"The analysis of the data acquired for this study suggest that the situation of gender equality in the media content and media structures would improve if a law on eliminating all forms of discrimination would be adopted. In such a law, media’s responsibility not to publish gender-based discrimina ... tory content and to avoid harmful gender stereotyping could be referred to. Other relevant laws, such as the Mass Media Law, Civil Code, Civil Procedure Codes and Criminal Procedure Codes could also provide specific clauses against gender-based discrimination. Numerous media studies have confirmed that female sources of information and especially expertise are often underrepresented in Armenian news media. Gender-balanced reporting/sourcing should be promoted through different kinds of mechanisms, preferably on industry level through self-regulatory mechanisms. Gender balance within a media organisation’s structure could be promoted through state policy (as part of a general drive for gender equality in the workforce). The issue needs to be addressed by different stakeholders in the industry (media associations etc.) and target the “glass ceiling” for women in their career advancement. In Armenia most journalists are women, but men occupy most top positions in the media. Media workers and journalists should be provided with trainings on gender-sensitive reporting. Media NGOs that have the experience and knowledge in training of journalists, as well as NGOs advocating for women’s rights and gender equality may be engaged in the training of journalists on the matter. Capacity-building activities should be put in place for organisations providing trainings for journalists and other activities to promote gender-sensitive media content and structure. An award on gender-sensitive journalism may be founded to encourage the media and journalists to excel in gender-sensitive reporting." (Discussion, page 26) more

"In Kibera, the biggest slum area in Nairobi and in whole East Africa, the urban slum community radio station Pamoja FM only works for the citizens living within Kibera. We aimed to find out how the youth in Kibera perceive the efficacy of the radio station as a viable source of news and information ... . We wanted to establish how important this radio station is to them as a tool of empowerment and knowledge to the youth. Through semi-structured interviews with the youth in Kibera we carried out a qualitative research study during ten weeks, from October until December in 2011. We walked the field in Kibera to gather as much data as possible, and our findings were very interesting. Key theories used in this study included the participatory communication model, the media dependency model and the uses and gratifications model. The findings indicated that Pamoja FM has a great influence in the community as it is considered the most important source for news and information for the youth in this slum, and provides a platform that meets their needs as active participating audiences to the content supplied by the radio station. The radio is accredited to have changed the citizens´ way of thinking about tribalism since the post-election violence in 2007; the young women have assertively declared their space by playing a more proactive role in the community and audiences are empowered with home-grown problem solving skills that have bettered their lives and in pursuit for peace." (Abstract) more