"The article explores the case of Radio Ndeke Luka, a UN-backed peace radio in the Central African Republic. It investigates whether government intimidation influences the radio’s public watchdog role and, if so, in what ways and to what extent, and whether and how the support of a European NGO an
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d the UN influence the impact of the intimidation. The conceptual framework for framing these questions is established by applying the media watchdog theory to processes of democratisation and interweaving it with peace-oriented media and Althusserian theory. The empirical data are gained through twelve semi-structured individual telephone interviews with journalists, an editorial delegate, local civil society representatives, a former diplomat and the Central African Minister of Justice. The study shows that government intimidation does not transform Radio Ndeke Luka into a lapdog but significantly reduces its bite. It is argued that protecting journalists from intimidation so that they can best act as watchdogs not only requires long-term efforts to change cultures and systems that breed press violence, but also necessitates new approaches that may lead to faster and smaller scale results." (Abstract)
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"Part 1 reviews critical concerns within the context of crisis and conflict-affected settings. Part 2 outlines participatory communication principles and approaches, as well as challenges in addressing sensitive issues within programs supporting social and behavior change. Part 3 focuses on the uses
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of participatory, community-based video in development and humanitarian settings. Part 4 delineates steps in planning and designing a community video project. Part 5 focuses on implementation, ongoing support, and ways of integrating community video activities into broader program work within an organization or program. Part 6 addresses issues of program quality and sustainability. Part 7 provides recommendations for monitoring and evaluation. Part 8 suggests opportunities for sharing experiences, and offers some of principle lessons learned by the Through Our Eyes teams. Resource materials are provided in the Annexes." (Introduction)
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"Low cost, modern information and communication technologies (ICTs), including mobile phones, multifunction MP3 recorders, and interactive voice response (IVR) can dramatically increase the capacity of rural radio to help farmers improve food security in Sub-Saharan Africa. Weekly SMS alerts sent to
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the phones of listeners 30 minutes prior to a broadcast can boost radio campaign listenership by up to 20%. Two-thirds of partner broadcasters identified the internet as the most important ICT tool in the production of farm radio programs. Farmers who participated in the design and implementation of radio programming with the help of ICTs were four times more likely than those in passive listening communities to adopt agricultural improvements promoted on the radio. 61% of extension agents surveyed said the reach and impact of their extension work was substantially improved because they could be heard on radio programs through call-out programs." (Executive summary, page 5)
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"This essay analyses the role of audience research as a change agent in media development interventions in Afghanistan. It analyses how audience research in transnational contexts involves a complex set of intercultural negotiations and translations that contribute to the enduring relevance and sust
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ainability of the highly popular Afghan radio soap opera New Home, New Life. This is a ‘development drama’ that has been broadcast across Afghanistan since 1993. It is based on BBC Radio 4’s The Archers and produced by BBC Afghan Education Projects (BBC AEP). Audience research has been vital to forging a dynamic relationship between the creative teams who make the drama, the donors who pay for it, and the audiences who consume it. The article addresses three broad themes. First, we outline how data gathered in formative audience research, prior to the creation of the drama, provides the creative team with the dramatic raw material for the radio serial. The extensive qualitative data gathered by Afghan researchers in local milieux is translated so as to enable culturally diverse teams of writers and producers to ground the serial narratives in the lived experiences of its audiences, and to introduce multiple local perspectives on development issues. Second, we show how evaluative audience research, data gathered in the postproduction phase, plays a key role in providing critical audience interpretations of New Home, New Life’s dramatic themes. In so doing, it creates feedback loops that allow audiences to become active participants in the ongoing creation of the drama. The research designs and devices, developed over the last two decades to document the changing life-worlds of Afghan citizens-cum-audiences, are part of an ongoing set of transcultural encounters that contribute