Abstract

Freedom of expression is both a life and death matter and a bread and butter issue. Free media that allow a diversity of voices to be heard and all ideas to be discussed play a central role in the sustaining and monitoring of good government, as well as in the fostering of economic development and the encouraging of corporate transparency and accountability. Students in both developed and developing nations need to understand that there is no global issue or political arena in which the statement of problems and the framing of possible solutions are not influenced by media coverage. The Salzburg Academy on Media and Global Change is the meeting point where universities from around the world, media organizations and international institutions such as the UN and UNESCO have worked jointly for the first time in order to build a global media literacy curriculum, related lesson plans, exercises and resources to teach students to evaluate the media they read, hear and see, as well as teach them to speak out for themselves. The GML materials are written by a global commu nity for a global community and aim to prepare students the world over for active and inclusive roles in information societies.

Abstract

Media audience has been conceived, traditionally, as a group of citizens or consumers. In the Media environment, citizens exercise their communication rights and participate in the public sphere; consumers, on the other hand, consume audiovisual products in a specific market. In the citizen perspective, audiovisual communication serves the public interest and democratic values; in the consumer one, it serves private and individual interests. This paper studies the main academic positions referred to the dichotomy citizen – consumer, attending particularly to the investigations of Peter Dahlgren on relations between Media and Democracy; of Richard Collins, on Audiovisual Policy; and of Sonia Livingstone on public sphere, audience participation and Media governance. After this theoretical approach, the paper analyzes the presence of these conceptions of the audience in the audiovisual legal systems of two countries: Spain and Mexico. These two countries are modifying their legal framework. As a conclusion, it appears that the different conceptions of the audience –as consumers or as citizens– are in a close relationship with the different ways of Media control and accountability.

Abstract

In the framework of Spain’s Transparency Act of 2013, an analysis is conducted of the information on research projects headed or participated in by Spanish public university teaching staff and funded by public institutions and bodies. The aims are to ascertain whether this information is associated with and published on transparency portals and to determine its typology and characteristics. The analysis covers portals and websites, access points and the type of information furnished. Although universities comply with the transparency obligations laid down in the act, the information on research projects freely available is not individualised and only rarely matched to results (such as articles, patents or conference communications), particulars that would not only encourage knowledge sharing, but enhance the credibility of and trust in research funding.

Abstract

In the framework of Spain’s Transparency Act of 2013, an analysis is conducted of the information on research projects headed or participated in by Spanish public university teaching staff and funded by public institutions and bodies. The aims are to ascertain whether this information is associated with and published on transparency portals and to determine its typology and characteristics. The analysis covers portals and websites, access points and the type of information furnished. Although universities comply with the transparency obligations laid down in the act, the information on research projects freely available is not individualised and only rarely matched to results (such as articles, patents or conference communications), particulars that would not only encourage knowledge sharing, but enhance the credibility of and trust in research funding.

Abstract

Reputation, credibility, and accountability are the cornerstones of governing public service media in order to sustain and increase its legitimacy in society. To achieve this objective the management policies of public service media must be maintained and enhanced according to their mission. It is also necessary to develop strategies to improve the communication of the social value of pubic broadcasting in the media ecosystem. On this basis, this paper discusses the need for and challenges of stabilizing assessment indicators for public broadcasters’ news services.

Abstract

The extent of data disclosure related to transparency and accountability in Spanish regional governments is analyzed for the period 2013-2017. For that purpose, an index with weighting of the quality for data reutilization is used. The index is first calculated for open data portals, and then transparency portals and institutional websites are added to the assessment. Findings show that just five regional governments clearly opt for open data based transparency and accountability. Nevertheless, there is a general improvement when transparency portals and institutional websites are added to the index, mainly because of data disclosed in transparency portals. Findings show that fourteen regional governments show sincere transparency and accountability policies, five of them with open data and the remainders with transparency portals. On the contrary, four regional governments perform a sheer apparent transparency behavior, without disclosing significant data.

