"Participatory research design appears as an attractive option in the study of community media organisations. It puts the generation of the research question, the design of data collection methods, and the analysis of the results in the hands of the researched. This approach can demystify the resear
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ch process and can be an empowering experience. But, as I found out with my doctoral research, the researcher needs to carefully assess an organisation’s capacity to undertake do-it-yourself research, because, when things go wrong, this approach can also reveal conflicts within an organisation, as well as give rise to tension resulting from the divergent needs of the researcher and those of the researched. This paper describes the troubles that arose during fieldwork conducted at a community radio station, how these unexpected events forced a reformulation of the research question, and how this eventually led to an improved theoretical insight." (Abstract)
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"This book is about the relationship between the spectators in countries of the west, and the distant sufferer on the television screen; the sufferer in Somalia, Nigeria, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, but also from New York and Washington, DC. How do we relate to television images of the distant suf
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ferer? The question touches on the ethical role of the media in public life today. They address the issue of whether the media can cultivate a disposition of care for and engagement with the far away other; whether television can create a global public with a sense of social responsibililty towards the distant sufferer." (Publisher description)
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"Die Beiträge dieses Bandes thematisieren Fragen der HIV/Aids-Prävention in Afrika - dem nach wie vor am stärksten von der Pandemie betroffenen Kontinent. Im Zentrum jeglicher Präventionsarbeit steht die Wissensvermittlung mit dem Ziel, Menschen durch Aufklärung und entsprechende Informationen
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zu einer Verhaltensänderung und damit zu einer Aufgabe des gesundheitsgefährdenden Verhaltens zu bewegen. (Wissens-) Kommunikation wird damit zur wichtigsten Säule der Prävention. Hier liegen die Anknüpfungspunkte für die sprach- und kommunikationswissenschaftlichen Untersuchungen dieses Bandes, die Prävention in unterschiedlichen medialen Kontexten analysieren. Demgegenüber heben die sozialwissenschaftlichen Arbeiten stärker auf kulturelle und soziale Aspekte der Prävention und deren kritische Analyse ab. In den meisten Beiträgen des Bandes gerät dabei auch das Aufeinandertreffen lokaler und globaler Einflüsse im subsaharischen Afrika in den Blick." (Klappentext)
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"This article gives a critical review of the evolution of the concept ''development communication'' in the 1970s under the influence of professor nora quebral. As part of this retrospective, we also reprint the original 1971 article ''development communication in the agricultural context'' by nora q
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uebral, with a new foreword by her." (Editor's note)
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"The tsunami demonstrated that modern journalists can do more than just bring unfolding stories to the world. One of the biggest lessons of the tsunami that is unravelling is that the modern journalist can also help to heal communities, rebuild lives, keep families intact and raise funds. The media
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should also keep an eye on government and relief agencies, helping to ensure that aid gets to the people who need it, and that those who deliver the goods remain accountable to the donors and practice ethical standards of aid delivery. The question of media freedoms is also an important part of this equation. Beyond what journalists can do, there is also the matter of what authorities will allow them to do. In other words, the question of how much a responsible media will be allowed to do its job. It is in the rehabilitation or healing process that the media face the most challenging task. In this endeavour, democracy and freedom to gather and disseminate information may not be enough. In many parts of Asia and beyond, the mainstream media has been excessively commercialised. The tsunami became such a hot media issue around the world, because the dramatic pictures available were very attractive revenue making material for commercial broadcasters, but the rebuilding and healing process does not provide such pictures. It is in such an environment, that this book examines the challenge journalists face in reporting a process that may not provide dramatic pictures, but still needs to grab the audience/readers attention. Focusing more on the print media, many interesting issues dealing with the reconstruction and rehabilitation process are explored, with analysis and commentary on why some stories are not given the exposure they deserve and how these issues may be made newsworthy." (Publisher description)
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"An e-Conference addressing the role of communication in sustainable tourism development took place between May 29 and June 9, 2006. The World Bank, the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) envisioned the forum as a means to bring together dev
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elopment practitioners, tourism professionals, decision-makers, academicians and communication specialists representing various national institutions, private sector and media organizations, NGOs, international institutions, and donors active in the field of communication and sustainable tourism to discuss the role that communication can play in designing and implementing sustainable tourism strategies and projects at national and local levels; to share experiences, information and perspectives; to identify and share lessons learned and best practices; and to consolidate knowledge on development communication in sustainable tourism programs. Discussions focused on the following topics: The role that communication can play in designing and implementing sustainable tourism strategies and projects at national and local levels; The importance of sharing experiences, information and perspectives; Identification of lessons learned and most effective practices; and The exchange of knowledge on development communication in sustainable tourism programs." (Introduction)
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The articles in this book have been adapted from contributions to the UNESCO-sponsored conference in Colombo, Sri Lanka marking World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2006.