"While much attention has been paid to how China’s rise as a digital superpower could threaten US hegemony over cyberspace, much less has been written on what the Digital Silk Road, or the presence of Chinese tech firms in developing countries more broadly, means for technological upgrading and de
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velopment. This article contributes to filling this gap by investigating the technology spillovers emanating from two Chinese tech giants – Huawei and ZTE – in Algeria and Egypt. Using a political economy framework that combines insights from structuralist economic development and techno-politics and drawing on over 70 semi-structured interviews and field-observations, it argues that despite localizing activities that bear the promise of generating significant linkages, the two Chinese tech firms created no meaningful learning opportunities for domestic entities that contribute to technological upgrading. What could at first seem like developmental connections that promote technology transfers are found to be linkages diffusing Chinese infrastructures, hardware, software, processes, and standards that shape distinct digital systems. Without pro-active policies from host governments, the Digital Silk Road risks creating new technological dependencies; locking local ICT actors into activities and relationships captured and defined by Chinese tech giants." (Abstract)
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"The global pandemic has adversely affected migrant workers psychologically and economically, leading to a poor quality of life. How the Malaysian media portrays this group during uncertainty remains unexplored. Aside from Eurocentric-focused scholarship, this study uniquely examines the representat
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ion of migrant workers in Malaysia. An inductive qualitative analysis of two Malaysian newspapers, Malay Mail (n = 36) and New Straits Times (n = 33), was conducted from January 2021 to August 2021. The findings show that the media portray migrant workers in a Janus-faced manner: They sympathetically represent them as vulnerable groups but also with an antagonistic stereotypical representation. This shows that media outlets adopt a more versatile approach to reporting on this group, which differs from previous studies. This study adds new perspectives and broadens the literature on the representation of migrant workers in ASEAN countries, such as Malaysia. It is also significant because it highlights subaltern erasures in the news discourses of marginalized groups, reducing xenophobia and racism toward them." (Abstract)
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"Amid increasing threats and assaults against journalists across the globe, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province in northwest Pakistan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Whereas online harassment is increasingly affecting journalists, experiences of online harassment
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of KP journalists have not been previously examined. This study explored the experiences of online harassment of regional KP journalists, the psychological ramifications of their exposure, and the association between online harassment and their ability to effectively perform their jobs in digital news environments. Of the recruited 299 journalists, nearly two-thirds reported experiencing online harassment. The experiences were generally infrequent, and were associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and occupational dysfunction. This study underscores the importance of understanding online harassment of journalists in conflicts zones, and how it may impact their ability to perform their professional duties, and proposes possible solutions and directions for future research and interventions." (Abstract)
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"This study examines the coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic by the four leading newspapers of Pakistan—Dawn, The News, Daily Times and The Nation—when they were responsible for informing and educating the public during a health crisis hit by conspiracy theories. The researchers utilized content a
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nalysis to analyze 1,124 news stories. The findings reveal less emphasis was placed on scientifically investigating the causes, precautions and care of coronavirus and dispelling public misconceptions." (Abstract)
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"This study analyses the Indian and Pakistani publics reactions of the extensive coverage of the Pulwama terror attack, through an analysis of the online comments appearing at the end of the news stories covering the attack from the two leading English newspapers: Times of India (TOI) (India), and D
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awn (D) (Pakistan). A qualitative content analysis is performed to compare and examine this dialogue emerging in the news comments sections. Findings are explored and discussed through conceptualizations of religion, nationalism, and a social psychological perspective towards exclusion of out-groups." (Abstract)
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"Before the Taliban‘s return in 2021, Afghanistan had made notable strides in promoting transparency and civic engagement through progressive laws governing information access. These landmark measures, praised internationally, represented small but significant steps toward strengthening the countr
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y’s nascent democracy. However, with the Taliban in power, these gains were swiftly dismantled, leading to a dramatic erosion of the free exchange of information and a gradual silencing of voices within the country.
This policy paper examines the profound consequences of the Taliban’s assault on the right to information, emphasizing the erosion of established norms and their replacement with arbitrary decrees. The measures in these decrees to control the media and restrict access to information are systematic and targeted. Actions such as banning demonstrations, implementing strict guidelines for journalists, censoring foreign media, and suppressing criticism serve to manipulate public perception. These measures ensure that only information aligning with the Taliban‘s agenda is disseminated. The Taliban‘s violations constitute a flagrant breach of fundamental international legal standards, including the right to life and freedom from torture. Their actions not only infringe upon these essential human rights but also disrupt humanitarian aid efforts for Afghanistan and undermine the international rules-based order. The lack of information about the Taliban’s engagement with terrorist organizations leaves the global community in the dark.
