Unpublicized results.

Freedom of religion being one of the main concerns of the World Council of Churches, we think it is necessary to deal periodically in our Review with the most important recent events concerning religious liberty, on the doctrinal as well as on the practical level. Thus we hope to reflect in these pages our “eternal vigilance, which is the price of freedom.”

Just because a nation regularly holds elections does not mean the path to democratization—and media freedom—is smooth. Chapter 4 shows that external measures indicate that Kenya has more press freedom than neighbouring Uganda and Rwanda, and journalists in the country perceive that to be true and have an optimistic outlook. However, data show ups and downs of media freedom that have mirrored varying political administrations and events, including spurts of post-election violence, largely due to politicians being deeply entangled with the news media. Despite the challenges, the nation has more press freedom than its neighbours, which journalists attribute to the vast international connections that the country and its leaders have, as well as an empowered civil society, which stems from both a space for dissent given by public officials as well as the culture and spirit of Kenyans which has promoted the growth of human rights, including media freedoms.

General surgeons in the world of gatekeepers

Freedom of the press has always been boisterous, from the earliest days of the American republic, but it has always been viewed as an essential check on government power. In the 20th century, when news media generally adhered to common (and high) standards of objectivity, public trust was robust. In the 21st century, social media have revived an earlier tradition of highly opinionated information and questionable accuracy. When everyone is a publisher, and even basic facts are often in dispute, how can the news consumer know what to believe? Public television has retained the trust of a remarkable range of ideological competitors, but views of other media now reflect sharp political divides. Can anything be done to restore widespread trust in the news media?

The annaliste historian Fernand Braudel asserts that dealing with the concept of liberty, “in all its connotations including ‘taking liberties,’” is the distinguishing mark of western civilization, the socio‐political problem that most persistently occurs from the fifth century to the present. The liberty to communicate, to impart and receive information of all kinds, is at the heart of the western idea of liberty. “This process has never been peaceful; yet it is one of the secrets that explains Europe's progress” (Braudel 1993). The struggle for the practice of free “mass” communication begins with the emergence of newspapers in the seventeenth century, but the press freedoms gained over the next 300 years have been limited to print (→ Newspaper, History of; Freedom of the Press, Concept of). Even in the west a media‐blind right of free expression has never been established, and newer media from film through broadcasting and beyond have been subject to the imposition, or the attempted imposition, of specific controls.

The annaliste historian Fernand Braudel asserts that dealing with the concept of liberty, “in all its connotations including ‘taking liberties,’” is the distinguishing mark of western civilization, the socio‐political problem that most persistently occurs from the fifth century to the present. The liberty to communicate, to impart and receive information of all kinds, is at the heart of the western idea of liberty. “This process has never been peaceful; yet it is one of the secrets that explains Europe's progress” (Braudel 1993). The struggle for the practice of free “mass” communication began with the emergence of newspapers in the seventeenth century, but the press freedoms gained over the next 300 years have been limited to print (→ Newspaper, History of; Freedom of the Press, Concept of). Even in the west, a media‐blind right of free expression has never been established, and newer media from film through broadcasting and beyond have been subject to the imposition, or the attempted imposition, of specific controls.

This article examines the diversification of the news media in Korea since the 1990s as a result of deregulation and democratization. It also examines the impact of media diversity on the public’s use patterns and its trust in the media, and evaluates the current state of freedom of the press in Korea. Contrary to scholarly research, which holds that freedom of the press has increased significantly over the last decade, this study found that the Korean press still faces a variety of restraints despite improvements in a few areas.

Patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder face more challenges during pandemic

A decade after the Jasmine Revolution ushered in the Arab Spring, Tunisia remains a bright spot for democratic reform and press freedom in the Middle East and North Africa. However, this transition is still tentative, and the reforms remain fragile. This study examines Tunisian journalism students ( N = 193) to understand their motivations for earning a degree in the field and how they conceptualize journalism’s role in society. By studying Tunisian journalism students’ motivations for entering this transforming field, and how those students perceive their pre-professional roles, we may gain a glimpse into how they are internalizing the lessons of the revolution. The results of this survey showed that students emphasized social responsibility motivations for studying journalism. Participants most strongly valued the role of journalists in promoting tolerance and cultural diversity, educating the audience, letting people express their views, reporting things as they are, and supporting national development. These results suggest that Tunisian students view their work as assuming monitorial and interventionist roles.

