Media pluralism and regulatory independence

Dr Rachael Craufurd Smith is a Senior lecturer in the School of Law, University of Edinburgh. Dr Craufurd Smith is also a solicitor, specializing in media, the regulation of culture and European Union Law. Dr Craufurd Smith is a qualified solicitor and has formerly worked for the BBC

Rachael Craufurd Smith: Lords’ Media Plurality Report is Potential Road Map

In another response to the report on media plurality just published by the House of Lords Communications Committee, University of Edinburgh’s Rachael Craufurd Smith finds it offers a useful road map, but with some caveats

Using information and communication technologies to disseminate and exchange agriculture-related climate information in the Indo-Gangetic Plains

This report documents and analyses emerging trends in the delivery and exchange of climate information in institutionalized agricultural extension systems, as well as through information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) efforts that have a rural–agricultural focus. Such an analysis aims to give a clearer indication of how to best direct potential future investments in sharing climate change information with noninstitutional stakeholders. The analysis covers four countries across the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP): Bangladesh, India (Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal States), Nepal (Terai Region), and Pakistan (Punjab Province). The critical potential impacts of climate change across the IGP include drought, flooding, glacial lake outburst floods, and variability of river runoff and coastal salinity

Effect of elevated CO2 and high temperature on seed-set and grain quality of rice

Hybrid vigour may help overcome the negative effects of climate change in rice. A popular rice hybrid (IR75217H), a heat-tolerant check (N22), and a mega-variety (IR64) were tested for tolerance of seed-set and grain quality to high-temperature stress at anthesis at ambient and elevated [CO2]. Under an ambient air temperature of 29 °C (tissue temperature 28.3 °C), elevated [CO2] increased vegetative and reproductive growth, including seed yield in all three genotypes. Seed-set was reduced by high temperature in all three genotypes, with the hybrid and IR64 equally affected and twice as sensitive as the tolerant cultivar N22. No interaction occurred between temperature and [CO2] for seed-set. The hybrid had significantly more anthesed spikelets at all temperatures than IR64 and at 29 °C this resulted in a large yield advantage. At 35 °C (tissue temperature 32.9 °C) the hybrid had a higher seed yield than IR64 due to the higher spikelet number, but at 38 °C (tissue temperature 34–35 °C) there was no yield advantage. Grain gel consistency in the hybrid and IR64 was reduced by high temperatures only at elevated [CO2], while the percentage of broken grains increased from 10% at 29 °C to 35% at 38 °C in the hybrid. It is concluded that seed-set of hybrids is susceptible to short episodes of high temperature during anthesis, but that at intermediate tissue temperatures of 32.9 °C higher spikelet number (yield potential) of the hybrid can compensate to some extent. If the heat tolerance from N22 or other tolerant donors could be transferred into hybrids, yield could be maintained under the higher temperatures predicted with climate change

Media ownership transparency in Europe:Closing the gap between European aspiration and domestic reality

This article examines media ownership transparency through the lens of European human rights policy and evaluates media ownership transparency in over 30 European countries based on data returned to the Media Pluralism Monitor. Using these data, we examine the existence and quality of two types of disclosure, ‘upwards’, to public bodies and ‘downwards’, directly to the public, enabling both the monitory and informational functions of ownership transparency to be fulfilled. We conclude that regulation is patchy and variable across Europe and that a coordinated, multi-actor approach is necessary to give effect to internationally recognized standards in the field