Digital Media in Grassroots Anti-Corruption Mobilizations

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alice Mattoni
Keyword(s):  
Collective Action ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Principal Agent ◽  
The Public ◽  
Principal Agent Problem ◽  
The One ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Situated Approach

Corruption is a global problem that affects millions of people, and activists all over the world mobilize against it. When they do so, they increasingly employ various types of digital media. First, the chapter discusses two leading roles that digital media might have in grassroots anti-corruption struggles, each of them linked to one specific approach to corruption. On the one hand, they are in line with a view of corruption as a principal–agent problem, hence assisting activists in enlarging the monitoring and denouncing capacity of people concerning corruption. On the other hand, they can sustain a view of corruption as a collective action problem, hence helping activists in increasing the public awareness on corruption to change the normative understanding of what corruption is and does to societies. Second, the chapter addresses digital media as they entangle with big data. While anti-corruption activists have always relied on data of all kinds to support their struggles, this section tackles three specific types of data-related practices (data production, data embedment, and data transformation). It also shows how they are in tune with either the collective action or the principal–agent approach to corruption. Third, the chapter discusses another, more pragmatic, and situated approach to corruption and, in its framework, the potential role of digital media for anti-corruption activists, arguing for the development of comparative studies on the subject matter. Finally, conclusions revisit the previous sections, taking into consideration three main directions toward which research on anti-corruption from the grassroots and its relationship with digital media might develop in the near future.

The 2016 Police and Crime Commissioner elections

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Joyce
Keyword(s):  
Public Awareness ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Source Material ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
The Social ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyse the 2016 elections for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) and to compare them with those that took place in 2012. It seeks to evaluate the background of the candidates who stood for office in 2016, the policies that they put forward, the results of the contests and the implications of the 2016 experience for future PCC elections. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based around several key themes – the profile of candidates who stood for election, preparations conducted prior to the contests taking place, the election campaign and issues raised during the contests, the results and the profile of elected candidates. The paper is based upon documentary research, making particular use of primary source material. Findings The research establishes that affiliation to a political party became the main route for successful candidates in 2016 and that local issues related to low-level criminality will dominate the future policing agenda. It establishes that although turnout was higher than in 2012, it remains low and that further consideration needs to be devoted to initiatives to address this for future PCC election contests. Research limitations/implications The research focusses on the 2016 elections and identifies a number of key issues that emerged during the campaign affecting the conduct of the contests which have a bearing on future PCC elections. It treats these elections as a bespoke topic and does not seek to place them within the broader context of the development of the office of PCC. Practical implications The research suggests that in order to boost voter participation in future PCC election contests, PCCs need to consider further means to advertise the importance of the role they perform and that the government should play a larger financial role in funding publicity for these elections and consider changing the method of election. Social implications The rationale for introducing PCCs was to empower the public in each police force area. However, issues that include the enhanced importance of political affiliation as a criteria for election in 2016 and the social unrepresentative nature of those who stood for election and those who secured election to this office in these contests coupled with shortcomings related to public awareness of both the role of PCCs and the timing of election contests threaten to undermine this objective. Originality/value The extensive use of primary source material ensures that the subject matter is original and its interpretation is informed by an academic perspective.

Of Digital Images and Digital Media

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 74-102
Author(s):  
Nicole Karapanagiotis
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
New Jersey ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Digital Images ◽  
The United States ◽  
Digital Marketing ◽  
The Public ◽  
Media Imagery

This article is a theoretical and ethnographic investigation of the role of marketing and branding within the contemporary ISKCON movement in the United States. In it, I examine the digital marketing enterprises of two prominent ISKCON temples: ISKCON of New Jersey and ISKCON of D.C. I argue that by attending to the vastly different ways in which these temples present and portray ISKCON online—including the markedly different media imagery by which they aim to draw the attention of the public—we can learn about an ideological divide concerning marketing within American ISKCON. This divide, I argue, highlights different ideas regarding how potential newcomers become attracted to ISKCON. It also illuminates an unexplored facet of the heterogeneity of American ISKCON, principally in terms of the movement’s public face.

scholarly journals Interdisciplinarity master programs in Greek universities: Οrganization and cognitive conditions

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Georgios Stamelos ◽  
Georgios Aggelopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Sociology Of Science ◽  
Master's Programs ◽  
The Public ◽  
Interdisciplinary Programs ◽  
Internal Relations ◽  
Institutional Funding ◽  
The One ◽  
The University ◽  
Institutional Actors

