Transistor-Chopper Stabilization of D. C. Amplifiers

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Gada žurnāls Latvijas Fotogrāfija 2021

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Media education in the common interest: Public perceptions of media literacy policy in Latvia

Although the academic interest in media and information literacy (MIL) is ever increasing, there are not many studies that analyze the public perception of media literacy. This article analyses the interrelations between encouragement measures implemented by media policy and the perception of media literacy in society. The research employs data from a national representative survey (May 2019; N=1,017 respondents). The study explores the respondents’ media literacy perceptions; opinions on risks potentially caused by insufficient media literacy skills; and respondents’ experience with MIL activities. The survey results are compared with survey data on media literacy encouragement measures, aims and target audiences obtained from the Media Policy Unit at the Ministry of Culture media literacy partners. The theoretical background is supported by the media literacy ideological model, which explains media literacy within relationships with the social institutions in which it is practiced, as well as social processes. The data results are controversial. Even though more than half of Latvia’s population view their media literacy knowledge as insufficient, 52% of the respondents are not interested in MIL issues. Concerning the consequences of insufficient media literacy skills within society, the respondents focused mostly on threats to children (40%) and general public safety (28%), decrease in welfare (28%), societal regress (25%), fewer opportunities for high-quality education (26%) and Latvia being behind other EU countries (24%). Even though the media literacy encouragement measures in Latvia include activities aimed at various audiences, they have been noticed by only a slight number of respondents (7–10%).Although the academic interest in media and information literacy (MIL) is ever increasing, there are not many studies that analyze the public perception of media literacy. This article analyses the interrelations between encouragement measures implemented by media policy and the perception of media literacy in society. The research employs data from a national representative survey (May 2019; N=1,017 respondents). The study explores the respondents’ media literacy perceptions; opinions on risks potentially caused by insufficient media literacy skills; and respondents’ experience with MIL activities. The survey results are compared with survey data on media literacy encouragement measures, aims and target audiences obtained from the Media Policy Unit at the Ministry of Culture media literacy partners. The theoretical background is supported by the media literacy ideological model, which explains media literacy within relationships with the social institutions in which it is practiced, as well as social processes. The data results are controversial. Even though more than half of Latvia’s population view their media literacy knowledge as insufficient, 52% of the respondents are not interested in MIL issues. Concerning the consequences of insufficient media literacy skills within society, the respondents focused mostly on threats to children (40%) and general public safety (28%), decrease in welfare (28%), societal regress (25%), fewer opportunities for high-quality education (26%) and Latvia being behind other EU countries (24%). Even though the media literacy encouragement measures in Latvia include activities aimed at various audiences, they have been noticed by only a slight number of respondents (7–10%)

Latvia: Bibliographical database of Latvian journalism and media research related to risks and opportunities for deliberative communication (2000–2020)

The dataset is produced within the framework of the HORIZON 2020 project called MEDIADELCOM (Critical Exploration of Media Related Risks and Opportunities for Deliberative Communication: Development Scenarios of the European Media Landscape) in 2021-2022. The dataset is one of the 14 single-country data sets included in the consolidated file of country data sets (with 5623 entries), all in msw.xlsx format. All tables are searchable by 20 variables: full reference, year of publication, national/international publication, language, country the publication deals with, time of empirical data gathering, type of publication, open access/not OA, where referenced, focus on journalism domain, focus on media-related competences domain, focus on media usage patterns domain, focus on legal and ethical regulations domain, type of the approach, original key words, main topic, comments, country. As the data has been gathered specifically about the research done in four mentioned domains concerning potential ROs emanating from the news media development for deliberative communication, this database does NOT cover ALL the academic publications in the fields of media and journalism research. Consequently, the above-mentioned conditions limit the generalizations and comparisons based on the current database

LATVIA. Risks and Opportunities Related to Media and Journalism Studies (2000–2020). Case Study on the National Research and Monitoring Capabilities.

Analysing the scientific publications dedicated to the development of journalism and media in Latvia during the twenty years from 2000 to 2020, this article presents conclusions about the research basis that could affect the state of deliberative communication. Academic studies con-tent that reflects the situation of journalism, media use, legal and ethical regulation and media-related competencies, describes the research environment, research issues and their scientific quality. Analysis of the bibliographic data (317 publications) shows that the media and journalism land-scape in Latvia has been studied in a fragmented manner. The quality of media studies and communication research in Latvia is low. Due to a lack of resources, the number of studies is limited, and the scale of internationally referenced publications is small, as well as the studies cover a limited range of media and journalism problems. The risks of deliberative communication are related to the gaps in knowledge and lack of impact of the research on both media policy and the public. This is a result of the low level of research, small number of experts, sporadic and non-continuity of data, lack of original and creative ap-proaches in the research field, weak international networking, and exchange. The recent devel-opments in the field (more structured science funding system, requirements for scientific publi-cations, young doctors in the field) are indicating opportunities to diminish the risks. However, this is not possible without strengthening research in the areas of media law, media economy and management as well as regarding new challenges for journalism caused by technological development. Limited research opportunities mean that Latvian media researchers, if possible, follow the current trends in research, but are unable to make an in-depth contribution to the development of communication and media theories

LATVIA. Critical junctures in the media transformation process.

Based on the bibliographic data of media studies, this paper analyses the most important areas of media development-related risks and opportunities for deliberative democracy. Accessing data in political, economic, social, and technology development from 2000 to 2020 in Latvia, the most important critical junctures have been defined as follows: first, the media legislation development during the first decade of the new millennium did not prevent politicians from influencing the independence of the media authority and, secondly, the state of journalism was affected by changes in the structure of the public communication environment in the early 2000s (the PR field and digital communication expanded) and during the economic crisis (2008- 2010), which caused the restructuring of education in journalism (the demand for education in journalism decreased), and the relatively low salaries in media companies reduced the prestige of journalism as a profession; third, the technological development, digitisation and advent of social media contributed to the change of audience structure, media repertoires, uses and trust in news media; fourth, inclusion of media literacy in general education and public discourse as a response to the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014