"Online media is a blessing and a curse for academic research on war. On the one hand, the internet provides unprecedented access to information from conflict zones. On the other hand, the prevalence of disinformation can make it difficult to use this information in a transparent way. This article p
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roposes digital forensic process tracing as a methodological innovation to tackle this challenge and make case study research on the causes of war fit for the social media age. It argues that two important features of process-tracing methodology – source criticism and Bayesian updating – are well developed in theory but are rarely applied to the study of armed conflict. Digital forensic process tracing applies these features to online media sources by drawing on the journalistic practice of open source intelligence (OSINT) analysis. This article uses the case of the war in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed methodology." (Abstract)
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"Policies and guidelines at different levels officially involve schools in promoting media education. In this regard, the responsibility for putting media education initiatives and guidelines into practice is mainly on the teachers. However, little is known about under what circumstances young peopl
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e tend to rely on teachers to develop media competencies and how the variance in teachers’ engagement in media education can be explained. The present work seeks to verify what factors are associated with students’ learning of media-related aspects from teachers and teachers’ efforts in developing students’ media-related competencies. The framework adopted in the empirical work consists of three main aspects. First, it refers to concepts of media pedagogy and educommunication to address teachers’ practices involving media. These practices correspond to the interplay of fostering students’ media competencies with using media use for instruction and mediating students’ media use. Second, it addresses the variety of media-related competencies prescribed in media and digital literacy guidelines. Finally, based on previous research in the field, the framework includes contextual and individual characteristics as influencing factors of media education practices.
The first study approaches teachers’ role as media educators. This study explores the characteristics of students, schools, and countries that are associated with the incidence of learning computer and information competencies primarily from teachers. Therefore, data from 14 participant countries in the 2013 International Computer and Information Literacy Study were analyzed with a three-level regression model. The findings show that the most significant predictors are at the individual’s level, as gender, access to ICTs at home, parental socioeconomic conditions, and self-efficacy concerning ICT yield positive associations with recognizing teachers as primary digital mentors. The schools’ characteristics do not show significant associations. At the country level, ICT Development Index associates negatively and significantly with students’ relying on teachers to develop computer and information competencies.
The second study focuses on content taught in media education at school, accounting for the comprehensiveness of topics and competencies that are part of media literacy frameworks. The goal is to identify aspects that favor and disfavor teachers’ practice of media education integrated into traditional school subjects. With linear regression analysis, models including teachers’ and schools’ characteristics are tested to predict the fostering of different areas of media competence and the mediation of opportunities and risks in students’ media use. Therefore, data collected from secondary teachers in the Thuringia State, Germany, in a project in which the author was involved were analyzed. The series of analyses conducted reflect the process of model development. Considering all models tested to predict teaching of different areas of media competence, the positive and strong associations with ICT use and perceived importance of the competence area are a constant. However, how teachers evaluate the ICT available at their school does not usually play a role. Moreover, it became clear that media education has less room in Gymnasium schools than in other school types, and most competence areas tend to be fostered in non-STEM subjects.
The third study addresses the use of ICTs to foster students’ media-related competencies. The associations between teaching with and teaching about media in the data collected from teachers in Thuringia are tested through exploratory structural equation modeling. Therefore, the fostering of different media competence areas and the use of various types of ICT are considered. Moreover, their associations are tested, controlling for schools’ and teachers’ traits. The results show that teachers’ use of computer laboratories and basic computer programs with their students predicts all four competence areas positively and strongly. The use of mobile devices and online applications in class yield significant associations with fostering information competence. Conversely, using presentation and visualization ICTs does not seem to be involved in activities promoting media literacy. The effects of training, collaboration, and satisfaction with the school’s ICT observed in the regression analyses of the second study are confirmed. The findings presented can contribute to refining the discussions about media education in the academic, political, and educational spheres.
To consolidate media education in schools, it is pertinent to consider teachers’ different practices involving media, the several dimensions of media literacy competences, and the variety of ICTs that may be used in classes. These dimensions should be integrated into teachers’ training so that they get solid preparation to practice media education and develop an awareness of the extent of their role as media educators." (Abstract)
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"Fifty-four percent of EU citizens reported being “often” or “very often” unsure whether a piece of information they saw on the internet in recent months was true. Only 4 % reported never being unsure of information they saw. Thirty-nine percent of respondents reported consciously encounteri
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ng disinformation, while only ten percent said they did not encounter any disinformation at all. Respondents with a university-level degree are more likely to report being unsure and encountering disinformation than respondents with no formal education. Younger respondents tend to feel unsure less often than older respondents, but these young people also report encountering disinformation more often. Respondents in Spain and Italy show a comparatively higher frequency of uncertainty and reported encounters with disinformation, while respondents in the Netherlands show the lowest values in both cases [...] The study allows us to infer the following four recommendations for action: (1) establish an effective system for monitoring disinformation both in Germany and across Europe; (2) raise public awareness about the issue of disinformation; (3) promote media literacy among people of all age groups; (4) ensure consistent and transparent content creation on digital platforms." (Key findings, page 4-5)
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"To ensure that Ukrainian media move from mere survival to long-term vitality, we propose a comprehensive strategy encompassing the following five pillars: 1. Innovative funding mechanisms; 2. Prioritisation of local-level media; 3. Constructive enabling environment; 4. Professional development; 5.
