In the wake of the massive and horrific natural disasters in Burma and China, it is important to examine how the provision of humanitarian relief relates to issues of voice and accountability. In a general sense, communication should be an absolutely vital element of any relief effort. Broadcasting or otherwise circulating crucial information about unsafe areas, survivor resources, and important health and public safety issues can help prevent further outbreaks of disease and post-disaster traumas. Apart from providing humanitarian information, an independent media sector (in tandem with civil society) can ensure that rebuilding efforts are consultative, transparent and accountable.
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For seven years now, Chinese academic Guo Liang has been tracking and analyzing patterns in Internet use in the People's Republic of China, presenting one of the most comprehensive overall pictures of the political and social effects of the technology. At a December event at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., Guo presented his latest findings from a survey of Internet usage and impact in seven Chinese cities. Among his more interesting findings: Posted under:
As post-election rioting spreads in Kenya, the Kenyan government has taken the step of suspending all live television and news reports. A media executive quoted by CNN opines that the decision to suspend broadcasts has set back the democratic process by 15 years. Posted under:
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It may seem like a bit of a reach to connect the 
The media landscape is changing faster than many donors can process. New technologies are forcing change upon business models, regulatory structures, and basic patterns of information access and distribution. Yet how much have efforts to assist independent media really changed as a result? I recently tackled these questions in a short study for 
Interesting news from China: 
