"Training programs of NGOs can help low-income youth effectively adopt ICTs. There is no doubt that acquiring ICT skills in demand in the current market can help these young people find jobs. They face obstacles such as a poor education, lack of ICT skills and the necessary social capital to identif
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y the most attractive ICT positions for their professional development. They also lack support networks for finding jobs or starting businesses. Training in ICT offers socially and economically excluded groups the chance to enter the knowledge-based economy. We wanted to explore whether individuals enrolled in the selected NGO training programs had taken advantage of these opportunities. To this end, we conducted a comparative study among countries to determine whether youth (primarily) ICT training courses had an effect on beneficiaries’ labor participation, in terms of job searches, employment obtained, establishment of a business or improvements to an existing business. For this study, training beneficiaries and NGO staff members were interviewed and surveyed to learn about their perceptions regarding the usefulness of ICT training for employability. We also analyzed how the organizational tools of the NGOs have supported beneficiaries in finding jobs, setting up businesses, or increasing employment opportunities." (Introduction, page 9)
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"The religious presence on TV programs has been increasing in Brazil, where churches, especially the neopentecostals, have been using the mass communication ways, especially the television, to advertise their messages and attract new followers. This project studies the usage of television by religio
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ns neopentecostals groups and intends to understand how this schedule is perceived by the young people. A research was conducted with young members of Brazilian churches Igreja Apostólica Renascer em Cristo, Bola de Neve Church, Igreja Internacional da Graça de Deus, and Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus and an analysis will be done as well of the TV shows “Clip Gospel Show”, “Bola TV”, “Show da Fé”, and “Fala Que Eu Te Escuto”, produced respectively by those religious groups." (Abstract)
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"The total value added of the copyright-based industries in Colombia reached Col$9.5 millions of millions in 2005 (approximately 4,800 million US dollars) from Col$5.7 millions of millions in 2000. As a percentage of GDP, the CBI represented an average of 3.3 per cent throughout the period. In real
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terms, i.e. discounting price increases, the value added of the CBI grew 29 per cent in five years from Col$2.4 millions of millions in 2000 to Col$3.1 millions of millions in 2005 (at 1994 constant prices). During the period analyzed, the CBI had an average participation in GDP of 3.3 per cent. This rate is similar to the share of electricity and gas, slightly higher than the contribution of crude oil and natural gas extraction and more than double that of coffee and coal. The latter comparison emphasizes the importance of the CBI in national output since coffee and coal are two important Colombian exports, which have a significant share in the global market. The composition of the CBI is as follows: the core industries represent 56 per cent of the total value added generated by these economic activities, followed by interdependent (24 per cent), non-dedicated support (13 per cent) and partial copyright industries (8 per cent)." (Executive summary, page 10)
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"The Price of Silence exposes a growing trend across several countries in Latin America: behind-the-scenes government interference with media freedom and editorial independence. This “soft censorship” and its pervasive chilling effects have not received the attention they deserve. By conducting
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systematic monitoring of such practices in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, and Uruguay, the report seeks to fill the information gap and reveal the danger soft censorship poses to journalistic freedom and independence. The report reveals how governments in the countries examined abuse the powers of regulation and the public purse to control the press with little scrutiny: they use government advertising to punish critics and reward friendly media; deny access and information to journalists perceived as “critical”; secretly pressure media owners and editors to change their editorial lines; and grant broadcast licenses in ways that benefit political allies and silence independent voices." (Back cover)
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"Hay varias formas de elaborar el Código de Ética. Una forma es hacerlo en forma cerrada. En esta modalidad solo participan los propietarios, directivos o jefes que tomen decisiones en la radio o televisora. No es lo más recomendable, pero de hecho, algunos medios han optado por este procedimient
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o para simplificar el trámite. Otra forma, contemplada en la Ley de Radio y Televisión, es adscribirse al CE elaborado por el Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones. De acuerdo a Ley, los CE debieron haberse implementado 90 días después de la puesta en práctica de la Ley de Radio y Televisión (Julio del 2004). Cumplido ese plazo, los Medios de Comunicación que no lo han hecho estarían incumpliendo la Ley. Por ello se sugiere que los Medios de Comunicación que no han elaborado todavía su Código de Ética, pueden solicitar al MTC acogerse al Código de Ética aprobado por el Ministerio. El problema de estas dos modalidades, es que al no haber participado en la elaboración del Código de Ética, el personal que trabaja diariamente en la radio o televisora no se va a sentir comprometido ni obligado a cumplirlo o hacerlo cumplir. Si lo hacen será solamente por una cuestión de presión o temor por las repercusiones que ello pueda tener, pero no porque esté convencido de su eficacia y utilidad, por lo que es poco probable que sea sostenible en el tiempo. En ese sentido, la mejor forma es hacerlo en forma participativa, involucrando a todo el equipo del medio de comunicación en su discusión interna: propietarios, directivos, jefes, periodistas y personal de la emisora. Asimismo, es recomendable involucrar también en esta discusión a los que alquilan espacios (concesionarios). Esto puede demorar o hacer más lento el proceso, pero también puede ser mucho más enriquecedor el debate; además ello permitirá aplicar un enfoque ético al conjunto de la programación (y no solo a los espacios informativos o periodísticos), reforzando la coherencia de su línea y su posicionamiento [...] Por otro lado, es importante que los mismos públicos del medio de comunicación puedan participar dando una opinión sobre estos temas. Los Códigos de Ética son instrumentos públicos, de manera tal que desde su diseño inicial debe involucrar la participación y opinión de los públicos con los que se vincula el medio de comunicación. Además, muchas veces la lógica de los públicos difiere sustantivamente de la lógica con la que actúan los periodistas o productores del medio de comunicación, por lo que es necesario contrastar estos puntos de vista distintos. Esto se puede lograr a través de grupos de debate, grupos focales, encuestas, entrevistas u otras técnicas participativas." (Páginas 36-41)
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