The press in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) is closely tied to its communist sociopolitical structures. The North Korean press finds its modus operandi in the ‘Soviet Communist’ theory for its relationship with its government. This study examines the press laws and regulations in North Korea, pursuing three questions: (1) What is the status of the press as a sociopolitical institution in North Korea?; (2) What is the constitutional and statutory scheme relating to press freedom in North Korea?; and (3) What is the impact of the statutory mechanisms on the press in North Korea? The press and other mass media in North Korea are totally controlled by the Korean Worker's Party. No dissenting voice is permitted in the news media. North Korea recognizes freedom of the press as a Constitutional right of their citizens. Nevertheless, there is a considerable disparity between the constitutional guarantee of press freedom and its practical application. In the name of ‘collective good’ as de...

This chapter considers the link between media and democracy, which is often assumed to be a self-evident and universal truth. The chapter argues that the mismatch between normative models derived from the Global North and the lived realities in African societies is evident in many cases where media have failed to keep governments to account, where the media served sectional interests, and where media ethical norms imported from elsewhere did not adequately speak to African lived experiences. The chapter also notes the many cases of democratic regression in African societies, where the resurgence of authoritarian tendencies has increased pressure on media freedom and consequently on the ability of media to contribute to democratic debate and the deepening of democratic culture. The chapter uses Zimbabwe as an illustration of such repressive government control over the news media that has given rise to alternative forms of media.

Since their emergence as means of public communication, both the press and broadcasting have been heralded as important tools for the exercise of freedom of expression and the right to information. This human rights dimension of the media has been intrinsically linked to the recognition of the vital role of the media, especially the news media, for genuine democratic systems, despite variation in systems of democratic governance and theory (Baker, 2002; Trappel, 2011). Citizens, it has been argued, can play an active role in the political process, take advantage of opportunities for political participation and contribute to political dialogue only if they have access to information. By purveying information on public affairs and by providing a space for public debate, the media were seen as key facilitators of participatory decision-making. Also, their potential to prompt the government to be responsive to the people, and, hence, enhance government accountability and transparency has been widely recognised. The media, in other words, have been claimed to be the life-blood of democracy (Fenton, 2010).

Physicians, Patients, Sex and Chaperones: Rethinking Medical Regulation

Objective:Occupational risk of transmission of bloodborne pathogens represents a major challenge in prevention. Even though preventive recommendations to avoid needlestick injuries among healthcare workers include the use of needle protective devices, its use in developing countries is not a standard practice. This study aimed to measure, on experienced nurses, perception of performance characteristics and activation of the safety feature of a safety closed IV catheter system (BD Pegasus), called catheter P, versus a non-safety device (BD Intima II) called catheter I in healthy volunteers.*BD Pegasus is a registered trade name of Beckton Dickinson Medical, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA.†BD Intima II is a registered trade name of Beckton Dickinson Medical, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA.Method:Fifty-two nurses and 205 healthy volunteers participated in a prospective, randomized, controlled study in a simulated setting. Each nurse performed two insertions of each catheter (one in each forearm) in four study volunteers; the order of insertions was randomly assigned. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the performance of the two catheters regarding Overall Perception of Clinical Acceptability and Ease of Use.Results:Overall acceptance of the device performance characteristics was 90% or more. In all cases, catheter P performed at least as well as catheter I. There were no differences in the insertion success rate between the two devices (93.7% vs. 96.2%). Activation of the safety feature of catheter P occurred 99.4%. Subjects’ perception of pain was similar for both devices. Overall perception of clinical acceptability and ease of use were judged better for catheter P than for catheter I (p = 0.006, and p < 0.001 respectively). All clinicians strongly agreed that catheter P would protect them from needle stick injuries.Conclusions:Despite the study limitations, mainly its artificial setting and its inability to blind, the results indicate that the Safety Closed IV Catheter System with its safety feature represents a good alternative for IV catheter insertions that can help reduce the incidence of stick injuries in health care workers.

Media pluralism exists in Algeria in the official texts but in practice there is still a situation of disrespect for fundamental news values, media ethics and independence. The media have not objectively met the public’s needs and expectations because of political interferences and commercial pressures. The results are a big public shift to social media, considered as a new source of news, empowerment and press freedom. The chapter describes and analyses how social media are gaining more ground, credibility and popularity by offering platforms and spaces to speak out on public affairs. Algeria has since the 22nd of February 2019 embarked on a series of street demonstrations and protests. Protesters brandish one of the slogans: ‘from platforms, blogs and websites to the street, to reality’. It is a pertinent indication that social media is having an impact on real political and social life in Algeria. New social media users and followers are empowering themselves using new tools to exert pressure and influence on everyday political events and ultimately on the future constitutional agenda of the country.