Abstract

In a profoundly changing context, media accountability systems have clearly undergone a process of evolution by taking advantage of the internet and web 2.0 possibilities. While traditional instruments have a limited impact on professional practice and are scarcely used by citizens, the digital environment allows new ways of self-regulation, transparency, and monitoring of news quality, in which users’ participation plays a decisive role. The article identifies, describes and categorizes the new online accountability systems that have emerged in the Spanish media landscape, examining those that operate both within and outside digital media. The analysis of the identified systems has allowed the elaboration of a first classification of the innovative accountability systems existing in Spain.

Abstract

El periodismo deportivo se ha caracterizado por una serie de deficiencias éticas que han soslayado los estándares normativos de la profesión. Los instrumentos de rendición de cuentas pueden jugar un papel valioso para superar estas disfunciones. Teniendo esto en mente, el artículo identifica y examina los mecanismos de rendición de cuentas más relevantes en el ámbito del periodismo deportivo, incluidos aquellos producidos de forma interna y externa a los medios. Los investigadores han inspeccionado los códigos éticos en esta área, los libros de estilo promovidos por los principales medios deportivos y las prescripciones formuladas por las agencias informativas, medios de información generalistas y organismos clave a nivel internacional. Prácticas innovadoras como los chats, redes sociales, defensores del lector en línea, observatorios y blogs también se han identificado como ejemplos positivos del cultivo de una conversación bidireccional sobre los estándares y la calidad de los contenidos deportivos. AbstractSports journalism has been characterized by a series of ethical deficiencies that have challenged the normative standards of the profession. Media accountability instruments can play an invaluable role in addressing these shortcomings. With this in mind, this article identifies and examines the most relevant accountability instruments in the field of sports journalism, including those produced within media organizations and those created outside of them. The researchers have scrutinized the specialized codes in this area and the stylebooks promoted by major sports media, as well as the recommendations proposed by news agencies, general information outlets and key stakeholders worldwide. Innovative practices such as chats, social media, online ombudsmen, observatories and blogs have also been identified as positive examples of the cultivation of a two-way conversation about the standards for and quality of sports content.

Abstract

La comunicación es clave para que las instituciones recuperen la confianza y credibilidad de los ciudadanos. En este sentido, la gestión de la transparencia y la promoción de la participación ciudadana online son dos aspectos esenciales. Tras la entrada en vigor a nivel local en diciembre de 2015 de la Ley 19/2013 de transparencia, acceso a la información pública y buen gobierno, los ayuntamientos de España están obligados a publicar de forma clara y comprensible toda la información pública en sus sitios web. Este requisito convierte a las administraciones locales españolas en un interesante caso de estudio para evaluar los esfuerzos de mejora en la relación con sus ciudadanos. De ahí que el objetivo de este estudio sea medir el nivel de transparencia en las herramientas de información pública y participación. Para ello se compara una muestra representativa de los sitios web de ayuntamientos con más de 10.000 habitantes (N =394) utilizando un conjunto de indicadores específicos para el análisis de contenido. Los resultados indican un nivel de transparencia muy bajo así como importantes carencias y deficiencias relacionadas con los recursos de participación online. AbstractCommunication is indispensable for institutions in regaining trust and credibility among citizens. In this context, transparency management and the promotion of citizen participation online are essential. After December 2015, when the Spanish transparency law 19/2013 was fully in force at the local level, all local municipalities were required to show all the public information on their websites published in a clear and understandable way. This requirement turns the Spanish local administrations into an interesting case study to assess efforts to improve their relationships with their citizens; hence this research aims to measure the Spanish transparency level on public information and participation. For that purpose, a set of indicators were used to analyze the content of those websites that corresponded to a representative sample of municipalities with 10,000 or more inhabitants (N=394). Findings pointed to a very low transparency level and major deficiencies related to online engagement with resources that are required by law.