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This article examines how teenage refugees in Europe develop digital skills in and through conditions of vulnerability. We argue that recognising vulnerability as a productive force, rather than merely as context, is crucial if we are to fully understand the emergence, limits and lack of skills among young people experiencing perpetual marginality. Drawing on 96 interviews and five creative workshops with teenage refugees in the cities of Athens, Brussels and London, we discuss three ways in which vulnerability and digital skills become entangled: (i) (dis-)connection, especially in conditions of scarce, interrupted and unsafe digital connectivity; (ii) learning, especially in contexts where digital and transnational literacies co-exist, compete or compensate for educational inequalities; and (iii) digital bordering, especially as this relates to restrictive regimes of mobility control that prolong risks for young refugees' wellbeing and even life itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predominant frames in news media representations of migration issues shape attitudes towards refugees. Being mostly confronted with negative news frames, people may be less inclined to believe stories that stress positive aspects of immigration. However, the frames' positive implementation hinges on their presumed credibility. The aim of this study is to better understand both how young and adult Flemings perceive dominant news frames concerning refugees and how they are affected by them. We distinguish between young people and adults since they differ in their news media use, news attitudes, and opinion towards refugees. Accordingly, a randomized, post-test, only between-subjects survey experiment was conducted (N = 2424). Our results show that young people are more receptive than adults to media messages, regardless of a positive or negative connotation. Furthermore, our study confirms that the perceived credibility of a news frame is associated with the audience's attitudes to migration, since an audience demonstrates a clear tendency to only accept the relevant frames as true, if they align with their own views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers political scientist Jay G. Blumler's assertion that public broadcasters should explicitly and elaborately define the forms of services they intend to offer. He calls for the development of a monitoring system with a view to correcting the potential erosion of the values upheld by political broadcasters. Other topics discussed include political influence, independence of public service media, and the rise of misinformation.

