The No-Nonsense guide to Media, the Right to Information and Poverty Reduction

The document examines the link between 'communication poverty' and social exclusion, asserting that access to information is a fundamental human right necessary for poverty reduction. It highlights how women are doubly disadvantaged by gendered poverty and limited media representation. The guide advocates for a shift in mass media reporting to include poverty-related issues and promotes 'citizens' media'—such as blogs and podcasts—as a means for marginalized groups to challenge power dynamics. It provides global examples of communication projects in Mexico, Fiji, Argentina, Egypt, Mongolia, Congo, Colombia, and Uganda that use audiovisuals and ICTs to address environmental, health, and social justice issues.

• Invisibility in public communication is a primary element of the powerlessness experienced by those in poverty and is linked to the inequalities that cause human development failures.
• The right to information is a fundamental human right that enables citizens to exercise other rights, such as the right to food, and is central to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
• Poverty is gendered, with women and girls facing systematic discrimination in health, education, and employment, which leaves them with less voice in decision-making and a disproportionate share of global poverty.
• Women are significantly underrepresented in news media, with only 24% of people featured in print, radio, and television news being female.
• Citizens' media, facilitated by the Internet and new ICTs, allows marginalized people to bypass mass media neglect and censorship to reshape the political and social spaces where their voices are heard.
• Strategic communication in Poverty Reduction Strategies (PRS) should move beyond informing citizens to actively seeking their contributions to shape policy and ensure government accountability.
• World Bank research indicates that poor people frequently report isolation from critical information regarding assistance programs, legal rights, and government plans.

APA

Lee, P. (2010). The No-Nonsense guide to Media, the Right to Information and Poverty Reduction. World Association for Christian Communication. https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03nng-poverty.pdf

Chicago

Lee, Philip. The No-Nonsense guide to Media, the Right to Information and Poverty Reduction. World Association for Christian Communication, 2010. https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03nng-poverty.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lee |first1=Philip |title=The No-Nonsense guide to Media, the Right to Information and Poverty Reduction |publisher=World Association for Christian Communication |date=2010 |url=https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03nng-poverty.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lee2010nononsense, author = {Lee, Philip}, title = {{The No-Nonsense guide to Media, the Right to Information and Poverty Reduction}}, institution = {World Association for Christian Communication}, year = {2010}, url = {https://new.waccglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/03nng-poverty.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }