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"The 1991 adoption of the Windhoek Declaration in Namibia ushered in a continent-wide commitment to supporting independent media in Africa. Despite initial progress, including the establishment of the regional Media Institute for Southern Africa (MISA), independent media in the region continues to s
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uffer. Increasing attacks on independent journalism, the co-option of media outlets by political and economic interests, and the growing problem of disinformation is compromising the viability of independent media in the region. The strong foundation of regional cooperation in Southern Africa that began at Windhoek has also suffered. However, there remains strong enthusiasm among media actors in Southern Africa to reignite a regional network to promote solidarity, address the myriad challenges independent media in the region face, and articulate an African vision and agenda for media development. A regional coalition can help set norms and standards for democratic media by tapping into the leverage points and frameworks of regional institutions and amplifying national-level priorities in regional and global debates. Countries with stronger environments for independent media can support the reform agendas of restrictive countries through knowledge sharing and joint advocacy. For a coalition to be effective, it needs clear goals and a decentralized structure that avoids imposing hierarchy or encouraging unhealthy competition over funding." (Key findings)
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"In the rapidly changing news ecosystems of emerging economies, news outlets are struggling to remain relevant and build loyal relationships with youth audiences (18 to 35 years old). As youth populations continue to grow in low-and-middle income countries, it is critical for independent media organ
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izations to understand and respond to the changing news habits of younger generations. A snapshot of youth news consumption habits in Colombia, Ghana, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, and Thailand highlights that the predominance of smartphones, and increasing access to the internet and social media, is fundamentally altering how youth access, interact with, and value independent news. Youth audiences tend to access news through their smartphone, relying more on social media algorithms and news aggregators than loyalty to particular news brands. Youth generally do not feel that the traditional, mainstream news media reports on issues that are important to them, preferring to access a wider variety of news alongside other kinds of information and entertainment. Despite relying on social media for news, youth are wary about whether the information they see on the internet is true. There is a tension between the convenience social media provides for accessing news and its propensity to amplify misinformation and increase political polarization." (Key findings)
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"Cette évaluation de l’écosystème de l’information vise à établir une compréhension des dynamiques de l’information dans le contexte des populations déplacées dans plusieurs localités du pays : Bangui, Paoua, Bozoum, Berberati, Sibut, Bambari, Ndélé, Kaga-Bandoro et Rafaï. Cette re
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cherche est basée sur des entretiens approfondis et des discussions de groupe focus avec des membres de la communauté des populations déplacées internes vivant dans des camps, des organisations humanitaires et de la société civile, des fonctionnaires et des professionnels, ainsi que des données quantitatives issues de deux enquêtes (face-à-face à Bangui et par téléphone à travers le pays)." (Description de la maison d'édition)
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"Cette évaluation de l'écosystème de l'information documente comment l'information autour de la pandémie de la COVID-19 est produite au Mali ainsi que les pratiques informationnelles des Populations Déplacées internes (PDI) dans les régions de Bamako, Ségou, Sikasso, Mopti et Tombouctou. Ell
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e s'appuie sur des entretiens approfondis et des discussions de groupe avec des membres de la communauté des Populations Déplacées Internes (PDI) vivant dans des camps de déplacés, des organisations humanitaires, des responsables étatiques et des professionnels de l'information ainsi que sur les données quantitatives d’une enquête menée à Bamako et Ségou. Il existe une multitude de médias avec des profils différents. Parmi eux, nous pouvons retenir les télévisions et les radios (publiques, privées, communautaires et confessionnelles), les médias numériques (le web, les médias sociaux), et la presse écrite (journaux quotidiens, publications périodiques) ainsi que les organismes professionnels liés à la diffusion de l'information. La pénétration des médias sociaux peut varier d’une région à une autre. Les populations des villes accèdent aussi plus facilement aux médias sociaux à cause de la limitation géographique de certains fournisseurs. Malgré cette apparente saturation de l'environnement médiatique, l’Enquête Démographique et de Santé (EDS 2018) démontre que 39% de femmes et 31% des hommes de la population malienne en général ne sont exposés à aucun média comme source d'information." (Résumé sommaire)
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"The intersection between media and politics remains very strong in several countries under study. In these conditions, there is often little transparency on media ownership and a lack of transparency on local funding sources of media. Relatedly, in some cases, a change in government policies was ra
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ised as an important precondition to possibly change the negative discourse towards the (public) media. A different political climate may benefit the financial conditions of a media outlet, for instance by lifting difficulties in acquiring media licenses or access to (governmental) funding by independent media. The advertisement markets for media are, in many of the countries under study, still controlled by a few large, more traditional media outlets. Generally, the advertising market is driven by a number of factors, including a network, political patronage, and the ability of media owners to utilise relationships with the corporate sector. Due to the digitalisation of media and the advertising market, the market has further changed over the past years. There is limited to no regulation in the distribution of advertisement funding based on quality standards for journalism. Some media practitioners proposed to address this problem by stimulating national governments to support regulatory bodies for media advertisement. While digital advertisement is on the rise, most revenue of online (media) advertisement is directed to big tech companies. An increased amount of advertising money is flowing towards social media platforms, and Internet advertising has been rising exponentially, as observed in all countries under study. The media sector as a whole is suffering from this trend, particularly the more traditional print media who are struggling to make the transition to online media. In some countries under study, media are not even eligible to generate an income on the large social media platforms. Policies to regulate online advertisement is imperative to strengthen the competition position of traditional media." (Global trends, page 9)
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"BBC Media Action surveyed 2000 young people (aged 15–29) in four regions and the city administration of Addis Ababa in May 2021. The study highlighted differences in young Ethiopians’ attitudes towards work and saving, education, traditional gender and cultural norms, and youth participation in
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decision making and in community life. Analysis was used to split the sample into five groups, reflecting the different profiles of young people in Ethiopia. Each group differs in how far they participate in civic life, their attitudes towards traditional gender and cultural norms, and the barriers that they face around employment and accessing various services. BBC Media Action researchers conducted further analysis to understand the key demographics of each group, as well as their motivators and barriers to employment, accessing services and civic participation. They then used data from qualitative research to create illustrative profiles for each group." (Page 1)
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"Based on this research, it was found that media and communication interventions could seek to leverage young Ethiopians’ optimism and enthusiasm, providing informative and inspiring content to fuel their ideas. This insight informed the creation of a social and behaviour change (SBCC) strategy to
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engage young people in the workforce, developed in partnership with the Ethiopia Jobs Creation Commission (JCC). The strategy identifies two key priority segments that need significant support - the ‘progressive but held back’ and the ‘unengaged and unambitious.’ Priority audiences across these two segments are younger 15- 18 year olds, men and women who are less educated more likely to marry before the age of 21. Creating an enabling environment to help these groups, while keeping in mind the needs of the others, is central to this strategy. Pilot media content will now be produced to support JCC as they deliver the overall communication strategy. This content will address the needs of priority groups by giving information about job opportunities, using role models and real life stories to inspire and address traditional gender norms." (Page 3)
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"Over half a billion people who are living in areas with a mobile broadband network are not using mobile internet, despite substantial increases in mobile broadband coverage since 2014. Significant gender and rural-urban gaps persist. Women are 37% less likely to use mobile internet than men. Signif
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icant gains have been made in both 3G and 4G coverage since 2014, yet in 2020 only half the population had access to a 4G network. Affordability has improved substantially but remains a key barrier, especially handset affordability. Smartphone adoption is increasing but smartphones still account for less than half of total connections." (Pages 1-3)
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"Over the past decade, philanthropic organisations have poured millions of dollars into different specialised forms of journalism in Africa. While these new specialised forms of journalism are aimed at addressing existing gaps in news reporting on the continent, there has been growing concern over t
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he potential effects this has on the practice of journalism. This study explores the rise in philanthropy-funded journalism and analyses its broader implications for the practice of journalism in South Africa, focusing on the weekly Mail & Guardian newspaper and its two off-shoots, AmaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism and Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. It is based on a combination of informant interviews with editors and managers of these three entities, secondary research, as well as analysis of documents from these entities." (Abstract)
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"This guide uses the STEPS Facilitated Film Screening Methodology to give facilitators the tools to encourage male to male conversations based on the Learning Cycle. Although the main focus is on male engagement, discussion guidelines and activities can also be adapted to mixed gender groups. Facili
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tated film screenings can be used to challenge existing social norms, attitudes and actions that reinforce traditional gender roles and maintain inequalities between men and women. As change agents, men and boys should be encouraged to speak out and act against physical, sexual or emotional abuse being committed by other men. This guide covers the following: the learning cycle; films and selected scenes; discussion questions and activities; the role of a facilitator; setting up a facilitated film screening for in-person or online audiences." (Introduction)
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"The publication is focused on the ways fake news, disinformation, misinformation and hateful statements are spread across society, predominantly within the online environment. Its main ambition is to offer an interdisciplinary body of scholarly knowledge on fake news, disinformation and propaganda
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in relation to today's journalism, social development, political situation and cultural affairs happening all around the world." (Publisher description)
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"Over the course of nine chapters, Elections and TV News in South Africa shows how six democratic South African general elections, 1994-2019, were represented on both local and international news broadcasts. It reveals the shifting narratives about South African democracy, coupled with changing and
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challenging political journalism practices. The book is organised in three parts: the first contains a history of South African democracy and an overview of the South African media environment. The second part is a visual analysis of the South African elections on television news, exploring portrayals of violence, security, power, and populism, and how these fit into normative news values and the ruling party's tightening grip on the media. The final part is a conclusion, a call to action, and a suggestion to improve political journalistic practice." (Publisher description)
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