Current Research & Consultancy

 

Research themes include:

 

Current Projects

 

EU Kids Online

Funder: EC Safer Internet Programme

Dates: 2008 – ongoing

It is vital to chart and understand the complex nature of the changing risk context for children and their families, so as to inform policy makers, educators and the public about emerging online trends and possible solutions. EU Kids Online II examines children’s and parents’ experiences and practices regarding use, risk and safety online.

 

Between 2009 and 2011, EU Kids Online II is conducting original empirical research across member states with nationally representative samples of 1000 children aged 9-16 years old and their parents – 25,000 children in all. The aim is to produce a rigorous, cross-nationally comparative quantitative evidence base regarding internet use across Europe.

 

Directed by Professor Sonia Livingstone of the London School of Economics and Political Science, the project team includes an expert management group, an international advisory panel, and multidisciplinary research teams in 25 participating European countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom.

 

The  project co-ordinator in Ireland is Dr Brian O'Neill.  More information about the research is available here: www.eukidsonline.net

 

 

Child Rights Syllabus for Journalism/Media/Communications Faculties or Schools and for Online Self-Training  

Funder: UNICEF

Dates: 2008  

The project, commissioned by UNICEF Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS), is to develop curriculum training materials for journalism and professional communications departments in CEE/CIS on the subject of Journalism and Children’s Rights. Reform and modernisation of the curriculum of journalism schools in the region is recognised as the most effective means of ensuring a responsible media. The educational materials will provide an understanding of children’s rights as articulated in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, and develop among trainee journalists news reporting skills that encompass the rights of the children in all matters relating to children’s participation in the media.

The project team includes Mr Michael Foley, Lecturer in Journalism at DIT’s School of Media and is supported by Prof Noirin Hayes, Director, CSER and by Dr Brian O’Neill, Head of Research. The team has extensive experience of media and journalism development projects in Eastern Europe, particularly in partnership with BBC World Service Trust.

The syllabus developed for UNICEF is available here: http://elearning-events.dit.ie/unicef/index.htm

 

 

Media Literacy Policy and the Public Sphere

Funder: Broadcasting Commission of Ireland, Media Research Funding Scheme

Dates: 2007

This research was funded under the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland’s Media Research Funding Scheme 2007. The Broadcasting Act, 2001 formalised and expanded the research function of the Commission, setting out the crucial role of research in assisting the Commission anticipate change and assess the continued relevance of BCI practice and procedure in an evolving broadcasting sector.

 

Media literacy is commonly regarded as essential to maintaining inclusivity in a rapidly changing environment for converged information, media and communications services. Media literacy has emerged as priority for the European Union as part of its Information Society strategy. New approaches to regulation have sought to harness the benefits of digital communications technology and to ensure its speedy development. It is recognised, however, that as new services and platforms develop, it is increasingly difficult to rely on old style, ‘protectionist’ regulation and that specific measures need to be taken to ensure that consumers and users are informed and better enabled to cope in this complex and dynamic environment. Internationally, media regulators are increasingly incorporating a commitment to media literacy within their remit. The proposed Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) will assume a similar responsibility. This research, therefore, documents the background to the development of media literacy as a matter of public policy and examines considerations that may be important in the emerging Irish debate on media literacy.

In order to further the BCI’s objective of being a leading source of information on trends in Ireland and abroad, and in anticipation of important new developments within public media literacy, this research seeks to contribute knowledge in three main areas:

Researchers: Brian O'Neill, Cliona Barnes

 

 

Development of Media Skills at the Taras Shevchenko Institute of Journalism, Kiev, Ukraine.

Funder: EuropeAid/119125/C/SV/UA

Dates: 2007-8

The objective of this TACIS project [EuropeAid/119125/C/SV/UA] was to develop university programmes capable of producing reflective practitioners who will enrich Ukraine’s media and ensure higher professional standards across the industry. The project involved the introduction of key changes needed to bring the Taras Shevchenko Institute of Journalism and two pilot schools of journalism (Uzhgorod and Simferopol) in line with the Bologna Declaration and to modernise the curriculum to a standard recognised by university journalism institutes based in EU member states. The project involved streamlining the current curriculum into a module-based system, including an increase in journalism practice for students, supported by a strong theoretical base; Introducing technical support to facilitate practical exercises in television, radio, print and Internet media; ensuring that university staff are properly supported in designing and delivering the new modules, through the provision of training and access to teaching materials; and building stronger links between Ukrainian journalism faculties and the media by ensuring that module content is driven by industry needs.

Project partners include: BBC World Service Trust (UK); Dublin Institute of Technology (IE); Ecole Supérieure de Journalisme de Lille (FR); IREX Europe (FR); Maria Curie-Sklodowska University (PL); Programme in Comparative Media Law and Policy (UK).

Researcher: Michael Foley

 

 

Improving Standards in Professional Journalism in Bulgaria

Funder: PHARE EuropeAid/113392/D/SV/BG

Dates: 2007-8

This project under the PHARE initiative set out to strengthen Bulgaria’s independent media and bring journalistic practices closer in line with European standards in the run-up to EU accession. The project’s activities tackled perceived weaknesses from a number of angles, focusing on four key sub-projects: Media self-regulation; Human resources management; Training opportunities for mid-career journalists; and  Journalism teaching at university level. Sub-projects sought to improve the flow of human resources through the media by offering better support and training to journalists before and during their careers as well as establishing a benchmark for professional and ethical standards to ensure that the public interest is better served.

Partner organisations included: BBC World Service Trust, DIT, Media Development Center, Bulgaria, International Federation of Journalists, Human Dynamics, and the University of Leipzig.

Researcher: Michael Foley

 

 

Critical Media Literacy in Ireland  

Funder: Radharc Media Trust

Dates: 2006-7

This project offered an investigation of critical media literacy in Ireland and was commissioned by Radharc Trust and produced by DCU School of Communications and DIT School of Media. Media literacy, understood as ‘the ability to appraise critically, and assess the relative value of, information from different sources, and gain competencies in understanding the construction, forms, strengths and limitations of screen-based (and other media) content’ (Livingstone and Bovill, 1998), is increasingly seen as an essential prerequisite to active and full citizenship. This research project documented current media literacy practices in Ireland and provided a rationale for a sustainable pedagogy which would enable children and young people to acquire both the critical awareness and practical skills needed in adult life. The project provided: an analysis of international experience and best practice in promoting and integrating CML into both formal and informal learning environments; an operative definition of CML which takes into account the disputed nature of its terms; the many problems facing CML curriculum initiatives in Ireland; and a series of recommendations for a national CML pedagogy that is not medium-specific, but applies to all media and is in line with the European Charter for Media Literacy (2006).

Researchers: Dr Brian O’Neill, Dr Cliona Barnes

 

 

Play and Technology

Funder: Office of the Minister for Children

Dates: 2006-7

Commissioned by the 'National Children's Office', the Play & Technology Project explored the play activities of Irish children, identifying the range of technologies accessed by children and how they are used in their daily play patterns. The project presented children’s perspectives on the meanings, interpretations and value placed on technology-based play as well as documenting the views of parent and teachers on the opportunities and dangers involved. Research findings evaluated the extent of the penetration of technology into children’s lives and looked at the wider implications for physiological and behavioural development, education and lifestyle. The project contributed valuable comparative data with which to identify the most important issues for future research and greatly complemented existing research within this underdeveloped field.

Researchers: Noirin Hayes, Brian O’Neill, Stella Downey