to strengthening the social realist appeal of the drama and to calibrating how far any given storyline can be pushed in terms of cultural propriety. Third, we examine how during periods of military conflict, when routine audience research becomes dangerous or impossible and audience feedback loops are disrupted, the writers and producers have to rely on their own personal and political experiences, often with unpredictable ideological consequences. We draw attention to the limitations and challenges of making dramas for development in highly charged politicised and postcolonial contexts. While, development dramas may be a cheap and effective way of dealing with certain informational needs, such as landmine awareness, they cannot redress social and structural inequalities or, as Western donors wish, eradicate opium cultivation." (Abstract)
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"Desde hace más de seis años la Corporación Jurídica Libertad incorporó a su quehacer la atención de víctimas de crímenes de Estado como uno de sus propósitos estratégicos a ser desarrollado en el mediano y largo plazo. Reconocemos que el trabajo de representación de víctimas, y sobre to
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do el de motivación para la articulación a procesos organizativos sociales y populares, no ha sido fácil, en tanto los derechos a la verdad, la justicia y la reparación en una sociedad como la nuestra se encuentran lejos de ser garantizados desde una dimensión integral [...] Para el mantenimiento y fortalecimiento de esta apuesta, con copartes alemanas del Servicio Civil para la Paz y AGEH, hace ya casi tres años, bajo la tutela y responsabilidad de la directora y profesora de teatro Inge Kleutgens adelantamos una propuesta en teatro-pedagogía con el propósito de fincar un apoyo sicopedagógico a las víctimas y motivar su inclusión y la motivación propia y directa de sus derechos por medio de la expresión artística, posibilitada por la actuación a través del teatro. Durante este tiempo se han puesto en escena siete obras de teatro: “Bingo me gané”, “Ausente”, “La Madre”, “Pueblo del Barro”, “Sí o no”, “Más que conciencia” y “Cinco minutos” como uno de los productos paridos por el diplomado “Teatro-pedagogía para la paz y la transformación social”. Todas estas obras han contado con la participación de actores y actrices no profesionales, provenientes de las organizaciones sociales, populares y de víctimas presentes en la ciudad de Medellín y de algunas subregiones del departamento de Antioquia. Ahora nos corresponde presentar el producto de un proceso iniciado apenas seis meses atrás con el diplomado “Teatro-pedagogía para la paz y la transformación social”, contenido en el libro “Teatro para la transformación social”, en el cual se explica la importancia del teatro en la construcción de resistencia a la opresión teniendo como hilo conductor a la teatro-pedagogía. El teatro, en palabras de Inge constituye una expresión artística puesta al servicio de los demás y por sobre todo de los procesos de resistencia y de trasformación de las relaciones sociales imperantes." (Presentación)
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"This working paper aims to synthesize current efforts to develop comparable evaluation methods for social issue documentary films. Authored by two researchers who have been jointly documenting the field’s transformation over the past five years, this paper offers a framework for planning and eval
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uating the impact of these films in a networked media environment [...] Drawing insights from the design thinking field—a user-focused creation process that has emerged from the commercial design field and is now being applied to create and improve social sector projects—this working paper examines state-of-the art methodologies for strategic design and evaluation of documentaries. The report’s recommendations are informed by lessons from six case studies of representative films: A Lion in the House; The Line; Lioness; Not in Our Town; Out in the Silence; and State of Fear. These are all award-winning projects featuring compelling documentary films at the center of multiplatform strategic outreach campaigns. All have been screened in traditional broadcast and/or film festival settings, as well as venues designed to engage publics and mobilize advocates relevant to the issue being addressed. These producers utilize a variety of technologies and both online and offline organizing tactics. At their most powerful, they catalyze and support issue-based networks that connect individuals with relevant organizations and empower participants not only to learn about and discuss shared problems, but to organize for action and respond to breaking developments. In this way, documentaries feed both social movements and the broader public sphere." (Introduction)
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"A well-designed communication plan proved to be critical in implementing successful education re form efforts in El Salvador (World Bank 1998). El Salvador’s experience with the Education with Community Participation Program (EDUCO) demonstrated that special emphasis on communication strategies c
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an build consensus, inform communities, and improve public support for complex reforms." (Page 1)
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"Cette publication fait le récit de l’expérience unique des clubs d’écoute communautaires mis en place au Niger et en République démocratique du Congo par la FAO-Dimitra et ses partenaires. Mécanismes d’information et de communication centrés sur l’action, ces clubs ont remporté un s
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uccès tel que Dimitra a souhaité partager l’expérience. Le premier chapitre présente de façon succincte les clubs d’écoute communautaires, leur finalité, leur fonctionnement interne et les résultats obtenus. Le deuxième chapitre inscrit son récit au plus proche des initiatives des communautés, en donnant la parole aux protagonistes et en racontant la création des clubs d’écoute dans les deux pays. Le troisième chapitre fournit des orientations plus pratiques sur les étapes de création des clubs d’écoute communautaires." (Dos de couverture)
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"The handbook includes case studies gathered through interviews with newspapers in Uganda, Kenya and South Africa, including the Observer and Daily Monitor in Uganda, the Standard and the Daily Nation in Kenya, and Grocott’s Mail, the Mail and Guardian, the Sunday Times and the Sowetan in South Af
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rica, as well as News24.com – South Africa’s biggest online news provider [...] In addition to the accounts of successful mobile services, the handbook includes analysis and expert advice covering the key questions media houses should ask themselves when going into mobile. The handbook also provides detailed how-to guides for potential mobile services African media houses could offer." (www.wan-ifra.org, August 9, 2011)
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"Se rangeant parmi les cinq plus grands donateurs d’aide publique au développement (APD), l'Allemagne est fortement engagée dans la lutte pour un accès universel à la prévention, au traitement et à la prise en charge du VIH. Une bonne partie des contributions allemandes est accordée sous fo
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rme de soutien financier et technique à la communication pour le changement de comportement (CCC), souvent associée au marketing social de préservatifs. Cette publication étudie en détail plusieurs projets dans le cadre desquels l'Allemagne a apporté un soutien à la production et à la diffusion de séries télévisées comme composantes clés de la CCC dans trois pays confrontés à des situations épidémiologiques très différentes. Au Kirghizistan, l'épidémie est largement concentrée parmi les consommateurs de drogues injectables (CDI), pour la plupart des hommes jeunes, mais touche aussi des professionnelles du sexe. L'épidémie s’étend rapidement, et l’on craint qu'elle ne se propage davantage dans la population en général. Diffusée pour la première fois en 2006, la série « Love as a Test » avait pour but de sensibiliser les spectateurs au fait que le VIH ne concerne pas uniquement « les autres », mais peut facilement toucher chaque individu ainsi que ses proches, et qu’il est possible d’agir pour éviter sa propagation et en limiter les dommages. En République dominicaine, les taux de prévalence du VIH sont extrêmement élevés chez les Haïtiens de souche vivant dans les bateyes (campements attenant aux plantations de canne à sucre), dans les zones rurales et dans les bidonvilles. Diffusée pour la première fois en 2007, « Amor de Batey » avait pour but de promouvoir l'utilisation régulière et correcte de préservatifs peu coûteux mais fiables, de renforcer l’autonomie des femmes, d'améliorer leur santé et de limiter la mortalité infantile. En Côte d'Ivoire, les taux de prévalence du VIH sont élevés dans l’ensemble du pays, mais beaucoup plus importants chez les femmes que chez les hommes. Cela est notamment dû à la pratique courante des relations sexuelles multiples et concomitantes et aux faibles niveaux d'éducation et de connaissances en matière de santé sexuelle et reproductive. Diffusée pour la première fois en 1994, « Sida dans la Cité » avait des objectifs similaires à ceux de « Amor de Batey ». La première série a rencontré un tel succès qu'elle a été suivie d'une deuxième diffusée en 1996-1997, puis d'une troisième diffusée en 2003. Les trois séries ont connu une grande popularité dans tous les pays francophones d'Afrique de l’Ouest et d'Afrique centrale. Cette publication retrace la genèse de chacune de ces séries, en présente un bref synopsis, résume les résultats des évaluations formelles qui en ont été faites et fournit des appréciations plus informelles. Elle tire ensuite des conclusions et constate que les séries télévisées peuvent apporter des contributions très utiles à la lutte contre le VIH au niveau national. Les séries qui remportent le plus de succès sont basées sur de solides recherches, reflètent les réalités de la vie telles qu’elles sont vécues par les publics cibles et sont réalisées de manière très professionnelle, leur assurant à la fois un haut niveau de divertissement et une grande efficacité comme outil éducatif." (Résumé, page 5)