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Media literacy. This holistic strategy aims to foster a resilient, independent, and effective media sector integral to Ukraine’s ongoing development and recovery." (Page 1)
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"The amount of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) Placed on Market (POM) in the Western Balkans region increased from 0.16 Mt (9 kg/inhabitant) in 2010 to 0.21 Mt (13 kg/inhabitant) in 2021. Likewise, the regional e-waste generated nearly doubled from 0.09 Mt (5.3 kg/inhabitant) in 2010 to 0.
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15 Mt (9.0 kg/inhabitant) in 2021. Large Equipment (Category IVa(1)) and Small Equipment (Category V) are the largest categories of both EEE POM and e-waste generated, at 65% (Category IVa 40%, Category V 25%) and 59% (Category IVa 29%, Category V 30%), respectively. The e-waste generation growth rates in all countries of the region are generally positive, with the exception of Lamps, Small IT, and Screens and Monitors. The Western Balkan countries collected and managed 38.4 kt (2.4 kg/inhabitant) of e-waste in an environmentally sound manner in 2021, which yields a total collection rate of 27%. Environmentally sound e-waste management may be defined as taking all possible steps to ensure that end-of-life products and waste are managed in a manner that will protect human health and the environment, and it involves the separate collection, dismantling, and pollution of hazardous substances and recycling of valuable materials, while other waste-related activities include waste dumping, waste-picking, disposal, etc. and may include the informal sector(2,3). All Western Balkan countries have specific legislation on this currently in force, supporting the environmentally sound management of e-waste. In practice, the environmental sound management of e-waste in the Western Balkans occurs mainly in Serbia, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina." (Executive summary, pages 14-15)
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"Este estudo é realizado dentro da estrutura do Programa de Pesquisa do ifa „Cultura e Política Externa“, no qual especialistas analisam tópicos atuais das relações culturais internacionais e desenvolvem recomendações para futuras medidas de política cultural externa. Ele discute o poten
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cial e os desafios de uma abordagem mais decolonial da cooperação internacional no campo do meio ambiente e das mudanças climáticas, tendo a educação e a cultura como bases e ferramentas para essa cooperação. Este estudo trata especificamente da Política Externa Climática Alemã em relação à região da Amazônia Legal Brasileira. Uma revisão da literatura, entrevistas semiestruturadas e mesas redondas foram realizadas como parte da pesquisa para levar em conta uma visão geral das percepções de diferentes partes interessadas ligadas ao tópico da pesquisa." (Contracapa)
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"Whether you are a policy-maker, business leader or tech enthusiast, this report provides valuable insights into the current state of the national digital landscape and its potential to shape the future. It provides constructive recommendations, roadmaps and comprehensive opportunities to strengthen
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capacities and accelerate digital transformation. With the ever-evolving digital landscape, it will be an essential tool for all key stakeholders of North Macedonia who are looking to stay ahead of the curve and be at the forefront of the national digital revolution." (Foreword by Azir Aliu, Minister of Information Society and Administration, Republic of North Macedonia)
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"This digital innovation profile, developed in collaboration with the Office of the Prime Minister Republic of Serbia, aims to accurately assess the country's digital ecosystem capacity and maturity to help Serbia and its stakeholders navigate the digital innovation landscape. The objective is to he
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lp Serbia to continue building new capabilities for a competitive, sustainable, and ICT-enabled economy that accelerates the development of the digital economy toward achieving Serbia’s vision. The creation of this profile entailed an exhaustive process, involving comprehensive research, one-on-one interviews with experts, and collaborative workshops with stakeholders from the public sector, private sector, finance, academia, entrepreneurs, and support networks. I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all the national stakeholders who actively participated in this endeavour. Their contributions and insights have been instrumental in shaping the profile and ensuring its relevance and applicability. This digital innovation profile will serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, innovators, the private sector, and other stakeholders in Serbia. It offers critical insights into Serbia’s digital innovation landscape, identifies areas for improvement, and presents strategic recommendations for collective decision-making processes." (Foreword)
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"De hecho, según los últimos datos del Ministerio del Interior3 en 2022 se presentaron 954 denuncias por delitos sexuales cibernéticos4 que tenían como víctima a un niño, niña o adolescente, de las cuales 64,6% eran chicas. Las denuncias que tienen como víctima a la infancia y adolescencia r
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epresentan el 84% del total de este tipo de delitos. Así, como veíamos en nuestro informe “Violencia viral” tener entre 10 y 17 años y ser niña o chica adolescente aumenta la vulnerabilidad ante los delitos cibernéticos. Por ello, hemos querido reflejar también el abuso sexual infantil en internet, conocido como online grooming. Por todo ello, hemos analizado 33 sentencias5 correspondientes a 61 casos que corresponden a online grooming y hemos visto algunas diferencias respecto al abuso sexual infantil "físico." (Introducción)
