Arab media,corporate communications,and public relations: the case of Al Jazeera

Over the past few decades, public relations has developed significantly in the West into a sophisticated management function which is recognized as an integral part of any organization's attempt to communicate with various persons, both within and outside the organization, in order to achieve its goals and objectives. However, this is not the case in the Arab world where public relations remains underdeveloped and, even when practised, is relatively unsophisticated. This paper deals with the public relations function in a prominent though controversial Arab media organization: Al Jazeera Satellite Channel. It explores how Al Jazeera has been dealing with internal and external communication issues impelled initially by its role as a satellite broadcaster spearheading changes in a vibrant Arab mediascape and subsequently by its expansion into a global broadcaster. Drawing on James Grunig's four models of communication to analyze Al Jazeera's public relations practices, the case study at hand outlines some of the communication challenges and opportunities the organization has been facing during its 10 years of existence. The case of an indigenous organization like Al Jazeera operating in a culturally distinct environment puts into perspective communications issues and complicates our understanding of how public relations is understood and practised outside the normative Western public relations paradigm.     

政府大数据治理体系下的实践研究 ——基于上海、北京、深圳的比较分析

[目的/意义]随着政府大数据体量增加,数据治理不足是其价值实现的突出问题,研究政府大数据治理体系和实践,对于提高大数据应用水平和效率,促进社会智能化发展至关重要。[方法/过程]基于国内外大数据治理研究成果,构建了由组织结构、规则标准、技术支持三个关键域组成的政府大数据治理体系;并借助Nvivo 11 Plus质性分析工具,对上海、北京、深圳三个城市的43份大数据治理相关政策文本进行编码,与治理体系构成要素进行映射分析。[结果/结论]编码结果支持和解释了政府大数据治理体系关键域及其构成要素,同时,尽管政府大数据治理体系关键域相同,但从政策层面看,政府大数据治理实践存在不同的侧重点和针对性特征,对指导我国政府大数据治理有一定的借鉴意义。     

重大突发公共卫生事件冲击下的政府数据开放共生模式研究:界定、演进与重构

[目的/意义]从共生理念出发,结合重大突发公共卫生事件——新冠疫情探讨政府数据开放的理想模式,以期加快政府数据开放的发展进程,早日实现"人类卫生健康共同体"。[方法/过程]首先界定了政府数据开放的组成要素——数据、人、机构和平台;其次,划分了政府数据开放共生模式的基本类型,并探讨了政府数据开放共生模式的演进路径;进而,从组织维度与行为维度,探讨了在疫情潜伏期、爆发期、控制期,政府数据开放共生模式的演进历程;最后,重构了两个维度下的政府数据开放共生模式。[结果/结论]从组织维度而言,政府数据开放是一个数据驱动型的新型政府开放行动和过程;从行为维度而言,政府数据开放是人、机构和平台三个要素整合形成的一个以数据为纽带的"命运共同体"。     

Assessing the Library Homepages of COPLAC Institutions for Section 508 Accessibility Errors: Who's Accessible,Who's Not,and How the Online WebXACT Assessment Tool Can Help

ABSTRACT

The Council on Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC) libraries websites were assessed for Section 508 errors using the online WebXACT tool. Only three of the twenty-one institutions (14%) had zero accessibility errors. Eighty-six percent of the COPLAC institutions had an average of 1.24 errors. Section 508 compliance is required for institutions receiving federal funding. While this study shows the need to correct the existing errors, the low error rate shows that COPLAC institutions have generally been conscious of accessibility standards and are working toward achieving fully accessible websites. Studies of the connections between average accessibility errors and the geographic locations of these institutions, the amount of federal funding received, and size were inconclusive. The main aim of the study is to demonstrate the need to check library websites using the free WebXACT tool. This tool offers suggestions for accessibility that should serve to decrease the number of pages that are inaccessible to patrons.