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"Das vorliegende Buch vermittelt Grundlagenwissen über PR-Kampagnen und erklärt am Beispiel von Case Studies, wie man erfolgreiche Kampagnen plant, durchführt und bewertet. Es gliedert sich in die drei Teile Theorie, Praxis und Ausblick. Nach drei Beiträgen zu grundlegenden Fragen von Kampagnen
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folgen acht Case Studies aus der Kampagnenpraxis, die nach einem einheitlichen Raster aufgebaut sind: vier aus Unternehmen sowie jeweils zwei von politischen Institutionen und Nichtregierungsorganisationen. Dabei werden auch Schwierigkeiten und Probleme bei der Durchführung der Kampagnen beschrieben. Der letzte Block mit vier Beiträgen wirft einen Blick auf die Zukunft der Kampagnenpraxis – auf die wachsende Bedeutung von Social Media und auf die USA. Ziel des Bandes ist es, eine Brücke zwischen Theorie und Praxis zu schlagen und in Form einer kompakten und zugleich lesefreundlichen Einführung handhabbares Wissen zu PR-Kampagnen zu vermitteln." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"Mit „Soziale Bewegungen und Social Media“ liegt das erste Handbuch zum Einsatz von Social Media vor, das sich nicht dem wirtschaftlichen Nutzen und der kommerziellen Verwertung widmet, sondern das für Arbeitnehmer_innen und Betriebsrät_innen, Bürgerinitiativen, NGO und Gewerkschaften geschri
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eben ist. Im Fokus stehen kooperatives gesellschaftliches Engagement, Informations- und Kampagnenarbeit im Sinne autonomer Gegenöffentlichkeit sowie (transnationale) Vernetzung und Zusammenarbeit. Das Buch vereint die Anregungen einiger aufsehenerregender Fallbeispiele mit nützlichen Anleitungen. Es bietet einen umfassenden Überblick und stellt ein praktisches Nachschlagewerk für politischen Aktivismus dar." (Verlagsbeschreibung)
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"In what ways can mediated transnational protests express, however emergently or imperfectly, «global civil society» and «global citizenship»? How, in an increasingly fragmented and multilayered communications environment, can they contribute to a «global public sphere»? This book explores the
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se and other major questions, examining protests and their transactions within and through today’s complex circuits of communications and media worldwide. With contributions from leading theorists and researchers, this cutting-edge collection discusses protests focusing on war and peace, economy and trade, ecology and climate change, as well as political struggles for civil and human rights, including the Arab uprisings. At its core is a desire to better understand activists’ innovative uses of media and communications within a rapidly changing media environment, and how this is altering relations of communication power around the globe." (Publisher description)
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"Nesta obra pesquisadores do Brasil, Espanha, Portugal e México discutem novas propostas teórico-metodológicas para o ensino do jornalismo digital. Diversas experiências de ensino também são relatadas, evidenciando problemas, busca de soluções, improvisações e criatividade diante de estrut
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uras ainda em desenvolvimento do sistema de ensino." (https://labcom.ubi.pt)
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"In April 2006, the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) embarked on a three-year journey in peer to peer mentoring. Through Project SjCOOP (Science journalism COOPeration), 16 experienced science journalists from 15 African, Arab, European and North American countries became companions to
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sixty of their colleagues in 33 African and Arab countries for two years. It was essentially a mentoring project at a distance, across multiple cultures, across countries and continents. The SjCOOP project led to the creation of seven associations of science journalists and made African and Arab science journalists true partners in the international community of science journalism. In this guidebook, Kathryn O’Hara, who gave the initial training in mentoring to the SjCOOP mentors, shares the lessons learned in the mentoring process and looks into the complex mentor-mentee relationship which is always full of surprises." (Foreword, page 3)
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"The effective implementation of the “One Laptop per Child” program was not enough to overcome the difficulties of a design that places its trust in the role of technologies themselves. The use of technologies in education is not a magic and rapid solution through which educational problems and
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challenges can be solved with the simple acquisition of technological devices and system." (Summary)
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"The starting point of PPTRP has been that real and lasting transparency and accountability are best built from the ground up piece by piece and by ordinary people taking their responsibilities as citizens seriously. It is one of the reasons we subtitled the project and website “Pera Natin ‘to!
