On the surface, Swaziland appears to have all the necessary ingredients for media development. The Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, the press and other media, while the Information and Media Policy requires the media to eradicate information poverty and reduce community isolation by providing a platform for social interaction and public participation. There is a voluntary regulatory body to protect citizens’ interests and media practitioners are represented by two professional associations and by the Swaziland Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa.
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IPDC project priority: Community Media Development
Traditional media, citizen journalism and community radio have been important in setting the stage for change in Egypt. As the country transitions towards democracy, the media has a higher responsibility to raise awareness on political, social and cultural issues, such as expression of the right to freedom of expression. The massive use of non-professional footage by traditional channels such as Al Jazeera and the fast development of citizen blogs and websites to report on the events has brought an alternative method to hold the government and authorities accountable. Citizens, especially...
Bangladesh’ campaign for the right to information (RTI) has ensued for many years, sustained by the efforts of journalists, development workers, human rights activists and members of civil society. It resulted in the passing of the RTI Ordinance in 2008, a major step towards enabling access to information and promoting freedom of expression and of the press, good governance, and transparency. However, no significant efforts have been made to either raise awareness about or effectively implement this Act, and access to information remains limited in Bangladesh.
A media...
In order for journalism to foster sustainable development, media professionals require the right skills and equipment to develop communication strategies that serve their communities. However, capacity-building opportunities are often lacking. This project will therefore train community radio workers to implement communication strategies that promote sustainable community development and local participation. The training will draw upon UNESCO’s Media Development Indicators concerning professional capacity-building. The Model Curricula for Journalism Education: A Compendium of New Syllabi...
Portsmouth, one of the most populous communities in Dominica, has limited access to media since there are no community-owned outlets serving that region and only limited low-cost options available. This project will therefore provide the necessary equipment and training to establish a community-owned radio outlet. The station is projected to reach over 6,000 listeners across the town of Portsmouth and its environs. It will empower citizens by enabling immediate and affordable access to information on relevant issues as well as the promotion of culture.
While there is a large and varied media market in the Caribbean region, most outlets are regulated by the state and are subject to defamation laws. Regional, national and international media workers’ associations have been advocating the relaxation of the libel laws across the region in order to facilitate more robust scrutiny of public officials. This relaxation process requires individual media markets and a code of practice so that a public complaints body can be established. This project will establish/strengthen media self-regulatory systems in the Caribbean region by developing a...
Since the creation of Radio La Voz del Minero in 1947, Bolivia’s miners’ radio stations have acted as important spaces for public participation, the defence of miners’ rights as well as for cultural and educational activities. Today, however, many of these stations lack communicators and producers. This project seeks to improve the management capacities of members of miners' radio stations by supporting training sessions concerning radio programming, production, management and funding as well as relevant legal knowledge, based on the recommendations from UNESCO’s Community Radio...
In a country that is highly dangerous for journalists, Internet has come to represent a safe space for journalism. However, a forthcoming law on blocking and removing content from the Internet poses a threat to freedom of expression, access to information and privacy. This project therefore seeks to formulate a safety manual to help media professionals better protect their rights and personal safety when using ICTs and the Internet. This guide will include the recommendations and implementation strategy of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity...
In 2013, the government of El Salvador established the Institute for Access to Public Information to sanction violations of the Access to Public Information Law. However, the general public - particularly rural citizens - lack awareness of the Institute and its mandate. The proposed project will therefore train community journalists in remote areas of El Salvador on how to educate the public on their rights and responsibilities regarding this Law.
Radio Peace recognizes the developmental power of radio and realizes that sustainable development calls for cohesive communities that are grounded in their cultures and traditions. However, the limited success of decentralization in Ghana has left many communities in the central region without a clear process for integrated community action. Preoccupied with day-to-day subsistence, most listeners of Radio Peace are unable to fully appreciate the links between quality of life and good governance. This project aims to promote access to communication media and the right to communicate to this...
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