"The political and economic environment in some regions of the world present specific challenges for investigative journalists: countries that score low on governance and transparency present particular risks and underline the need to build investigative journalism capacity. This Brief analyses the
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obstacles to investigative journalism in the East African region, focusing on Kenya and Uganda, and discusses what can be done to help address these barriers." (Page 1)
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"In 2006 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST), funded by the UK Department for International Development, conducted research into media in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa in order to identify priorities for future media development initiatives. A series of African Media Development Initiativ
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e (AMDI) reports were produced, and this Media Sector Analysis builds on the Somalia component of that work. This analysis has been produced in consultation with media stakeholders and is grounded in a review of previously published material. The report is just one component of a larger media development project being delivered by the BBC WST entitled ‘Strengthening Radio Stations in Somalia to Promote Human Rights, Peace and Governance’ - a two-year project which aims to enhance the reach, levels of audience participation and professional capacity of Somali media. The media, and specifically, radio, is seen as a key local institution well placed to promote individual human and civil rights, freedom of expression and democratic dialogue. The project is informed by a rights perspective, ensuring that actions separately and collectively empower marginalised citizens, in particular, women and young people, to engage in direct dialogue with local authorities and thus have improved access to their civil and political rights. The project comprises two other strands in addition to the Media Sector Analysis: Capacity-building in six Somali radio stations [...]; media-related training for civil society rganisations [...] this report will inform the above project strands, as well as providing a basis for the development of media policy in the Somali region." (Foreword)
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"In 2008, Ethiopian authorities presented a draft policy document which established development journalism as the official reporting style for the state media. The policy prescribes that the media an journalists should play an active role in the country's development scheme. Assigning such a role th
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e the media is controversial-not the least since it is seen to be at odds with media independance and press freedom. The present study discusses the Ethiopian development journalism policy in light of other recognised development journalism models. The study also uses in-depth interviews with journalists in the Ethiopian state media, to consider how the new policy has been received in the newsroom. The overall conclusion is that the journalists are favourable towards development journalism as a professional framework, but they are challenged when they try to convert the framework into actual media practice. The problems are threefold: the ambiguity of development journalism as a concept and practice; the political inclination of the state media; and a lack of participation by the public." (Abstract)
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"Betrachtet man die Beliebtheit und den Hörerzuspruch für Loke Pol, kann man von einem Erfolg des Programmes sprechen. Auch wenn einige Aspekte des Senders Mega FM wie die quasi-Monopolposition die Rezeption des Programmes begünstigen, zählt Loke Pol sowohl in den Augen der Produzenten, angesich
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ts der prominenten Platzierung im Programmplan, und auf der Seite der Hörer durch die hohen Einschaltquoten und hohe Sendungskenntnis zu den populären Formaten. Obwohl insgesamt Nachrichtensendungen häufiger eingeschaltet werden, ist Loke Pol für Informationen zu den beiden Themenkomplexen der Sendung, Reintegration und Rücksiedlung, als Informationsquelle relevanter. Informationen vermittelt über Loke Pol sind für die Hörer zugänglicher und können leichter in Handlungen übersetzt werden, wie sich besonders in den Fokusgruppendiskussionen gezeigt hat.
Daraus lassen sich drei Schlüsse ziehen. Erstens kann Loke Pol erfolgreich sein, dieser Erfolg aber nicht auf das Format EE übertragbar sein. Zweitens kann der spezielle Kontext, in dem das Programm eingesetzt wird, unterstützend wirken, aber ein ähnliches Programm wäre in einem anderen Kontext nicht erfolgreich. Drittens können Evaluationsmethoden nicht sensibel genug gewesen sein, um sämtliche Effekte zu erfassen. Schlussfolgerung Nummer eins kann sicherlich bestätigt werden. Zwar sind die Ergebnisse für Loke Pol ein Hinweis darauf, dass das EE-Format wirken kann. Jedoch ist es kein Hinweis darauf, dass es wirken muss. Effekte können nicht nur dem Format EE direkt zugeordnet werden, sondern ergeben sich erst aus dem Zusammenwirken von Sendungsformat und Kontext. Dies wird deutlich, wenn man die „Extremen“ bei den Hörergruppen, nämlich Frauen, über 45-Jährige und Jugendliche betrachtet. Die zweite Schlussfolgerung trifft im Falle von Loke Pol in dem Sinne zu, dass der Kontext unterstützend auf die Rezeption und Popularität wirkt. Der Kontext, in den die Sendung eingebettet ist, unterstützt in zweierlei Form die Rezeption. Zum einen begünstigt die Ausgestaltung der nordugandischen Medienlandschaft die Loke Pol Einschaltquoten. So spielt die geringe Menge an Lokalnachrichten in den Nachrichtensendungen der Sender Gulus eine Rolle. Die einfachere Zugänglichkeit der Informationen aus Loke Pol hängt sicherlich auch nicht nur mit Formatbedingten Aspekten der Darstellung, sondern auch mit einer größeren inhaltlichen Nähe für das Alltagsleben der Hörer zusammen. Zudem wirken der offizielle Diskurs und das politische Klima fördernd auf die Unterstützung der Botschaft. Regierung und ein Großteil der NROs in Norduganda unterstützen die Rücksiedlungsprozesse." (Fazit, Seiten 75-76)
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"Kenya’s liberalisation of the airwaves since the mind-1990s has resulted in the transformation of broadcasting with numerous stations now serving as a platform for information and public debate. This has promoted a culture of participation in the democratic process, and has impacted positively to
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ward good governance. However, the report, written by Grace Githaiga, does argue the need for media laws and regulations on the statute books to align with the country’s new constitution; top amongst which, is the urgent need for a new Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Act. The report provides evidence showing that KBC is both by law and practice, controlled by government, and is used largely to promote the interest of government alone. This, the report further states, goes against the Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression in Africa, which espouses for state broadcasters to be transformed into public broadcasters, independent of government and free from political and economic manipulation." (www.afrimap.org)
