Small Screen, Big World – The International Context of UK News in January 2016 (IBT report 2016)
In 2009 the International Broadcasting Trust published research on the quantity and nature of international news coverage by the main UK television and radio broadcasters. This report presents a detailed picture of how television news on all the main UK TV channels covered international stories in a two week period in January 2016 which was contrasted with radio and online coverage. The results were then used to inform interviews with news executives, NGOs and media academics. Whilst the findings reveal a strong commitment to international stories they also highlight some concerns. The present study shows an increase in the amount of coverage, compared with 2009. However, it also shows a decline in the number of countries featured. The report looks at who reporters interview and found that the type of voices featured across many of the bulletins is strikingly similar, leading some of our interviewees to raise concerns about homogenization in news coverage. Few NGO voices appear in these bulletins. It could be argued that featuring the voices of those directly affected by events, rather than NGOs, is an indication of greater authenticity in storytelling. But there may be a risk that some crucial context is lost ...
We’re Still Listening: A Survey of the Media Landscape in the Accessible Areas of South Sudan in 2015 (USAID, Internews, and Forcier Consulting 2015)
South Sudan is the world's youngest and most fragile country and its media landscape reflects these challenges. While the media sector has made gains in recent years, it remains challenged by a rapidly changing environment and a population lacking access to reliable and trustworthy information. Likewise, media sector actors lack reliable data on the extent of the population's information needs and media access. These challenges are further exacerbated by conflict that has once again developed into civil war and an ensuing widespread humanitarian crisis since December 2013. Despite the immense problems that South Sudan faces, its media landscape provides significant opportunities for growth. Internews commissioned Forcier Consulting to conduct an audience survey in South Sudan. While the ongoing security situation prevents coverage of the country on a fully national basis, this study set out to collect information on South Sudanese media access and consumption to inform the strategies and programming of media houses and media initiatives. This study is the first detailed analysis of the media landscape in South Sudan since the wide-scale conflict began in December 2013. Conducted across the country in April 2015, this survey collected data on media usage from 3,710 respondents. This survey does not purport ...
‘Lifeline Programming’ for journalists reporting during a humanitarian crisis – BBC Media Action online course
This free, online ‘Lifeline Programming’ course shows journalists and editors how media can best help their listeners and viewers during a humanitarian crisis. The 45 minute course – narrated by Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s chief international correspondent – includes interactive modules on ‘communicating during crises’, ‘connecting with audiences’ and ‘working with the humanitarian sector’. The aim of Lifeline Programming is to alleviate people's suffering and assist with their recovery. It provides timely, relevant and practical information on subjects ranging from food water and shelter to medical care and psychological support. Affected people are also given the opportunity to voice their concerns, express their needs, share their stories and solutions and hold humanitarian aid providers to account ...
Media development: An evaluation of five capacity-strengthening projects (BBC Media Action Research report 2016)
This research report articulates BBC Media Action’s evolving approach to capacity strengthening within the media development sector. It shares findings from the recent evaluation of five different capacity-strengthening interventions in Nigeria, Tanzania, Nepal and the Palestinian Territories. Click here for full report ...
Linking generations through radio: a toolkit from Africa for radio producers working with children and youth (UNESCO, 2013)
UNESCO’s radio toolkit – Linking Generations through Radio – is an open access document, which is inspired by children and youth who make up one-third of the world’s population. The majority may listen to radio but the likelihood they are invited to regularly produce interviews and programmes, express their information needs or their opinions about productions made for them is very low. The 62-page radio toolkit provides inclusive examples to allow free exchange of ideas between girls and boys and increase awareness of radio producers and managers about ethical and legal requirements particularly when working with minors. It may serve as a routine training or programming handbook in radio stations, a reference and resource for young people, and an advocacy tool to inform policy makers as well as the general public ...
News media and climate politics: civic engagement and political efficacy in a climate of reluctant cynicism (CCPA, 2015)
This study from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives looks at how the news media cover climate change and how this in turn has a strong impact on how citizens understand and engage with the issue. This study identifies ways in which media either create “climate cynicism” or help build more positive public engagement ...
After the Arab uprisings – prospects for a media that serves the public (BBC Media Action Policy Briefing, 2015)
This briefing explores the evolving relationship between media and politics in the period following the Arab uprisings of 2011. Overview: Over the past several years, the Arab world has been characterised by an increasingly polarised political discourse. ‘After the Arab uprisings: the prospects for a media that serves the public’ argues that national broadcasters have the potential to help to bridge some of these social divides if these institutions can be reformed to serve public, rather than state, interests. To make this case, the briefing looks at four countries undergoing political change - Libya, Egypt, Lebanon and Tunisia – to examine the potential for national broadcasters to play a role that is more explicitly geared towards social cohesion. The briefing finds that: National broadcasters can fulfil a public service mission by instilling the twin public service values of universality and diversity into their programming, underpinned by a clear commitment to editorial independence. Formats that enable inclusive dialogue, rational debate and clear and trusted information can, at least in theory, mitigate conflict by facilitating tolerance, mutual understanding and representation. In all four cases, while the potential to deliver such programming is there, its ultimate realisation hinges critically on a politically enabling ...
Gender Policy for Community Radio, (AMARC-WIN Asia Pacific 2008)
The Women’s International Network (AMARC-WIN) is a large assembly of women’s communicators working to ensure women’s right to communicate through and within the community radio movement. An important tool towards achieving gender equality in the radio stations is the Gender Policy for Community Radio (GP4CR) which was developed by AMARC-WIN Asia Pacific and adopted by the World General Assembly of AMARC in 2010 in La Plata, Argentina. It is available in multiple languages ...
A Theory-Based Framework for Media Selection in Demand Generation Programs – The Health Communication Capacity Collaborative HC3 (2014)
Synopsis: This guide is a resource to help increase the demand for the 13 reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH) commodities identified as underutilized by the UN Commission on Life-Saving Commodities (UNCoLSC) for Women’s and Children’s Health. The guide provides step-by-step information and practical tools to guide media selection (i.e., communication channels) for demand generation activities using a theory-based approach. The guide has a focus on information and communication technology (ICT) and new media channels, as there is little current guidance available regarding the selection of these channels. Bibliographic Reference: The Health Communication Capacity Collaborative HC3. (2014) A theory-based framework for media selection in demand generation programs. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs. Click here to Download French Version: http://www.healthcommcapacity.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Media-Selection-in-Demand-Generation-Programs-French.pdf ...