IGNOU Journal of Media and Empowerment (ISSN: 3048-8478)

News Coverage of Suicides in Print Media in Developing Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

2023-05-17T06:43:32+00:00

The incidence of suicides has been studied vastly over the past decade, specifically focusing on developing nations. Research articles have shown that the risk factors for suicides differ from those of developed nations. In the context of an increasing number of suicides in developing nations, studies of news reporting on suicides have been seen as an essential aspect of suicide prevention. News reporting of suicides has been viewed through the prism of applying journalistic tools whose spectrum ranges from the adherence to the World Health Organisation to the objectivity applied in news treatment, placement and periodicity of suicide reporting. This research predominantly focuses on literature covering aspects of suicide reporting in print media in developing nations. The literature published in journals with primary data collection tools between 2010 and 2021 is delved into for accurate analysis and interpretations to achieve the aim of this research. This systematic literature review explores what aspects have gained prominence in the study of news reporting on suicides in developing nations over the past decade. Most studies on news reporting of suicides taken for review focus on a content analysis research method (78.9%). The conceptual framework of these research studies has relied on adherence to the World Health Organisation while reporting on suicides. The review of literature assesses various aspects of reporting styles or the impact of their reporting on suicides to prevent copycat suicides or an imitation effect.

Information Communication Technology (ICT) for Women Empowerment: A Study on Systematic Review

2023-05-25T18:25:42+00:00

Women empowerment being a national and international goal, different projects have been implemented to literate women with ICT skills. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) enable mechanisms for increasing women's choices, expanding knowledge and enhancing the ability to participate in multifaceted empowerment. Women, especially in countries of developmental economies, lack the financial resources to access ICTs; even the ability to use those tools shows distinction based on social strata. This study looks at the avenues created by ICTs for women's empowerment in countries of developing economies from Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. It discusses the opportunities available for women through ICTs and the obstruction women face. The study has followed a systematic literature review method to evaluate the role of ICTs in empowering women. The systematic literature review method has used different papers with specific keywords deployed from individual to collective levels of empowerment. The holistic study focuses on various aspects of women's empowerment, and ICTs, including technology like CD-ROM, computer, mobile, and Internet, are given focus. The findings suggest that ICTs serve women's empowerment, but personal and social barriers are further divided into regions.

Digital Inequality and Digital Literacy: The Way Forward

2023-11-08T05:01:03+00:00

Research in the digital inequality field originated from examining the disparities between those with access to digital resources and those without access. Ongoing investigations delve into areas where digital inequality manifests, seeking to identify the reasons behind these disparities and exploring ways to mitigate them. This study aims to comprehend the latest developments in digital inequality scholarship, including emerging themes, diverse approaches, focal points, and insights. The goal is to understand the current state of knowledge based on prior studies and discern a path forward. Conducted as a systematic literature review, this research specifically focuses on digital inequality and digital literacy scholarship. The examination emphasised post-Covid-19 pandemic conditions when digital platforms replaced physical interactions. Digital inequality research should move beyond a simplistic notion of the digital divide, focusing on the accessibility and usage of technology within particular population categories. Instead, stressing outcome-oriented digital initiatives is the way to progress and mitigate the digital inequalities that are highly intersectional. Digital literacy facilitates equity, which needs a contextual understanding and intersectional approach. Understanding the contextual factors influencing these trends could offer nuanced perspectives related to empowerment that it can bring. The patterns observed indicate a need for continued research to comprehensively address the multifaceted aspects of digital inequality and its implications on empowerment through digital literacy.

Media and Information Literacy Competencies of Students: A Case for School-based Interventions in India

2023-07-06T05:30:39+00:00

The arrival of the 21st century has brought along new technologies that have quickly become part of our daily lives. These changes have impacted the creation, collection, dissemination and even information retrieval. In this context, it is vital to understand media literacy competency levels among school students. There is also a need to understand the changes required in such programs to figure out barriers, enablers, etc. In India, Media and Information Literacy education was introduced in schools via media clubs set up by the Central Institute of Educational Technology as part of a National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) project launched in 2009-2010. Subsequently, it was introduced as an elective subject in 2011 at the senior secondary level. Over 65 schools across the country offered it. This study evaluates the MIL competency levels of students who have pursued this course. A Non-Equivalent Control Group Post-test Only Quasi-Experimental design was used to test the media competency levels of media and non-media students. Competency levels of 210 candidates from seven schools across the country are evaluated in the study. Based on the findings, changes were suggested at the policy, pedagogy and curriculum level. This is a first-of-its-kind study in India. The study identifies problem areas and suggests solutions for curriculum refinement and structural changes needed for effective media education. It proposes a roadmap for future media educators.

YouTube as a Source of Informal Learning amongst Indian Adolescents: A Case Study on Online Participatory Culture

2023-05-17T12:23:05+00:00

Children engage with all forms of media to fulfil their developmental, informational and entertainment needs, however, embedding the internet in their lives pertains to it being ‘their’ medium. According to the 2016 Global Kids Online report, one-third of the internet users worldwide are children. In 2019, YouTube had the highest penetration of 82% amongst social networks in India. Moreover, YouTube channels for children are extensively prominent in India, thereby, implying its influx in children’s lives. The dynamics of children’s engagement with YouTube for this study stems from the framework of “Participatory Culture” (Jenkins et al., 2009) in the context of informal learning. Therefore, the research paper attempts to examine the participatory culture of adolescents for educational purposes through case study design and focus group discussion as the research method. The findings of this research underscore that the engagement and participation of adolescents is partial in nature especially from the vantage point of them as consumers and producers in an educational setting.

Editorial: Media Literacy through Empowerment: Opportunities of Participation

2024-02-22T16:29:52+00:00

With the increasing access to communication technology, we are witnessing the third level of digital divide - digital inequalities. Digital engagement leads to empowerment. The digital empowerment process slows down where digital inequality is rampantly prevalent. One possible intervention and mitigating factor would be media and information literacy. Empowerment is the outcome of an intersectional process between digital inequality and media literacy. This intersectional process is the core focus area of this journal.