Bakalauro baigiamajame darbe nagrinėjama žiniasklaidos, kaip valstybinių institucijų komunikavimo su piliečiais priemonės tema. Tiriamą problemą apibūdina klausimas: kaip valstybinės institucijos naudodamos periodinės spaudos leidinius komunikuoja su piliečiais? Šis darbas susideda iš įvado, dviejų pagrindinių dalių, išvadų, žiniasklaidos panaudojimo rekomendacijų, literatūros sąrašo ir priedų. Teorinėje dalyje pateikiamos viešojo administravimo teorijos apie piliečių įtraukimą į viešajį valdymą, atlikta mokslinės literatūros šaltinių analizė, atskleidžianti galimas valstybinių institucijų ir visuomenės santykių formas. Taip pat apibrėžta žiniasklaidos sąvoka bei pagrįsta jos svarba valstybinių institucijų komunikavimo su piliečiais procese. Empirinėje dalyje pristatomi kiekybinio ir kokybinio tyrimo metu atliktos straipsnių analizės bei 4 ekspertų nuomonių analizės rezultatai. Tyrimo metu identifikuota, kad žiniasklaida, kaip valstybinių institucijų ir visuomenės komunikavimo priemonė, išnaudojama gana siaurai, dažniausiai tai tik informavimo, bet ne įtraukimo į viešojo valdymo procesą priemonė. / Undergraduate thesis examines the media as a tool of communication of public institutions with citizens topic. The investigated problem is defined by a question of how public authorities through the periodic press publication communicate with citizens? This work consists of introduction, the two main parts, the conclusions, the use of media guidelines, references and appendices. The theoretical part presents the theory of public administration of the involvement of citizens in the state government, an analysis of scientific literature was carried out, which reveals the potential forms of relations between public institutions and society. The concept of media was also defined and its importance in the process of communication of public institutions with citizens was based. The empirical part presents the results of analysis of articles carried out during a quantitative and qualitative study and the analysis of opinions of 4 experts. The study identified that the media as a public institutions and public communication tool has been utilized quite narrow, often it is only an informative tool, but it is not an involvement in the public management process tool.

This research addresses the question of effective public participation in resource management decisions within the context of resource-based communities. Despite advances in mechanisms for enabling public input, over the past 30 years, public participation remains problematic. Rather than promoting genuine communication and strengthening relationships between government, resource industries and communities, public participation often becomes an exercise in frustration that increases the adversarial nature of public policy decision-making. Evaluations of public participation have been undertaken across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines, with much emphasis placed on criteria relating to the process and outcome dimensions. The majority of approaches intend to provide universally applicable structures for public participation regardless of the socio-economic, cultural, institutional, or political context within which the process takes place. The purpose of this research was to determine whether consideration of contextual factors can enhance the effectiveness of public participation evaluation. Drawing on the experience of the Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE) process in the Slocan Valley, British Columbia, an in-depth analysis of the pre-process (antecedents), process, and post-process (outcomes) phases of the CORE consultations was performed. The qualitative research involved analysis of case-related documents relating to resource use history, community actors, record of public participation, as well as the application of a multi-criteria evaluation framework to the CORE process. The research revealed the iterative connections between antecedents, process and outcomes. A number of contextual factors placed significant constraints on the effectiveness of the public participation exercise. Intra-community factors included the polarization of interests and a legacy of distrust. These antecedent problems were exacerbated after-the process. Extra-com

Proponents and advocates of transfrontier conservation in southern Africa have postulated rural communities living adjacent to conservation areas as one of the main determinants of the success of such initiatives and thus they should be potential beneficiaries along with the state and the private sector. This assertion is reflected in the various memoranda of understanding (MOU), treaties, policies and agreements establishing transfrontier conservation initiatives. For community participation to be effective, the laws, policies and institutions establishing transfrontier conservation in southern Africa must lead to the empowerment of these rural communities who commonly subsist on local natural resources and perceive them as opportunities to earn a living. I derive a principle and set of criteria and indicators that are used to analyse the legal, policy and institutional framework and its implications for community participation and empowerment in transfrontier conservation in southern Africa. The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park provides a case study. I argue that while provisions for community participation are made in the laws, policies and institutions under which transfrontier conservation is being initiated and implemented in the region, they are not sufficiently prescriptive about empowering communities to secure commitment from conservation agencies to enable communities to effectively participate in transfrontier conservation. It is suggested that as presently defined, the laws, policies and institutions may lead to community disempowerment from transfrontier conservation, as they allow too much scope for interpretations that weaken options for censure where agencies are not demonstrating commitment to community participation and empowerment in conservation. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