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"Serious communication gaps between the humanitarian sector and refugees in Dadaab, Kenya, are increasing refugee suffering and putting lives at risk. There are clear indications that these information gaps are hampering the aid response and that despite important efforts from individual agencies, c
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urrent communication strategies for affected communities are not working as effectively as they could, and critical coordination needs to be improved. These are the clear indications from the joint Communications Needs Assessment led by Internews in collaboration with Star FM and Radio Ergo/IMS and with support from NRC. The assessment included an extensive survey of more than 600 refugees in all three of Dadaab’s camps. Overall results from the survey show that large numbers of refugees don’t have the information they need to access basic aid: More than 70% of newly-arrived refugees say they lack information on how to register for aid and similar numbers say they need information on how to locate missing family members. High figures are also recorded for lack of information on how to access health, shelter, how to communicate with family outside the camps and more." (Executive summary, page 4)
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"This publication is the first independent, large-scale study of music, film and software piracy in the developing world, with a focus on Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa, Mexico and Bolivia. Based on three years of work by some thirty-five researchers, the study tells two overarching stories: on
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e tracing the explosive growth of piracy as digital technologies became cheap and ubiquitous around the world, and another following the growth of industry lobbies that have reshaped laws and law enforcement around copyright protection. The report argues that enforcement efforts have largely failed, and that the problem of piracy is better addressed as a failure of affordable access to media in legal markets." (Back cover)
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"Literature about China’s role in Africa suggests that China’s presence on the continent is often viewed in stark binary terms, as either an exploitative, predatory force or a benevolent, development partner. An analysis of attitudes in the South African media over the last three years (if De Be
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er & Schreiner’s 2009 study is included), suggest that overall a more balanced view of China is emerging. Individual reports may still take an either/or stance, but when considered on the whole and across a range of media platforms, China is not represented in either a starkly positive or starkly negative light. It would seem that a cautiously optimistic attitude characterizes South African media coverage. The overall balance between positive, negative and neutral statements may suggest an understanding that China’s role in Africa is a complex one, which cannot be pigeonholed as either a ‘bad’ or ‘good’ news story. South Africa’s association with China as a partner country in the BRICS formation might in future continue to shape positive coverage. The large component ‘neutral’ statements may also reflect the strong influence of the normative values of ‘objectivity’ and ‘balance’ on South African professional journalism practice." (Conclusion, page 16-17)
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"At first glance, mobile technology appears to have the potential to allow countries in Africa to technologically ‘leapfrog’ across the digital divide and provide much needed Internet access to a wide range of people currently unable to participate in the Information Society. This study investig
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ates whether this potential is being actualized through the survey of a non-purposive sample population living in Johannesburg, South Africa. Studies have shown that aside from being able to engage with the new technology, people must also perceive it as reliable and user friendly. As such, this article examines user’s attitudes and current behaviour with regards to this apparently highly accessible and relatively affordable medium. It also seeks to determine whether people believe that mobile technology could eclipse (or leapfrog) the use of computer technology for online activities – and if they believe that to be true, how have their usage patterns shifted, if at all?" (Abstract)
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"This report presents the author's experiences regarding the relation of international interventions and local institutions in the (post-)conflict countries of Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Sudan and Afghanistan. Haselock states that media reforms are most successful where they are the result of partnership
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s with local stakeholders, or where local professionals and the civil society have taken ownership of the peacebuilding process. This approach involves international planners having a high understanding of the social and cultural situation and the conditions of the conflict. Therefore, they need to be part of two-way communication, where they are regarded as learners, following a "you know best", instead of a "we know best" approach. However, Haselock shows that foreign implementers often do not include local stakeholders enough, evoking refusal of international peacebuilding interventions." (commbox)
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"A Media Minefield details how Ugandan authorities have brought charges against over 30 journalists, revoked or suspended the broadcasting licenses of several radio stations, and practiced other forms of partisan repression of the media over the last several years. When violent riots erupted in Kamp
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ala in September 2009, the government closed four radio stations, arrested and abused a prominent talk show moderator, beat and detained journalists attempting to record the unfolding events, and banned the broadcast of open-air public debates indefinitely. The national regulatory body that carried out the radio closures and the broadcast bans is, contrary to international standards, not independent of government interference and takes punitive action against stations without any regard for due process. Authorities in rural districts subsequently echoed the government’s actions in the capital, harassing and threatening journalists with violence, arrest, or closure of their stations for reporting on politics, the opposition, and other sensitive local issues. Self-censorship due to fears of overt or covert state sanction has had a “chilling effect” on political reporting, particularly on stations broadcasting in local languages outside of Kampala." (Back cover)
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