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Relational Futures: Indigenous Sovereignty and the Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Bronwyn Carlson, Tamika Worrell

Macquarie University (2026), 30 pp.

"Artificial intelligence must be governed as a relational and institutional force, not simply a technical system. Effective policy requires Indigenous leadership, enforceable standards, and a commitment to sovereignty, accountability, and community wellbeing. Failure to act risks embedding inequalit ... more

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The State of Media Development 2026: Funding, local ownership and adaptation in international media development

Ines Drefs, Rose Kimani, Dennis Reineck, Martin Scott

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 85 pp.

"With resources drying up, not least because the U.S. administration has pulled the plug on international development funding, a rise in authoritarianism and another large-scale tech reset looming with AI, media development organizations are struggling to meet the challenges. According to data colle ... more

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Principled caution: How AI is used in public-interest media in Asia

James Gomez

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2026), 52 pp.

"In conclusion, this research has provided a systematic understanding of AI adoption within public-interest media across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. By identifying concrete areas for strategic intervention, this research seeks to strengthen ... journalistic quality and prepare the sector for an AI-integrated future. The findings reveal that the AI adoption is currently taking place within public-interest media, but it is one of “principled caution” where adoption is careful, selective and highly varied. This evolution unfolds within a structurally precarious media environment where AI regulation is often absent or actively restrictive. While adoption remains cautious to protect journalistic credibility from risks such as hallucinations and biases, newsrooms are increasingly embracing AI as a powerful toolset to alleviate severe capacity and resource constraints. Currently, organizations primarily utilize AI for assistive, routine tasks such as translation, transcription, summarization, and early-stage content ideation and the final language editing stage rather than for broader organizational transformation. The research highlights deep capacity deficits in the governance framework, institutional training, and leadership. These gaps often prevent individual AI literacy from translating into consistent, organization-wide policy formulation and enforcement. This challenge is further exacerbated by the funding instability and resource constraints that characterize the region’s independent media, restricting the long-term investment necessary for ethical and responsible AI adoption. Despite these legal, political, technical, capacity, and operational constraints, localized and innovative AI workflows are emerging. While AI has not yet generated entirely new, revenue-generating business models, strategic investments in customized AI infrastructures, such as in-house dashboards and media monitoring systems, present a critical pathway toward long-term operational resilience. To support this trajectory, the report recommends coordinated action among media organizations, governments, technology companies, donors and media development funders to invest in long-term AI capacity, governance frameworks, and secure technological infrastructure." (Conclusion, page 39) more

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Environmental Journalism in Cambodia: Mapping the Landscape, Challenges, and Support Needs

Pnomh Pen: Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association (CamboJA); Reporters without Borders (2026), 70 pp.

"The study finds that environmental journalism in Cambodia is primarily carried out by field-based reporters and freelancers working largely through digital and multimedia news platforms. Environmental journalists are distributed across 23 locations nationwide, with a significant number based in pro ... vinces rich in natural resources, including Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, Kratie, Kampong Thom, and Preah Vihear. The profession remains male-dominated, with survey results indicating that men account for approximately 77% of respondents, while women represent 23%. Qualitative findings suggest that cultural norms and newsroom practices may influence field assignments and mobility, sometimes limiting opportunities for women journalists to participate in environmental reporting in remote areas.Environmental reporting is concentrated on issues such as deforestation, land disputes, pollution, and climate-related challenges. Journalists rely heavily on local communities (89%) and civil society organizations (55%) as sources of information, while fewer rely on official sources or experts. The study highlights that environmental journalists frequently face significant risks and structural barriers in the course of their work. Survey findings show that many journalists perceive environmental reporting as unsafe. Approximately 62% of 74 respondents reported feeling unsafe, while 11% (8 respondents) reported feeling very unsafe when covering environmental issues. Monitoring data collected by CamboJA also shows that journalists continue to face violations linked to their reporting activities. In 2025, CamboJA documented 61 human rights violations affecting 57 journalists, including five women journalists. Among these cases, seven were related to journalists covering environmental issues, making environmental reporting one of the topics most associated with violations against journalists. The study also identifies several barriers that limit environmental reporting, including pressure from local authorities (66%), legal restrictions (54%), and lack of access to reliable data or official information (47%). Limited time and resources, as well as gaps in technical knowledge related to environmental reporting, also affect journalists’ ability to conduct in-depth reporting." (Key findings, pages 2-3) more

