"Media activism groups work to bring about change in the mainstream media, but their gains are often limited. Drawing on theories of the political function of news in a democracy, media sociology, and feminism, this article focuses on the specific experience of Gender Links, a Southern African gende
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r and media organization founded in 2001. An analysis of institutional materials and 25 in-depth interviews shows that Gender Links is using a professional-technical approach to feminist media activism that is insufficient in bringing about deep and long-term change on an ideological level. It is suggested that Gender Links could benefit from more emphasis on political and countercultural approaches. The research also highlights some of the other dilemmas posed by issues related to funding, networking, the grassroots, press freedom, the profit motive, and the strong backlash from a patriarchal culture." (Abstract)
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"This book explores the changing and often ambivalent relationship between the three terms women, feminism and media in the light of recent debates. At the same time it places them within the broader discussions within feminist theory - about subjectivity, identity, culture, and narrative - of which
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they have formed a crucial part. Throughout, the book explores key issues within feminist media studies both through specific examples and via critical engagement with the work of major theoretical writers." (Publisher description)
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"Mainstream media coverage of war often distorts or ignores women’s perspectives and experiences in armed conflict, and also their efforts to build peace. This article focuses on the work of FIRE (Feminist International Radio Endeavour/Radio Internacional Feminista), a women’s international Inte
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rnet radio initiative produced by Latin American and Caribbean women in Costa Rica, which ‘uses technologies, voices, and actions’ to amplify the voices of women worldwide as they recount their experiences and perspectives of armed conflict. In doing so, FIRE helps promote an alternative vision of human existence that is based on social justice and human rights, and which serves to strengthen women’s and other social and political movements that are based on these values." (Abstract)
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"This volume examines the influence of audio-visual media in cultural change in India. The essays focus on: the dynamics of network change; the relationships between image and viewer; and the journey of images between points of reading in contemporary India that are mediated through television, cine
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ma, video and the internet." (Publisher description)
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"This article explores how women's community radio can contribute to a feminist public sphere and serve as a tool for women's empowerment through the media. Compared to film, TV and newspapers, radio is a relatively under researched and under valued area of the media. An extension of this situation
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is the paucity of theoretical and empirical studies regarding women and radio. The purpose of this article is to contribute to a theory of women's radio and its relation to practice. Employing feminist readings of Habermas' theory of the public sphere, it is possible to develop a concept of a women's or feminist public sphere in relation to women's community radio. This article discusses whether and how this is emerging through the opportunities that women have in terms of access, training and development in community radio. With empirical data from women's radio stations and projects in different parts of Europe, radio as a potential feminist public sphere is explored, and a foundation laid for a further grounding of an understanding of how alternative media can be a tool for women's empowerment." (Abstract)
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"How and to what extent are women in grassroots communication creating avenues for democratic communication and fostering social change? How is grassroots communication consolidating women's views and perspectives on gender subordination and social transformation? Women in Grassroots Communication b
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rings together a stellar cast of contributors from across the globe–Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America–to answer these and other questions. First, they review the various frameworks for addressing the relationship between women, participation, and communication, looking at the ways women have been perceived. Next, the authors look at the social roles of women in their communities, their capabilities to communicate, and their informal networks at the local and community levels. The third section focuses on media production and the issues of media competency, identity, representation, evaluation, and group process. Finally, by looking at the connections between women's participatory practices and wider sociopolitical initiatives, the final chapters examine the issues of organization, leadership, and communication strategies." (Publisher description)
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