{"id":22,"date":"2023-01-05T09:33:09","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T07:33:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/commspolicy.africa\/?page_id=22"},"modified":"2024-06-01T13:11:13","modified_gmt":"2024-06-01T11:11:13","slug":"shaping-communications-ecosystems","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/commspolicy.africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Shaping media & digital ecosystems"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Guy
World Press Freedom Day, Addis Ababa, 2019<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

CommsPolicy.Africa is a site created by Guy Berger, independent expert and consultant in media and internet policy issues. Regular posts here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From 2011 to 2022, he led UNESCO\u2019s global work in these areas. With an African focus, the same topics featured in his work between 1994-2010 at Rhodes University, South Africa, where he is recognized as an emeritus professor. In 2023, he was designated as Distinguished Fellow at the Cape-Town based thinktank, Research ICT Africa<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

G.Berger@ru.ac.za<\/a> *** L<\/a><\/strong>atest posts on this site<\/strong><\/a> *** LinkedIn<\/a> *** Mastodon<\/a> ***<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consider these ideas:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some say Africa\u2019s comms problems aren\u2019t a result of poor policy, but bad implementation of policy. True to a point. But good public policy should anticipate and provide for practical problems \u2013 like: weak state capacity or partisan “capture” that contradicts public interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s nowadays a clich\u00e9 that policy should be \u201cevidence-based\u201d. Yes, research \u2013 including into due diligence and impact-assessment on human rights \u2013 is fundamental. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the same time, what makes for \u201cevidence\u201d? Because there are different possible assemblies of \u201cfacts\u201d \u2013 and on the other side of the coin \u2013 \u201csignificant data silences\u201d. These get mobilized for different narratives and agendas. “Evidence” does not exist in splendid isolation: it is identified, gathered and interpreted – in which perspectives on policy<\/a> play a key role. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, policy is profoundly political.  Contestation of interests and ideologies is endemic to policy research, design, implementation, monitoring and review. And the results shape whether a society will enjoy or not benefits like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n