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"In 2023, Fairwork conducted the first year of research in Uganda among twelve selected digital platforms. The selected platforms are in the sectors of ride hailing and food delivery. The research and rating of platforms was done as per the five Fairwork principles." (Executive Summary)
"This book details the project "Digital Citizenship Education for Democratic Participation" involving approximately 400 pre-school and primary school children, their families, teachers, and community members in a Lisbon locality. The research presented aims to answer the following question: To what
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extent can a local (and replicable) digital media literacy program empower preschool and primary-school-aged children to become active and effective citizens in the digital era? Through this book, the authors share the steps taken during the project, including the main difficulties faced and the solutions found to overcome them as well as the project’s sustainability." (Publisher description)
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"This edited book expands the applicability of peace journalism research beyond war to cover terrorism and radicalization, an issue that has not yet been touched by peace journalism scholars." (Publisher description)
"Sesame Street tells the history of how the American show became a global brand. The book argues that because domestic production was not financially viable from the beginning, Sesame Street became a commodity forcefully marketed all over the world. It is based on archival research in seven countrie
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s and contains detailed analyses of how local receptions and rejections related to the global sales strategies and the American ideals it built on. Contrary to the producers' often publicized claims of Sesame Street's universality the book demonstrates how the show was heavily shaped by a fixed set of assumptions about childhood, education, and commercial entertainment. This made sales hard as Sesame Street met both skepticism and direct hostility from foreign television producers who did not share these ideals. Drawing on insides from childhood studies and media history, the book lays bare a cultural clash of international proportions rooted in divergent approaches to children's television. In doing so, the book provides a reflective backdrop to the many debates about children's media still happening today. By contrasting the positive receptions and the rejections of Sesame Street the book shows that it was only after substantial rethinking of Sesame Street's aims and business model that the program ended up on many broadcasting schedules by the mid-1970s. Along the way, this rethinking and the constant negotiations with potential international buyers created and shaped the business and corporate brand that paved the way for the Sesame Street we know today." (Publisher description)
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"In many countries, censorship, blocking of internet access and internet content for political purposes are still part of everyday life. Will filtering, blocking, and hacking replace scissors and black ink? This book argues that only a broader understanding of censorship can effectively protect free
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dom of expression. for centuries, church and state controlled the content available to the public through political, moral and religious censorship. As technology evolved, the legal and political tools were refined, but the classic censorship system continued until the end of the 20th century. However, the myth of total freedom of communication and a law-free space that had been expected with the advent of the internet was soon challenged. the new rulers of the digital world, tech companies, emerged and gained enormous power over free speech and content management. All this happened alongside cautious regulation attempts on the part of various states, either by granting platforms near-total immunity (US) or by setting up new rules that were not fully developed (EU). China has established the Great Firewall and the Golden Shield as a third way. in the book, particular attention is paid to developments since the 2010s, when Internet-related problems began to multiply. the state's solutions have mostly pointed in one direction: towards greater control of platforms and the content they host. Similarities can be found in the US debates, the Chinese and Russian positions on internet sovereignty, and the new European digital regulations (DSA-DMA). The book addresses them all." (Publisher description)
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"This is neither the first nor the last study of disinformation. Yet it differs significantly from others in many regards. Firstly, it is the first and only study summarizing the state of disinformation in Southeast Europe. While regional studies abound, none so far has looked at all countries of th
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e region between the Danube and the Mediterranean in a single comprehensive analysis. Secondly, this volume not only generates a concise overview of disinformation in the SEE region, but does so by explaining specific case studies, addressing current questions, showing the sources, potential, consequences, forms, narratives and a variety of countermeasures against disinformation in the region at large. Hence, the study not only explains and demonstrates the negative effects of disinformation, but also strives to point to approaches on how different countries deal with disinformation and thus how societies can become more resilient against the manipulative use of information [...] To unify all case studies, the editors and authors of this volume agreed upon a common structure for the articles. This structure builds upon six analytical subcategories: (1) Terminology and definitions; (2) Audience and perspective; (3) Narratives, case studies and examples; (4) Media, sources, multipliers of disinformation; (5) Political context; (6) Countermeasures and resilience." (About this book, page 4)
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