This paper focuses on the development of interdisciplinarityin the Master’s programs in Greek universities. For our analysis, we searched for tools from the Sociology of Organisations (Mayntz) and the Sociology of Science (Whitley). We argue that the University and its keyactors have adopted interdisciplinarity, firstly, as a means to increase institutional funding, and secondly, with care so as not to disturb theinternal institutional structure and the power relations between the key actors in the University. Indeed, on the one hand, universities, responding to the public calls for interdisciplinary programs, took advantage of the European support program for Greece in order to enrich their infrastructures. On the other hand, the new structures and functions (interdisciplinary Master’s programs) remain loose and weak. So the central role of the Department and laboratories remains intact. As a consequence, the internal relations of the institutional actors are protected. Thus, interdisciplinarity seems to be a low priority issue. However, it is interesting to consider that more than 10 years after theend of European funding, the majority of these programs remains active.

The double and triple role of L-(+)-tartaric acid and dimethyl urea: A prevailing green approach in organic synthesis

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rashid Ali ◽  
Ajay Kumar Chinnam ◽  
Vikas R. Aswar
Keyword(s):  
Tartaric Acid ◽  
Organic Synthesis ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Organic Transformations ◽  
Green Approach ◽  
Dimethyl Urea ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
The One ◽  
Near Future

: The deep eutectic mixtures (DESs), introduced as novel alternative to usual volatile organic solvents for organic transformations has attracted a tremendous attention of the research community because of their low cost, negligible vapour pressure, low toxicity, biodegradability, recyclability, insensitive towards moisture, and readily availability from bulk renewable resources. Although, the low melting mixture of dimethyl urea (DMU)/L-(+)-tartaric acid (TA) is still infancy yet much effective as it play double and triple roles such as solvent, catalyst and/or reagent in a same pot for many crucial organic transformations. These unique properties of DMU/TA mixture prompted us to provide a quick overview of where the field stands presently, and where it might be going in near future. To our best knowledge, no review dealing with the applications of a low melting mixture of DMU/TA appeared in the literature except the one published in 2017 describing only the chemistry of indole systems. Therefore, we intended to reveal the developments of this versatile low melting mixture in the modern organic synthesis since its first report in 2011 by Köenig’s team to till date. Hopefully, the present review article will be useful to the researcher working not only in the arena of synthetic organic chemistry but also to the scientists working in other branches of science and technology.

Advantages and risks of crowdfunding as a model of financing startups and community development projects

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (4) ◽  
pp. 84-98
Author(s):  
Vitalii RYSIN ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
System Development ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Development Projects ◽  
The Public ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Capital Access

Crowdfunding as a tool for alternative financing has emerged relatively recently and is of limited use in Ukraine today. At the same time, it has significant potential, which can contribute to the implementation of a wide range of projects that for various reasons are not of interest to traditional lenders or investors. The aim of the article is to determine the benefits of crowdfunding for its participants, the peculiarities of the implementation of certain types of crowdfunding and identify risks that may be generated by them, as well as develop practical recommendations for crowdfunding campaigns by entrepreneurs and authors of community development projects. The article identifies the benefits of crowdfunding for project authors (low cost of capital, access to information and potential investors) and investors (clarity, low risks, access to new products, the ability to support creative ideas), substantiates the role of crowdfunding platforms in realizing the benefits of crowdfunding. The advantages and disadvantages of using certain types of crowdfunding are described. Recommendations for planning and implementation of the main stages of crowdfunding campaigns - idea development, target audience determination, research, communication, project budgeting, reward system development, campaign schedule development – are developed. The factors of choosing a crowdfunding platform for hosting the project are determined. The possibility of using crowdfunding for collective financing of socio-cultural projects within the public budgets of the united territorial communities is shown. The risks of using crowdfunding for project authors and potential investors are identified. Those risks are primarily related to realistic expectations and proper preparation for the fundraising campaign by project authors, as well as the lack of guarantees for investors in the event of problems or bankruptcy of the crowdfunding platform. The author highlights that the growth of public awareness about the possibilities of implementing social or business initiatives through crowdfunding platforms will contribute to the development of platforms, improvement of technological equipment, and expansion of their range of services.

Mediascape and Movement

2019 ◽  
pp. 100-122
Author(s):  
Francis L. F. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Digital Media ◽  
Political Communication ◽  
Protest Movements ◽  
The Public ◽  
Mainstream Media ◽  
The Media ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

This chapter reviews the relationship between the media and the Umbrella Movement. The mainstream media, aided by digital media outlets and platforms, play the important role of the public monitor in times of major social conflicts, even though the Hong Kong media do so in an environment where partial censorship exists. The impact of digital media in largescale protest movements is similarly multifaceted and contradictory. Digital media empower social protests by promoting oppositional discourses, facilitating mobilization, and contributing to the emergence of connective action. However, they also introduce and exacerbate forces of decentralization that present challenges to movement leaders. Meanwhile, during and after the Umbrella Movement, one can also see how the state has become more proactive in online political communication, thus trying to undermine the oppositional character of the Internet in Hong Kong.