Since the establishment of the first protected area in 1872, the Yellowstone National Park, the concept of protected areas and their management have witnessed several controversies and conflicts. Generally, ownership and management of most of these protected areas has in the past been restricted to state -governments. Other stakeholders and particularly local communities neighbouring these areas were excluded from their management and ownership. Since the last three decades, however, conservation bodies have been trying to encourage various other protected area governance (management) approaches to address failures in the existing management approach (in which state governments almost solely managed and owned these protected areas ) to achieve the conservation goals. Some of these include co-management and private protected area management approaches. In Component A of this study, "Co-management as an option for private protected areas: A case study of the Shongweni Resource Reserve", attempts were made to explore a selection of literature in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the concepts of private protected areas and co-management. Through this documentary review of literature from various sources (internet, libraries, personal communication, etc) the study identified, examined and documented various issues associated with the concepts. It also explored and documented the historical and current perspectives as well as the legal and policy context of these concepts in South Africa. In addition, the study examined the study area and the methods explored in the study. The study concludes in this Component that: 1. Protected area co-management is a pluralistic approach to the management of protected areas. It recognises a variety of stakeholders that are conducive to the achievement of sustainable conservation goals. 2. Private protected areas have tremendously increased in South Africa, with a total of 13% of the land surface under private protected area management. This is more than double the land surface under public protected area management. 3. South Africa has adequate legal and policy framework provisions that encourage comanagement as well as private protected area management. / Thesis (M.Env.Dev.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Ecotourism has increasingly been adopted in many countries as a responsible and sustainable form of tourism. The role of the private sector in ecotourism development and specifically the involvement of communities in their activities, is of interest given that the global system of development and neo-liberalism, advocates for an increased involvement of the private sector in developmental activities. This thesis aims to explore the relationship between the private sector and surrounding communities in the ecotourism sector using Umngazi River Bungalows in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province, as a case study. Literature on neo-liberalism, ecotourism, community participation, and stakeholder theory was used to provide the theoretical framework for the study. A multi-strategy methodology approach was adopted in the study with qualitative and quantitative methods being used. Data analysis included basic quantitative statistical analysis and Dey’s approach of grouping responses for qualitative analysis. The thesis distinguished between three types of ecotourism and social responsibility projects at Umngazi River Bungalows, including service infrastructure, income-generating, and philanthropic projects. It was concluded that those projects where the hotel had substantial operational control were more successful than those that were fully community driven. The hotel was found to practice soft ecotourism. The management of the hotel and communities were proactive in ensuring that the natural environment was protected. The hotel has a positive and open relationship with its employees and the tribal authority in the area, and a conspicuous absence of government involvement as a key stakeholder in the operation of ecotourism in the area was noted. It was also concluded that full participation was not necessarily achieved through involvement in decision making structures, but that communities appeared to be content with the other forms of participation. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

As governments increasingly support a collaborative management approach to address complex watershed issues, there is a growing interest in understanding how successfully these processes operate. A cornerstone of collaborative management is the inclusion of public input in the decision-making process. Exactly how and to what extent the public is included in decision making is often left to planning authorities. This study set out to determine if collaborative approaches to watershed management planning have incorporated effective public engagement. The components of effective public engagement processes as identified in public engagement literature were utilized as a diagnostic tool to assess public participation in the development of two watershed management plans in Manitoba, Canada. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of public engagement and addressing barriers to broad public participation in watershed management are presented and discussed.