Countering violent radicalization is a priority in many countries, prompting research that assesses attitudes and beliefs about violent radicalization in the general population. The majority of violent radicalization assessments have been developed among specific populations, with limited investigation into the generalizability and cross-cultural applicability of measurement tools. A transcultural investigation raises questions about the implicit assumptions and norms that inform instrument development. This research examined the psychometric properties of the Sympathy for Violent Radicalization Scale (SyfoR), a measure developed for use with Pakistani and Bangladeshi immigrant groups in the UK, in two convenience samples of youth and young adults in North America and Western Europe. We investigated the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of adapted versions of the SyfoR among convenience samples of youth and young adults living in Belgium (N = 2014) and in Quebec, Canada (N = 1364) via online surveys administered to students engaged in secondary and post-secondary education. Results indicate that, in both samples, a reduced, 8-item version of the SyfoR has a 3-factor structure with good model fit statistics using confirmatory factor analysis and good internal consistency reliability. More studies are needed to assess the appropriateness of the SyfoR for use in diverse contexts and among diverse populations. The potential usefulness and harmfulness of measures of violent radicalization should balance the benefits of obtaining local data with the risks associated with pathologizing social dissent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A weeklong diary study (N = 460) into the exposure to news of Belgian (Flemish) adult media users (aged 25–45) shows that their information consumption is currently relatively diverse. An explanation for the observed diversity is that news consumers in Dutch-speaking Belgium have a wide array of internally balanced news titles and channels at their disposal, which they also actively consult. In addition, the study demonstrates that news consumption patterns span across all media platforms. This study thus illustrates that there is a weak influence of ideological attitudes and psychosocial dispositions on news consumption, measured in time of consumption per media title or channel. These findings call for a revision of theories of selective exposure that disregard the influence that the diversity of information supply can have on the selection procedures of recipients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the main functions of news media in democracies is informing the citizenry on day-to-day affairs. However, the way in which citizens gather news has changed as nowadays people have more opportunities than ever before to adapt their media consumption based on their preferences. One of the major game changers was the introduction of social media. This raises the question to what extent traditional media still contribute to people's knowledge of current affairs. Using a time-diary study in the Flemish media context, we investigate the influence of different forms of news consumption on current news knowledge. We conclude that traditional (print and audiovisual) media, including popular outlets, continue to be the major contributors to people's knowledge about current affairs and that social media hardly contribute at all. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gezi Park demonstrations across Turkey in the early summer of 2013 offered another opportunity to examine the role played by social media in a social movement. This survey of 967 ethnic (Turkish or Kurdish) minorities living in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany focuses on attitudes and behaviors alongside uses of offline and online networks to make connections with others during and after Gezi. We investigate whether the respondents living in the diaspora experienced communication-generated social capital. We also examine whether the social capital already built through lives spent in Europe, where connections to majority populations had been forged, was at least temporarily reversed through a process of re-bonding, as ethnic minorities turned their attention and loyalty to the social movement in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public and commercial news follow distinct logics. We evaluate this duality in television news coverage on immigration. First, by means of a large-scale content analysis of Flemish television news (N = 1630), we investigate whether immigration coverage diverges between both broadcasters. Results show that, despite an overall negativity bias and relative homogeneity between the broadcasters, commercial news contains slightly more sensational and tabloid characteristics than public news. The latter promotes a more balanced view of immigration. These differences are stable over time. Second, using cross-sectional and panel data, we assess whether a preference for public versus commercial news is associated with an attitudinal gap in anti-immigrant attitudes. Findings demonstrate that individuals who prefer commercial news are more negative towards immigrants. We suggest that differences in news content may explain this attitudinal gap. In light of the debate around ‘public value’ offered by public service media across Europe, we tentatively conclude that public broadcasters have the potential to foster tolerance and provide balanced information by prioritizing a normative view over a market logic. The linkage between news coverage and the gap in attitudes between commercial and public news viewers warrants closer investigation in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the frames used in reporting on the euro crisis. As far as the debt crisis is concerned, the media are the main source of information for European citizens. It is therefore interesting to carry out an in-depth content analysis of news coverage. The study looks into five dominant frames in Flemish (i.e. Dutch-speaking Belgium) and Dutch newspapers. War proved to be the most frequently used frame, followed by disease, natural disaster, construction and game. The prevalence of these frames was stable in both countries and from one type of newspaper to another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines how the two leading Dutch newspapers use its key resources to attack the political career of the 53-year-old homosexual Pim Fortuyn who is also a former professor of sociology in Netherlands. It says that the two newspaper industry, namely "de Volkskrant and "De Telegraaf," has been demonizing Fortuyn's appearance since January 2002, the time he started his political career in Netherlands where he run in the national elections. The authors argue that the two Dutch newspapers applied the concept of framing on the grounds of biased reporting against Fortuyn.

New information technologies, liberalizing policies and rapidly changing societies from monoto multicultural entail serious consequences for the prospects of European public service broadcasters (PSB) in a network society. The European concept of PSB as a comprehensive and universal service is challenged by both European Union and national authorities at three levels: (1) mission and programme task (comprehensive or complementary programming?); (2) organization (central organization or 'distributed public service'?); and (3) financing (licence fee, advertising or 'state aid'?). There are pressures towards a more 'pure' model of public service broadcasting and/or towards de-institutionalization of PSB and 'distributed public service'. Recent pleadings for (e.g. in the Netherlands) and practices of (e.g. in New Zealand) new PSB policy directions will be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with ICT availability among ethnic minority groups in the Netherlands and Flanders. The rapid spread of ICT applications has affected various aspects of digital citizenship. The study results suggest that the world of ethnic minority youths in the Netherlands and Flanders, as with other western countries, is being digitized gradually. This is an irreversible evolution with tangible effects in new trends in communication and consumption. Ethnic minority youths orient themselves to the country where they live (bridging between cultures) as well as to their parents' country of origin (bonding of social capital).This article examines whether differences in information and communication technology access and use can be explained by culture-specific characteristics such as ethnocultural position, religion and language proficiency, apart from the usual sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex and socio-economic status). Examining the online activities of ethnic minority youths, it distinguishes between e-surfing, e-communicating, e-democratic citizens and e-cultural citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study of reporting of Islam activities in the Dutch periodical "Algemeen Dagblad." The study sought to find out the frequency of publication of Islam-related articles, the countries in which the events reported took place, slant of Islam-related articles, and the people chosen by the periodical to present Islam views. The study examined the periodical's reporting from 1998 to 2004. The study found out that the periodical's reporting of Islam-related events is fairly balanced.