An Evaluation of ICT Policy Developments in Botswana

2011 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Segomotso Masegonyana Keakopa ◽  
Kelvin Joseph Bwalya
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
The Public ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
The Government ◽  
Ict Policy

This chapter provides an evaluation of ICT policy developments in Botswana. In particular, it highlights major advancements in areas of national ICT policy development and its implementation in the country. The country’s National ICT policy, Maitlamo, has been a significant factor in driving ICTs in the country. The chapter asserts that opportunities in ICT development in the country are evidenced by not only implementation of the policy but further by greater investment of financial resources by the government and the role of the private sector. Further, the chapter argues that while implementation of the national ICT policy has brought achievements in liberalisation and expansion of public services in rural areas, there are still a number of challenges to address if universal access has to be achieved. Among these are unavailability of ICT services in rural areas, high costs of the technology and the lack of public awareness on the use of technology. Proposals made at the end of the chapter call for the government to speed implementation of ICT policy, form stronger partnerships with the public sector and further balance the role of BTC vis a vis other players so that the playing field is leveled.

Universities

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Earle Holland
Keyword(s):  
Department Chair ◽  
Public Information ◽  
Science Writing ◽  
State University ◽  
The Public ◽  
Science Writer ◽  
Public Information Officers ◽  
The One ◽  
University Science

Science writing at a university has to be one of the world's great jobs. If the institution is serious about its research, you're a kid in a candy store. In my case, at Ohio State University, with more than 3,500 faculty, the question is what to write about first—not where to look for stories. Big universities are that way, but the same rules apply for smaller places that are intent on doing great research. Let's begin with the basics. While public information officers at universities face a buffet of varying tasks—from covering boards of trustees' meetings to athletic scandals to student riots—the role of the science PIO is more focused: Concentrate on university research; explain what is new and why it is important to the public. Stated that way, the job seems simple, but science writers at a university may have to jump from astronomy to immunology to psychology to anthropology all in the same week. That represents a lot of intellectual gear shifting; but remember, the rules about reporting on research generally stay the same from field to field. What is the news? Why is it important? What is the context for the research? That is, what are the questions that drive it? Why should the readers care? And last, do the findings point us somewhere new? The only things that change from story to story are the researchers' language and the culture specific to their fields. Nearly every time I give a talk on university science writing—and there have been dozens—someone asks the classic question: How do you find your stories? The glib answer is “Everywhere;” but in truth, that's pretty accurate. Some people envision situations where top researchers have a “eureka” moment and then immediately get on the phone to the campus science writer to get the word out. Or perhaps the researcher's department chair or dean, ever attuned to their colleagues' work, is the one to pass along such news. I wish that were so; but sadly, it's more likely that researcher, department chair, or dean will never think about calling a writer until long after everything else is done.

Politische Krisenkommunikation: Welche Rollen nehmen Politiker in TV-Sondersendungen ein?

2019 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-433
Author(s):  
Andreas Dörner ◽  
Ludgera Vogt
Keyword(s):  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
Crisis Communication ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
The Public ◽  
Political Role ◽  
Local Politicians ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research Project ◽  
The One ◽  
Broadcast Programs

One reason why special German broadcast programs like „ARD Brennpunkt“ and „ZDF spezial“ fulfill their function in crisis communication is that politicians appear in them . In the course of an interdisciplinary research project on media disturbances, 164 of such special broadcasts from 2015 and 2016 were analyzed and 40 interviews with participants were conducted, eleven of those with national and local politicians . It is their roles that are elaborated here . Triangulating the conducted interviews on the one hand and textual analyses on the other, a typology of political role figurations can be presented . Political actors assumed the following roles: (1) “representative of the sovereign”, either as a statesperson or as responsive and palpable; (2) “representative of the party”, bringing forth the agenda of their respective party or subverting it as a deviator; (3) “communicator of exclusive knowledge”, underlining researched facts; (4) authorized expert, driving towards sobriety; (5) “evaluator”, emphasizing normative perspectives and (6) “crisis manager”, underlining their problem solving competence or even, within the sub-role of “local caretaker”, their personal engagement . The roles are part of a crisis communication that aims at calming and orientating the public .

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