In the central highlands of Iceland, the implementation of new measures to delimit property rights spatially and to establish new regional management plans have caused debates over the use of natural resources with regard to their exploitation, protection and ownership. This study has tried to highlight how to resolve the debate over the use of natural resources and over the definition of land ownership in Iceland with respect to traditional user-rights and ownership practised by local communities. The answer to these questions are particularly important for marginal local communities that use the commons as pasture for sheep grazing because they will directly be affected by hydropower plants and ecotourism projected by the regional development plans. Collecting data through personal interviews and analyzing legal documents with regard to ownership rights and regional planning have been the principal approaches. Firstly, the thesis discusses the theoretical context of conflict resolution within the future developmental plans for Iceland's central highlands. Secondly, the historical and traditional aspects of locally based agricultural production and the social System practiced in the commons are explored. Thirdly, the new rules for the application of the management of resources, ownership rights as well as for the management of national hydropower energy projects are analyzed. In this case, the tools for territorial conflict resolution and the process of territorial planning are discussed in their relation to the construction of hydropower plants in the commons of the Fljótsdalur valley, located between the highlands and the fjords of the eastern region. Finally, the case of Fljótsdalur is presented by focussing on the conflicting interactions between interests in and values given to either the traditional ownership rights or the regional plans for developing tourism and hydroelectric power. The results indicate tensions over how natural resources of the central highlands should be used. There is also a noticeable difference among the various lobby groups with respect to the level of comprehension of what is the area's significance for the country and its resource development. The results obtained show that monetary compensation or clarification of ownership rights is not sufficient for territorial conflict resolution. More important, rather, is the coordination of regional planning procedures, in a way which enhances cooperation among local institutions, and recognizes the interests and values that local community's associate with their environment.

Abstract This thesis explores how the cultural and social media environments surrounding the journalism of Al Jazeera English are shaped by and shape the channel’s news practices. Al Jazeera English has been described as a contra-flow news organization in the global media landscape and this thesis discusses the different reasons why the channel is described in this way by looking at its origins, aims, characteristics and ideals. Based on interviews with Al Jazeera English journalists, news observations and two field observations in London, I argue that Al Jazeera English brings cultural and social sensitivity to its news reports by engaging with multiple in-depth perspectives, using local reporters and integrating citizen generated material. The channel’s early adoption of online technologies and citizen journalism also contributes to a more democratic news direction and gives the channel a wider spectrum of opinions and perspectives to choose between. By applying a comparative analysis built on similar studies within anthropology of news journalism differences and similarities within the journalistic practices can be detected, comparing Al Jazeera English’s journalism with journalism at other places and news organizations. These comparisons and discussions enables new understandings for how news is produced and negotiated within the global media landscape, and this gives the global citizen an improved comprehension of why the news, which shapes our appreciation of the world, looks like it does. In conclusion, this awareness opens up for a discussion towards a societal transformation that gives space for a more multifaceted journalism distancing itself from one-sided perspectives and institutional censoring.

This was a study of the problems of community involvement in the Integrated Development Planning process in the Ditsobotla Local Municipality. These problems affects the manner in which the community participation should be done in the process. This exercise is the fulfilment of the provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 and Municipal Systems Act which emphases community participation in the IDP process. It was found that though surveyed legislation emphasized community participation in the study area, in Ditsobotla Local Municipality this was a problem. This was due to the fact that Ditsobotla Local Municipality had a vast area consisting of urban and rural areas, as well as a diversity of races and cultures. For example, it was easy to convene mass meeting in the black communities but difficult to get similar response among the white or Asian communities. Interaction was through the media, or written messages. The following are recommendations derived from the findings: That public participation should encompass a sense that the public's contribution will influence the final outcome. That the public participation process must reflect the interests of and meet the needs of participants. The participation process should facilitate the involvement of those potentially affected. Consideration should be given to how unorganized communities or interest groups could be brought together as participants. That participants should be involved in defining the manner in which they wish to participate. Participants should be provided with the information they need to make their contribution meaningful. / Thesis (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2002

As governments increasingly support a collaborative management approach to address complex watershed issues, there is a growing interest in understanding how successfully these processes operate. A cornerstone of collaborative management is the inclusion of public input in the decision-making process. Exactly how and to what extent the public is included in decision making is often left to planning authorities. This study set out to determine if collaborative approaches to watershed management planning have incorporated effective public engagement. The components of effective public engagement processes as identified in public engagement literature were utilized as a diagnostic tool to assess public participation in the development of two watershed management plans in Manitoba, Canada. Recommendations for improving the effectiveness of public engagement and addressing barriers to broad public participation in watershed management are presented and discussed.