"This book is meant to present the basics of freedom of information or right to information, defined as the universal right to access information held by public bodies. It presents in an easy-to-understand and non-technical fashion the basic principles of freedom of information, such as maximum disc
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losure, obligation to publish, promotion of open government, limited scope of exceptions and the process to facilitate access. In this new edition, the introduction, the comparative chapter, and the section on international standards and trends, have been totally revised. The country chapters provide an in-depth-analysis to the right of access in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, India, Jamaica, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Peru, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Uganda, United Kigdom and the USA. According to the author "since the last edition five years ago, we can now say that every region of the world has adopted right to information laws." (CAMECO Update 2-2008)
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"This paper begins by analyzing the trends and technologies comprising new media. Social networking sites, new mobile phone technologies, and online broadcasting sites like YouTube are assessed to show how they can be incorporated in media assistance projects. The second section continues to examine
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these changes by providing a resource base of new media tools and suggestions for developing competitive, sustainable media businesses. With a goal of establishing sustainable media businesses, development professionals should understand how quality web design principles, professionalism, and innovative approaches to measuring success all affect the long-term viability of projects. Third, this paper assesses and explains how freedom of expression, security, and privacy are affected by new media and the current legal and policy frameworks concerning new media. Widespread state-sponsored internet filtering is not common in Europe and Eurasia, though there are other forms of surveillance and instances of targeted blocking have been observed. This section also provides additional resources on governance issues covering media law and freedom of information for more in-depth reading. As media assistance projects constantly struggle to analyze impact, the fourth section provides audience and demographic information on new media technologies. Audiences using new media tend to consist of younger groups and those who are likely to drive public policy debates. Further, these resources provide useful guidance regarding new media use in Europe and Eurasia. Finally, this paper contains several reference points, including three case studies of new media technologies in Europe and Eurasia, a listing of resource-rich websites, and a glossary of new media terminology." (Executive summary)
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"This book is a contribution to efforts to improve governance systems around the world, particularly in developing countries. It offers a range of innovative approaches and techniques for dealing with the most important nontechnical challenges that prevent many of those efforts from being successful
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or sustainable. By so doing, the book sets out the groundwork for governance reform initiatives. Its overarching argument is that the development community is not lacking the tools needed for technical solutions to governance challenges. The toolbox is overflowing; best practice manuals in various areas of interest tumble out of seminars and workshops. However, difficulties arise when attempts are made to apply what are often excellent technical solutions under real-world conditions. Human beings, acting either alone or in groups small and large, are not as amenable as are pure numbers. And they cannot be put aside. In other words, in the real world, reforms will not succeed, and they will certainly not be sustained, without the correct alignment of citizens, stakeholders, and voice." (Introduction, page 1)
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"This study examines how a Christian-oriented Western press organization [Forum 18 News Service, Norway] covers religion-related news in the Caucasus. Coverage in 2005 overwhelmingly focused on Christianity. Although governmental sources are more likely to be cited than religiously affiliated source
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s, comments of religiously affiliated sources receive more prominence. The analysis also examined unnamed news sources and use of key words related to terrorism and violence." (Abstract)
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"Man hat Arbeitskräfte gerufen, und es kamen Menschen. Sie fressen den Wohlstand nicht auf, im Gegenteil, sie sind 1 für den Wohlstand unerlässlich." Max Frisch Die modernen Massenmedien besitzen in unserem Alltag einen wichtigen Stellenwert und tragen bei Erwachsenen, aber gerade auch bei Heranw
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achsenden durch Prozesse der Thematisierung von aktuellen Ereignissen und Problemen (Agenda-Setting, der Anstiftung von Gesprächen untereinander (Ko-Orientierung), der Vermittlung von Normen und Wertvorstellungen (Sozialisation) und der Konstruktion von Bildern der sozialen Realität (Kultivierung) wesentlich zur gesellschaftlichen Integration und zur persönlichen Herausbildung einer eigenen Identität bei. Durch Globalisierungstendenzen der Medienproduktion, zusammen mit neuen technischen Möglichkeiten der modernen Massenmedien wie Kabel- und Satellitenfernsehen, können in der Schweiz aber längst nicht mehr nur ausschließlich schweizerische Medien und deren Inhalte genutzt werden. Vielmehr ist sowohl im Bereich der Printmedien als auch bei den Fernsehprogrammen eine breite Palette von ausländischen Medienangeboten zugänglich geworden, deren dokumentarische, unterhaltende und kulturelle Inhalte zuneh-mend Tendenzen der Internationalisierung aufweisen. Und durch das Internet ist ferner die rasche Information über Ereignisse in anderen Ländern, aber auch die gegenseitige interpersonale Kommunikation zwischen Menschen - Stichwort "E-Mail" - möglich geworden, die in verschiedenen Ländern leben (müssen)." (Publisher description)
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