The article presents information about the representation of ethnicity in domestic news in the European Union countries and the Netherlands. Portrayal is undoubtedly influential in the shaping of people's opinions about ethnic minorities, if only because most people do not have direct contact and exchange with ethnic minorities and thus rely on hearsay and the media as main sources for their knowledge about ethnic minority groups and issues. Although many media monitoring reports have assessed the position of ethnic minorities in the news, there are few whose scope goes beyond the national borders. Moreover, the existing single-country studies cannot be compared as they use different selection criteria, and the few cross-national studies that exist usually focus on a selected group of approximately six countries. The advantage of focusing on domestic news is that it avoids the methodological problem of dealing with groups of different origin, and minority v. majority status in domestic v. international news.

This article monitors news coverage on the European Union and EU-related matters in terms of news frames and news discourses adopted in online versions of seven quality newspapers (six European and one American) over a period of four months (December 2001-March 2002). During this period the EU Council Summit was held in Laeken, Belgium, on 14 and 15 December 2001. The selection of the national quality press outlets is carried out on the basis of a general, significant readership and centrality to the current media debate on European issues in the country. The seven countries are interesting cases in terms of their varying role in the history of European integration as well as their current attitude towards the EU. The research literature identifies five recurrent news frames (conflict, human interest, economic consequences, morality and responsibility): this article assesses the relative visibility of each of these news frames in the coverage on the EU and its institutions in the news outlets under study. Furthermore, it asks which discourse is more dominant when it comes to the shaping of European identity as portrayed in the news reporting. Four types of discourse (culture, expansion, in- and exclusion and power) are examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How readers consume and recall news presented in online and print versions of two newspapers in the Netherlands are investigated in this experimental study. Few differences are found between the online and print versions in terms of news supply Reader attention to the news stories varies, depending on the newspaper and news category. No consistent reading pattern is evident and the print version readers do not read more than the online version readers. News Consumption seems to be more dependent on the news category; reader gender and interest in a particular topic than on whether the news appears in print or online. Finally, on the basis of cued and free recall questions, no consistent pattern differentiates readers of the print newspapers from the online versions. In conclusion, evidence has not been found that online readers consume and retain news differently from readers of the print versions examined in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structural changes in the media world, including an increase in competition and commercialization, mean that the topicality and urgency of the notion of social responsibility in the media are increasing. Analogously, the discussion of the social responsibility of companies and organizations becomes a central concern in the business world and within government, as the relatively new concept of `good governance' shows. In recent years we have seen that the absolute belief in the free market is once again under debate. Rather than a return to a controlling government as the main provider of a context in the complex `ecology' of communication policy, possible solutions are now sought in greater responsibility for the media actors themselves (media companies and organizations, citizens, supervisory boards and commissions) and in self-regulation in the media profession. This article assesses accountability mechanisms currently in existence in the Netherlands and provides a comparative overview of interesting practices in other geographical contexts. This contribution also examines the academic reflection upon and conceptualization of such notions as social `responsibility' and media `accountability' in the division of labour throughout the market, the government and civil society. We are thinking of mechanisms for accountability such as a contract between the government and the broadcasters, an ombudsperson, forms of self- regulation, supervisory bodies, forms of public consultation, and the profession seeking contact with the citizens (e.g. civic journalism). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the information and communication technologies in multicultural society. Patterns of media consumption; Internet in minority identity construction and perception; Role of the media in the development and perception of identity.

Assesses the nature of news coverage on Indonesia in the online versions of a number of Dutch newspapers and the paper of a current affairs magazine. Historical ties between the Netherlands and Indonesia; Analysis and in-depth interviews with newsmakers and experts; Information on research questions used.

Comments on the recurrent frames of news reporting concerning refugees in the Netherlands. Issues on the portrayal of migrant groups by the media; Concepts of agenda-setting by in the mass media; Influence of media frames on the attitudes and perceptions of the public.

Presents several abstracts on mass media studies. Significance of witnesses on media events; Discussions on television viewers; Policies on television programs for children published in November 2001 issue of the journal 'Media, Culture and Society.'

