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The Global Handbook of Media Accountability
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Susanne Fengler, Tobias Eberwein, Matthias Karmasin (eds.)

London; New York: Routledge (2022), xviii, 614 pp.

"The Global Handbook of Media Accountability brings together leading scholars to 'de-Westernize' the academic debate on media accountability and discuss different models of media self-regulation and newsroom transparency around the globe. With examination of the status quo of media accountability in ... more

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Media Accountability Practices Online in Syria: An Indicator for Changing Perceptions of Journalism

Judith Pies, Philip Madanat

Tampere: Journalism Research and Development Centre University of Tampere (2011), 24 pp.

"Media Accountability in Syria is more a question of re-defining the role of media in society than working on transparency practices or establishing self-regulation. This is due to strong state control and the mobilisation role mass media has been playing in Syria for decades. Before opening its med ... ia market for private publications in 2001 Syrian media was controlled either by the state or the ruling Baath party. Media accountability institutions like press councils or ombudspersons were simply not necessary in this concept of media and therefore do not exist. The only professional organisation, the Syrian Journalists Syndicate, did not act as a representative of independent journalists but as a representative of the regime. Additionally, as all journalists and media outlets had to work for more or less the same purpose, norms for guiding individual or organisational decisions – such as a code of ethics – were superfluous. Although these conditions still persist in major parts of the media field, news websites have particularly contributed to a shift in society’s perception of the role of media by paving the way for media accountability practices in the field of responsiveness. Even though instruments for responsiveness might be part of an economic strategy of news websites to enter and survive the news media field, news websites have introduced an audience oriented journalism approach by providing collaborative story writing or possibilities for the audience to comment on news. This is a fundamental change in role perception as mobilising media was merely meant to serve the Baath elite and its ideas. Thus, the audience as a neglected actor of accountability seems to have entered the field. In addition, news websites have added new topics to the traditional news agenda by taking the audience into account, and thus have contributed to holding the media accountable for aspects the old media does not cover. Thus, at least in some cases, media has played the role of being a watchdog over political decisions, which role media has never previously adopted. have particularly contributed to a shift in society’s perception of the role of media by paving the way for media accountability practices in the field of responsiveness. Even though instruments for responsiveness might be part of an economic strategy of news websites to enter and survive the news media field, news websites have introduced an audience oriented journalism approach by providing collaborative story writing or possibilities for the audience to comment on news. This is a fundamental change in role perception as mobilising media was merely meant to serve the Baath elite and its ideas. Thus, the audience as a neglected actor of accountability seems to have entered the field." (Summary) more

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New Media – Old Problems: Online Practices of Media Accountability in Lebanon

Judith Pies, Philip Madanat, Christine Elsaeßer

Tampere: Journalism Research and Development Centre University of Tampere (2011), 23 pp.

"Lebanon’s media has been envied for its press freedom and high quality by many Arabs from the region for decades. After 15 years of civil war the media had quickly started to flourish again. Yet, internal and external observers have been concerned about the close links between the media and polit ... more

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Beyond State Regulation: How Online Practices Contribute to Holding the Media Accountable in Jordan

Judith Pies, Philip Madanat

Tampere: Journalism Research and Development Centre University of Tampere (2011), 41 pp.

"Holding the news media accountable has traditionally been a task of the state in Jordan. Media laws and regulations are numerous and do not leave too much space for self-regulatory practices on a national basis. The Jordan Press Association (JPA) is the core of so-called established media accountab ... more

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The Impact of Community Media on Social and Political Life in Jordan

Philip O. Madanat

Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (2006), 22 pp.

"This paper tries to contribute to the discussion on how alternative, community media has altered the media scenery and affected socio-political life in Jordan in terms of the interplay between the civil society and public sphere. With specific reference to Radio AmmanNet, the first community radio ... more

The Global Handbook of Media Accountability Top Insights

Media Accountability Practices Online in Syria: An Indicator for Changing Perceptions of Journalism

New Media – Old Problems: Online Practices of Media Accountability in Lebanon

Beyond State Regulation: How Online Practices Contribute to Holding the Media Accountable in Jordan

The Impact of Community Media on Social and Political Life in Jordan

The Global Handbook of Media Accountability
Top Insights