To address this crisis, the international community must isolate the Taliban and seek justice for their crimes against vulnerable populations in Afghanistan. Strengthening global and exile media is crucial for documenting and exposing these violations. The paper further recommends intensifying pressure on the Taliban to compel a reduction in their draconian measures and to restore some measures of information freedom." (Executive summary)
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"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
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f UNESCO. The study aims to understand the current media landscape in the country particularly the creation and distribution of educational content. It has the objective of assessing the current context of consumption of educational content published on different media platforms, with a special focus on their accessibility and relevance for the communities, mapping the broadcast and digital learning environment within the country and of evaluating the needs of the communities. Aligned with UNESCO’s mission to promote freedom of expression and education, this research investigates the potential of media to provide alternative opportunities and tools for learning. The resulting report “Media Mapping on Educational Content Production and Dissemination in Afghanistan” provides narratives and perspectives of those working in the media sector, including media managers, who are working under very challenging conditions. It reflects the communities’ experiences, including those of girls - who face significant barriers and restrictions in accessing traditional educational opportunities. The report provides valuable insights into the opportunities and obstacles for Media-Based education within the Afghan media sphere. The detailed findings aim to guide stakeholders and present actionable insights that seek to enhance the work of the media sector in facilitating access to education in the current environment of Afghanistan." (Back cover)
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"During the survey period of 2019-2021, the Indian media economy grew by 21% to reach gross revenues of $US 66.52bn (excluding publishing). The overall pattern of growth was unevenly distributed across four component divisions: telecoms and internet infrastructure with growth of 23% (2021 revenues o
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f US$ 49.22bn), core internet services (including online advertising) with growth of 122% (2021 revenues of US$ 3.38bn), audiovisual media content (traditional and online) with growth of 22.5% (2021 revenues of US$ 12.38bn), and newspapers, with a 32% decline in revenues (2021 revenues of US$ 1.54bn for the ten leading firms). Within each of these divisions, there are disparities in revenue growth across sub-sectors, trending in favour of mobile digital formats. One consequence of these developments is a marked increase in the concentration of media infrastructure and distribution businesses, and another is an increase of crossownership across previously distinct areas of media content. Trends towards monopoly and complex interactions between national and international interests in the media economy are mapped out in this report across different levels of the media stack. The survey period of this particular report also serves to illustrate the significant challenges faced across the Indian media economy during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Capturing both this period of crisis and underlying trends in the transformation of the media economy in India, this report also seeks to begin addressing the lack of systematic data driven accounts of developments in Indian media markets." (Executive summary)
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"Broadly speaking, the Chinese media and internet economy experienced considerable growth from $524.17 billion in 2019 to $652.11 billion in 2021, despite the inhibiting impact of the COVID pandemic on growth in many sectors of the global economy. The Chinese media and internet economy— estimated
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at $652 billion in 2021 based on our assessment across 25 sectors—is now the second largest in the world. $1,288.4 billion in 2021, the largest in the world. Across the various sectors, market concentration tends to be more extreme in “telecoms & internet access sectors” (e.g. wireline and wireless) and “core internet applications” (e.g. search engines, mobile OS and desktop OS) than “online and traditional media services (content media)” sectors. While state media enterprises dominate “telecoms & internet access services” and “online and traditional media services (content media)” sectors, private Chinese firms are market leaders in many “core internet applications” except for mobile/desktop operating systems and mobile/desktop browsers sectors, where foreign players—Google, Apple, and Microsoft—have a stronghold." (Executive summary)
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"Turkey’s network media economy witnessed substantial growth between 2019 and 2021, especially in the wireless, digital music, digital games, and internet advertising sectors. All told, revenue increased sharply over this period from TRY 65.7 billion to TRY 95.1 billion. This, in turn, was nearly
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a five-fold increase from 2011, when a previous iteration of this study put total revenue across the media economy at TRY 20.4 billion. At the same time, however, traditional content media such as broadcast radio and television, newspapers, magazines, and books experienced minimal growth. The growth in digital content media is the outcome of a number of factors, including but not limited to the increase in mobile device ownership and internet access as well as the shift towards consumption of online information and entertainment. In telecoms and internet access services, Turk Telekom, Turkcell, and Vodafone consolidated their dominance across wireline, wireless, and ISP sectors due to the wellknown forces that drive high levels of concentration within each of these industries—extremely high fixed costs of investment, economies of scale and scope, and network effects—as well as the absence of cross-ownership restrictions. In broadcast television and newspaper sectors, Kalyon and Demiroren, two major conglomerates known for their close ties with the AKP government, wield significant influence. In broadcast television, state-owned TRT maintained its status as one of the key players. Foreign companies secured substantial market shares in various sectors, such as Vodafone in wireline, wireless, and ISP sectors; beIN Media in multichannel video distribution, and CJ Group, UIP, and Warner Bros. in film exhibition. Tech giants Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft dominated core internet sectors." (Conclusion, pages 50-51)
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