Document details

Mass Media in an African Context: An Evaluation of Senegal's Pilot Project

Paris: UNESCO (1974), 53 pp.

Series: Reports and Papers on Mass Communication, 69

ISBN 92-3-101138-3

Other editions: also published in French

Signature commbox: 146:10-Development 1974

"The difficulties, shortcomings and failures of experimental projects are as significant as their successes. It is in this open-minded spirit that we have traced the history of the experience in Senegal and sought to evaluate its impact. Throughout the foregoing pages, attention has been drawn to significant lessons. It may, however, be useful to summarize once more certain principal conclusions. The application of radio and television to adult education does not grow organically out of existing structures and practices. Neither the media, when in fact they do exist, nor the institutions and organizations concerned with adult education are necessarily predisposed to a joint comprehensive effort. The condition of success is the solution of political, administrative and financial problems, the more rational use of existing facilities and staff, the provision of new resources in funds, hardware and personnel, and the elaboration of a methodology adapted to the needs and aims of adult education. A great deal of time, money and personal effort had to be spent on this preparatory phase, and it was only thanks to political support by the Head of State, to collaboration between the media and the interested agencies, and also the active participation of the target audience itself, that valid results could be obtained. The second set of conclusions concerns the material resources, finance and time required for such an undertaking. Unfortunately, it was not possible to obtain a clearcut economic evaluation of the entire project, in particular of its television component, but certain lessons are clear: A project of this kind should be neither underfinanced nor endowed with excessive resources. Lack of facilities and personnel made it impossible to pursue the numerous initial objectives and to use fully the various audio-visual media. Regrettably, the teaching of literacy had to be abandoned owing to lack of resources." (Conclusion, page 52)