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Under pressure: Report on the situation of threatened cartoonists around the world 2023-2025

Paris: Cartooning for Peace; Cartoonists Rights (2026), 48 pp.

"Between June 2023 and June 2025, Cartooning for Peace recorded eighty-seven cases of threats against cartoonists around the world. The types of attacks recorded reveal a predominance of legal proceedings and cases of censorship. This typology indicates that more insidious repressive mechanisms are ... developing, creating a climate of fear and self-censorship, while circumventing the international attention attracted by more obvious, physical repression. Over the past two years, Cartooning for Peace has recorded twenty-two cases of legal proceedings2 brought against cartoonists in several countries, including Türkiye, India, Malaysia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. In addition, there have been fourteen cases of censorship targeting cartoonists, taking various forms: editorial censorship, political censorship, etc. In India, the authorities criminalise and censor critical positions by relying on new information legislation, which is used to silence journalists, cartoonists, human rights defenders, and anyone expressing criticism of the authorities. More and more cartoonists are subjected to judicial proceedings that instrumentalise repressive laws – often those ostensibly addressing cybercrime, dis- and misinformation, sedition, extremism and/or terrorism – in an attempt to censor them. In Egypt, pre-trial detention is becoming a new weapon used by the regime to muzzle those who report and debate, through the abuse of anti-terrorism laws. Türkiye is not spared from the growing criminalisation of the media and journalists. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has made clear his desire to silence all dissenting voices, and political cartoonists are being directly targeted. While we are sadly familiar with the list of regimes long-known to be most repressive (Russia, China, Uganda, Nicaragua, etc.), others are shifting towards what some political scientists refer to as competitive authoritarianism’. These hybrid regimes are characterised by the coexistence of democratic institutions and authoritarian practices that violate democratic rules (Türkiye, Hungary, India, the United States, Israel, etc.). On the African continent, cartoonists are increasingly seen less as commentators and more as activists, with political leaders perceiving the visual codes of editorial cartoons as incorporating forms of mobilisation. As youth social movements organise themselves online, cartoons often become rallying symbols, making cartoonists early and visible targets of repression." (General overview, pages 7-8) more

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Occupational Trauma and PTSD in Afghan Journalists: Resilience as a Mediator and Lifetime Trauma as a Moderator

Ahmad Zia Elham, Abdul Wahab Rahimi, Rahmatullah Haand, Zakir Shah

Journalism Studies, volume 27, issue 9 (2026), pp. 1269-1292

"Journalists operating in conflict zones are at a heightened risk for psychological distress due to exposure to potentially traumatic assignments (PTA). Although considerable research has explored occupational trauma among journalists, there remains a crucial gap regarding the interplay between resi ... more

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Attracting Volunteers Through Social Media Marketing in Environmental Organizations

Ali Çetinkaya, Yusuf Bilgin, Kübra Elmalı

Journal of Nonprofit & Public Sector Marketing, volume 38, issue 3 (2026), pp. 305-330

"Nowadays, environmental organizations have strategically leveraged social media platforms to raise environmental awareness, promote pro-environmental behavior, manage environmental campaigns, and encourage environmental volunteerism. This study aims to investigate the impact of social media marketi ... more

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Journalism and Media Funding in Europe

Brussels: Philea - Philanthropy Europe Association; Journalism Funders Forum (2026)

"Based on a sample of 36 philanthropic organisations from 12 countries, the report shows that while funding for the field remains relatively limited, it is diverse, evolving and increasingly shaped by concerns around democracy, misinformation and the long-term sustainability of independent journalis ... more

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Navigating risks and rewards: How South African journalists use AI in the newsroom

Karen Allen, Herman Wasserman, Nande Mbekela

Johannesburg; Stellenbosch: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Media Programme Sub-Saharan Africa; Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA) (2026), 33 pp.