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(It’s Our Money!). We wanted to help build public ownership in the issue. Our concern was – and remains still today – that changes introduced at the top by one administration – can so easily be taken away by another unless that change is deeply rooted in the ground and in its people. So we believed- and still believe – that real sustainable change in governance comes only from active and continual participation of citizens. It needs action and engagement at both the national and local level. It needs groups, sectors and communities finding new ways of coming and working together to develop new ideas and build new constituencies and avenues for change. It needs to involve and energise all those hundreds of thousands of honest and professional civil servants across the country who for way too long have quietly despaired going to work each day given the failure of leadership in their own departments and agencies.
All this required and still requires a combined response that uses new thinking and approaches. It required first and foremost the start of a public literacy campaign around public finances since citizens cannot ever hope to adequately monitor or engage in things that they don’t understand. So it was that we built our project equally around information, education, training, capacity building, networking, advocacy and campaigns. So it was that we worked with people’s organizations, civil society groups, media and ordinary members of the public at one and the same time. We figured that everybody had a role to play in building and securing transparency and accountability – and so everybody should get involved.
We started work on a website full of the basics – (www.transparencyreporting.net) accessible and easy to understand information about all aspects of public finance. We assumed little – partly because we knew little ourselves and were learning on the job as we went. We wrote, commissioned and edited material designed to give readers a sense of understanding about how public finances, systems and cycles worked and what kind of issues and problems there were. We tried to identify how and where money was raised and how it was allocated and spent and why and by whom. Invariably it comes down to money. If you can follow the money, you can find the problems and perhaps even help suggest some solutions.
We developed training modules too – modules aimed equally at journalists and activists and ordinary members of the public. And we toured around the Philippines going north and as far south as Tawi-Tawi where we were told few groups ever venture. We encouraged people to report allegations of corruption – but equally we sought out instances of where government was working well and deserved highlighting. It is easy to be negative – but far better to be critically constructive. We received many more allegations than we could investigate – in large part because sources were scared even to follow up and meet with us in confidence. Protection for whistle-blowers remains very much a pressing issue today that needs sorting ...
While all projects must by necessity always remain above the political fray, we were naturally delighted that as things turned out, the new incoming administration made improving transparency and accountability a primary goal. When an initiative finds itself working in support of government policy, it is always easier. So we were delighted to see the issue of political abuse of public projects taken up as were the appointment of some leading proponents of open government to key positions in the administration. We were very fortunate also for the chance to work closely with officials in several key departments and on various initiatives linked to the national budget.
[...] Perhaps one key achievement we might be remembered for, alongside the website which will remain as hopefully a useful resource for those wanting to learn more about public sector finances -- is having set up four local citizen watchdog groups that demonstrate how easy and important it is for ordinary people to get involved and play their part. We hope more groups can follow their lead. People power needs to be much more than a slogan and become a way of life." (Introduction, page 16-19)
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