Editorial. Introduces articles on Canada's media and telecommunications industries published in the June 2000 issue of 'Gazette.'

This article looks at policy options taken by the Canadian government in an age of globalization and information. A first part explores federal government initiatives pertaining to Canada's preparedness for the information society. A second part assesses some provincial government policy options, with a separate section paying special attention to the Quebec government's intentions, which include support for the production and online dissemination of content and services in the French language (undoubtedly to be understood as an element of the Quebec government's sovereigntist project). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When on 1 May 1995 TMF (The Music Factory) started off as the first local popular music television station on Dutch cable, it tried right away to compete with MTV. This article, based upon a telephone survey among a national sample of 400 people, shows ample evidence that people not only watch TMF more frequently than MTV, but that on average they like TMF a lot more. Moreover, TMF seems to be better able to fulfil the music needs of Dutch teenage viewers. TMF programming fits the youth subcultures of the ‘gabbers’ and the hiphoppers. The subcultures that are best served by MTV are those whose members like rock music: punk, alto, metal and skater. Hence the subcultures which TMF serves are much larger in number than MTV's. Therefore it seems that TMF has been able to adjust better to local conditions and that its programming is better suited to the local target groups than MTV's. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Looks at the changes in the television broadcasting of news in Indonesia before and after the administration of President Suharto. Increase in the number of commercial stations; Extent to which the national context allows for quality in television news; Problem areas for news making; Roles played by Indonesian television news departments in the country's political upheaval and reform.

Focuses on the identification of the general trends and how the young people deal with the media offers. Integration of computer-based media and services; Description of differences in a cross-cultural studies; Occupation on the dominant position for television in the lives of children and teenagers.

Examines the changing patterns of media and the impact of media on the family lifestyle. Privatization of access through media equipment; Orientation of media with game consoles and computers for male children; Interest in the domestic context of media uses.

In this study, three arts programmes were analysed, each with an individual format and specific function: (1) the arts diary which announces the cultural events in Belgium during the coming week; (2) the arts magazine which focuses on two or three works of art with topical connections; (3) the arts documentary which sheds light on an artistic movement or an artist, while under no pressure to be topical. A deliberate sample of 50 art-loving television viewers were surveyed. This sample, although not representative of the Flemish population, undoubtedly provides the greatest opportunity to analyse both the cognitive and emotional reactions of a potential viewing audience. This study is an example of an integrated programme and viewer survey, where both quantitative and qualitative methods are employed. The relevant characteristics of a programme, in terms of form and content, are presented to a selected group of viewers and, where necessary, alternative formats and contents are formulated. This survey was also intended to play a supportive role within the overall programme strategy of the public broadcaster. The questions asked of the viewing audience were in every case determined in consultation with the programme-makers: mostly questions of the viewer's appreciation (evaluation) of programme formats, but also regarding the transfer of knowledge and information achieved by the content of the programme. In addition to a series of questions on their prior knowledge and their knowledge (before and after the viewing session, respectively), those questioned also had to answer a set of evaluation questions. The participants were questioned both individually (by means of in-depth interviews) and in groups (in panel discussions). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents information on the papers published in a special issue of the "Gazette: The International Journal for Communications Studies," presenting research on media frames. This special issue is an attempt to take stock of the well-documented procedures entailing news selection and production. This particular research strand, which finds its origins in the all too well known fact that the media merely represent a very limited selection of reality, which is nonetheless perceived by many citizens as the one and only reality. All five articles in this special issue deal with the media texts in their contexts primarily: journalists' frames that have become media frames are identified in concrete media output. A frame can be defined as a consistent bundle of schemata, which emerges in discourse, exchanges with other discourses and influences information processing. The different media systems, journalistic practices and time periods covered are perceived here as the equally varied contextual ways of mapping out journalists' cognition on issues.

Editorial. Discusses topics concerning the determinants of international news production. Comparison between developed and developing countries in terms of their handling of systemic determinants of international news flows; U.S. network news during international elections; Role of the community in deciding when and why some U.S. newspaper organizations invest in staff expertise in the field of international news.

Editorial. Focuses on the role of mass media in Indonesia.