"This study demonstrates impressively how widely AI is already used in South African newsrooms – often, however, without systematic training, without editorial guidelines, and without tools adapted to African languages and contexts. The interviews make it clear that journalists stand between curio ... more

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Google Scholar (231)

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Macro-Economic Inequality and National Stereotypes in 45 Non-Western Countries

Vukašin Gligoric, John T. Jost, Jessica V. Schaaf et al.

Social Psychological and Personality Science, volume 17, issue 4 (2026), pp. 492-509

"The assumption that people favor ingroups and disfavor outgroups is based largely on theory and research from Western countries. However, groups subjected to economic exploitation and inequality might come to favor more advantaged outgroups. The present large-scale study (N = 12,339) involving 45 n ... more

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The Local News Playbook: Creating Value for a Sustainable Future
Deep Insights

London; Miami: FT Strategies; Knight Foundation (2026), 105 pp.

"Drawing on global interviews with newsroom leaders, a cross-market survey of exemplary organisations, and FT Strategies’ work with more than 1,000 media businesses worldwide, the playbook identifies the core drivers that distinguish financially sustainable, community-rooted local news. It reframe ... more

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Living with Misinformation: A Media Literacy Approach

Tanya Notley, Michael Dezuanni, Sora Park, T. J. Thomson, Aimee Hourigan

London; New York: Routledge (2026), x, 114 pp.

"This book investigates how media literacy can be used to help people understand, identify and respond to online misinformation. Drawing on a three‑year research study that examined the everyday media experiences and abilities of more than 4,400 adults, this book presents an in‑depth look at how ... more

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2026 Edelman Trust Barometer. Global Report: Trust Amid Insularity

Edelman Trust Institute (2026), 49 slides

"The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a world retreating towards insularity. As economic anxiety, geopolitical tension, and technological disruption intensify, people are narrowing their world to smaller, familiar circles that reflect their views, and this hinders economic and societal progress ... more

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Batswana support press freedom and media’s watchdog role

Mogopodi Lekorwe, Wilford Molefe, Kefentse P. Malele

Afrobarometer (2025), 12 pp.

"Three-fourths (74%) of Batswana say they are gsomewhat freeh or gcompletely freeh to say what they think, although 24% disagree. The share who feel free to speak their minds is up by 6 percentage points since 2022 (68%) but remains below the historic high of 93% in 2008. Botswana ranks abov ... more

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Bridging digital gaps in a mobile device age: Evidence from community telecentres in Ghana

Daniel Azerikatoa Ayoung, Frederic Naazi-Ale Baada, Oswin Aganda Anaba, Augustine Aduko Alu

African Journal of Empirical Research, volume 6, issue 3 (2025), pp. 776-792

"This study explores the usefulness of Community Information Centres (CICs) amidst growing ubiquity of mobile phones. It examines how CICs can play a complementary role to personal mobile phones, specifically in facilitating access to information that translates into social and economic progress. Th ... more

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AI With Purpose: How Foundations and Nonprofits are Thinking About and Using Artificial Intelligence

Elisha Smith Arrillaga, Seara Grundhoefer, Christina Im

Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) (2025), 39 pp.

"While AI is widely used by nonprofits and foundations alike — most often for internal productivity and communications purposes — leaders share common concerns about AI in their work. They also agree that foundations do not currently have a strong grasp of nonprofits’ AI-related needs. Perhaps ... more

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La comunicazione della Chiesa che verrà: Indagine sui giovani seminaristi e social media

Fabio Bolzetta

Todi (IT): Tau Editrice; Associazione Web Cattolici Italiani (WECA) (2025), 283 pp.

"Una ricerca di dottorato triennale ha indagato il rapporto tra i seminaristi in Italia e i social media. L’indagine, di cui vengono pubblicati qui i risultati, è stata condotta sotto la responsabilità scientifica della Facoltà di Scienze della Comunicazione sociale dell’Università Pontifici ... more

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Free Expression Seen as Important Globally, but Not Everyone Thinks Their Country Has Press, Speech and Internet Freedoms: Made-up news and information seen as pervasive across the globe
Deep Insights

Jacob Poushter, Maria Smerkovich, Moira Fagan, Andrew Prozorovsky

Pew Research Center (2025), 71 pp.

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Independent Evaluation of the Media Freedom Coalition

Aida Al Kaisy, Daniel Skillings, Ivana Jiménez Barrios

Paris: Aleph Strategies; Media Freedom Coalition (2025), 62 pp.

"The evaluation found that the MFC has made notable contributions to media freedom and journalist safety over the past five years. It has played a role in encouraging some Member States to strengthen their media freedom policies and legislation. The MFC has also influenced state actors through diplo ... matic and advocacy efforts, maintaining high-level political attention on media freedom. Direct interventions, legal guidance, and engagement with embassy networks have contributed to journalist protection efforts at the local level. Furthermore, the MFC has strengthened multi-stakeholder coordination, bringing together governments, civil society, and legal experts. However, the evaluation also identified several areas for improvement. While the MFC provides a platform for dialogue and cooperation, its engagement with members on domestic media freedom policies is voluntary and lacks a structured approach for supporting and tracking commitments. Joint advocacy statements have a greater impact locally than internationally and are often perceived as lacking boldness and clear outcomes. While the MFC has addressed high-profile cases, its focus has sometimes overshadowed broader, systemic media freedom challenges. Engagement with Rights-Holders and organisations working on the ground has been limited, impacting the relevance and sustainability of its strategies. Coordination and collaboration within the MFC are foundational, particularly through diplomatic networks and the development of emergency visa schemes. However, decision-making is often reactive, affecting stakeholder trust. The MFC’s membership is perceived as predominantly Northern-led, and there is potential to leverage its diverse membership more effectively. Knowledge management and information-sharing need strengthening to ensure a deeper understanding of media freedom issues among Member States. The high-level legal expertise of the HLP is underutilised. Clarity around decision-making processes among Member States varies, influencing trust-based collaboration. While engagement at the local level through embassies is effective, it requires more structured guidance and support. Coordination between Member States, the CN, and the HLP remains limited in some areas. In terms of sustainability, the current governance model, particularly the annual rotation of Executive Group co-chairs, can present challenges for knowledge retention and continuity. Funding modalities are complex, leading to perceptions of uneven distribution and impacting trust and coordination. While the MFC has developed working relationships with similar coalitions, more formalised collaboration could maximise resource efficiency. The limited engagement with Rights-Holders influences the visibility and perceived effectiveness of the MFC’s work." (Key findings and conclusions, pages 2-3) more

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Ugandans support free media that holds government accountable

Jane Mercy Muthoni Kamunyi

Afrobarometer (2025), 10 pp.

"Findings from the Afrobarometer Round 9 survey (2022) show that a strong majority of Ugandans supported media freedom and believed the media should play a watchdog role by investigating and reporting on government mistakes and corruption. Most citizens said the public should have access to governme ... more

The Local News Playbook: Creating Value for a Sustainable Future Deep Insights

Free Expression Seen as Important Globally, but Not Everyone Thinks Their Country Has Press, Speech and Internet Freedoms: Made-up news and information seen as pervasive across the globe Deep Insights

The Local News Playbook: Creating Value for a Sustainable Future
Deep Insights

Free Expression Seen as Important Globally, but Not Everyone Thinks Their Country Has Press, Speech and Internet Freedoms: Made-up news and information seen as pervasive across the globe
Deep Insights