AudiencScapes

Citizen journalism is not a new idea, but the Small World News’ way of
using citizen journalists is quite novel. They train citizens,
especially those from conflict and crisis zones, to produce news that
engages international communities and audiences. Small World News’
belief is a simple one: what can be done in zones of conflict can be
done anywhere.

Reject Magazine reports on topics and regions neglected by the
mainstream Kenyan press.  Recent awards recognize how the publication
fills a void in the country’s media landscape. More from Dinfin Mulupi.

The arrest of a newspaper editor
illustrates the enduring role of traditional forms of media. Rachid Nini, an
editor with “guts,” is charged with publishing articles that threaten Morocco’s
security. His case is being viewed as a test of the government’s commitment to
reform; writes InterMedia Regional Research Manager, Diana Turecek

Journalism can be a life-or-death proposition in Pakistan. Despite this, the media industry is growing and diversifying, with a recent boom in citizen journalism projects.

The mass protests across North Africa in the past few weeks have highlighted  a major difference between
North and Sub-Saharan Africa - access to media and
communication technology. This may be
critical in determining whether long-serving leaders south of the Sahara
face the same challenges Qadhafi is now battling.

by David Montez, AudienceScapes Analyst19 May 2010Recently the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) hosted a panel discussion discussing the Center’s recently released report Shifting Sands: The Impact of Satellite TV on Media in the Arab World. The author of the report, Deborah Horan, is a former journalist with the Chicago Tribune and Houston Chronicle. During her tenure Ms. Horan covered the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the region at-large. Shifting Sands provides a solid overview of the history of Arab satellite TV, covering the emergence of al-Jazeera and other satellite channels, while observing the limited influence they have on political reform in the region.

by Tawanda Karombo11 May 2010(Harare, Zimbabwe)--The nine commissioners of Zimbabwe's new media regulatory agency held their first official meeting in March with a mandate to clear the way for more independent media in the country. Whether the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC) fulfils this task remains to be seen; many local journalists are pessimistic about the outcome, though some are willing to give the new body a chance despite the highly repressive media laws still on the books. The ZMC, which succeeds the feared Media and Information Commission (MIC), is taking shape amid a still-volatile political climate.

By Jeremiah Sam & Kwami Ahiabenu, penplusbytes.org15 March 2010Accra, Ghana- An active youth media culture exists in Ghana, providing young people with many options for entertainment, social interaction and gathering information on a number of topics-health, education, sports, music, job opportunities, and more. Here we provide a sectoral rundown of youth-oriented media and communication: PrintAmong the nearly 50 newspapers nationwide, youth gravitate toward newspapers and magazines focusing on entertainment, gossip, fashion, comics, health, beauty, sports, new technologies and music. Newspapers popular among youth include The Graphic Showbiz, Jive, Fylla and Profile, while the magazines Ovation and Agoo are also popular.

By Peter GoldsteinProject Director, AudienceScapes March 11, 2010(Washington, D.C.)--Should radio stations set up by UN peacekeeping missions continue to operate after the missions end? Bill Orme, a consultant and former head of external communications at the UNDP, thinks so. Presenting a paper on the subject at the Center for International Media Assistance, Orme pointed out that peacekeeping-derived stations in many conflict and post-conflict countries become dominant media outlets which are sorely missed when the UN pulls the plug. "There is no real exit or transition strategy" for these stations, he said. This is particularly true in Africa, where there are currently UN radio operations in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Chad, Sierra Leone, Sudan-Darfur, and DR Congo.