"Comprising 41 chapters by a team of international contributors, the companion is divided into three parts: histories; approaches; thematic considerations. The chapters offer wide-ranging explorations of how forms of mediation influence communication, social relationships, cultural practices, partic
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ipation, and social change, as well as production and access to information and knowledge. This volume considers new developments, and highlights the ways in which anthropology can contribute to the study of the human condition and the social processes in which media are entangled." (Publisher description)
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"Each chapter explains and then demonstrates a critical method or approach, which students can then apply to interrogate and critique the meanings and forms of comic books, graphic novels, and other sequential art. Contributors introduce a wide range of critical perspectives on comics, including fan
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dom, genre, intertextuality, adaptation, gender, narrative, formalism, visual culture, and much more." (Publisher description)
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"The volume begins with a general overview of faith-based peacebuilding by pastor and peace-practitioner David Steele. Several CRS staff members provided input on the early drafts [...] The case studies that follow all deal with initiatives involving Catholic actors. This is the tradition out of whi
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ch CRS functions, and within which it learns. However, CRS and its church partners frequently and intentionally act in tandem with other civil society organizations, and they cooperate with other faith-based actors. Two of the case studies in this work (one from Uganda and one from The Philippines) deal with inter-religious efforts, while a third (India) deals with a broad ecumenical effort among leaders and members of diverse Christian denominations. In addition, many cases demonstrate how church partners are able to engage key decision-makers and leaders at different levels of society at critical moments in the course of a conflict. The central learning question for all the case studies is “what are the key factors that have contributed to, or impeded, the effectiveness of church peacebuilding action?” The intent is to surface lessons while helping to develop an internal, disciplined habit of reflection within the organization. The general guidelines for writing the studies emphasize four good learning practices: a) linking interventions to the context, b) articulating the implicit and explicit hypotheses or “theories of change,” c) using, building upon and/or complementing evaluation, and d) recognizing potential rival explanations for why things happened. It should be clear that the cases are exemplary, not representative. They provide a small sampling of the peacebuilding activities conducted by CRS and its partners in recent years. Each CRS region freely determined which particular case it would bring to the undertaking. Adherence to the initial qualifying criteria — including engagement with external actors (civil society, government or inter-religious) and commitments to social cohesion or equity — varied considerably." (Introduction, page 3-4)
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"The purpose of the manual is to introduce peacebuilding practitioners to the concepts, tools, and methods needed to incorporate better design, monitoring, and evaluation practices into peacebuilding programming. As an introductory volume, the target audience is front-line peacebuilding practitioner
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s from around the world with minimal formal training in design, monitoring, and evaluation. It assumes the audience has experience, training, and access to resources on conflict assessments, which are a prerequisite to participating in conflict transformation program design [...] The manual offers general information on learning and change in addition to chapters dedicated to specific issues such as baselines, indicators, monitoring, and evaluation. It is organized so that readers can easily jump from one chapter to another. However, we strongly urge jumpy readers to start with the chapter on understanding change because it frames the thinking for most of the discussions in the other chapters." (Page 2)
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"Draws together thinking and analysis that covers the breadth and depth of the media development landscape. The opening section, 'Why Media Matters: Global Perspectives' gathers the work of several thought leaders on major trends that cut across both the communications and development policy arenas;
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this is followed by an examination of the current debate that is engaging researchers, development professionals and media assistance experts alike, namely 'How Media Matters: Measuring its Impact'. The third section, 'Challenges in Media Matters: Practitioner Experiences' presents a range of regional and sectoral case studies, and the final section forms a guide to current information sources and studies of the field of media support, in 'Mapping the Sector - Literature, Surveys and Resources'. Media matters has four key aims: 1 To help development policy makers and practitioners understand the relevance of vibrant, independent media systems to their wider goals; 2 To highlight work on the evidence of the relationship between media, communications and the development agenda; 3 To flag key global and regional trends and opportunities in media assistance; 4 To map the media assistance sector, its growing body of literature, and the emerging international research partnerships that will help define its priorities to 2015." (Overview + executive summary)
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"1. Filled an Important Supporting Role to Indigenous Civil Society: Centre Lokole work supported indigenous civil society, providing them with information and services that enabled them to be more effective and informed in their work. This is important as it reinforces the sustainability of indigen
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ous agencies. Further consideration should be given to providing open and equal access for all local groups. 2. Developed a Highly Popular and Effective Radio Medium: The radio soap opera Jirani Ni Ndugu is the jewel in the Centre Lokole crown. This radio programme is highly popular and effective, with what appears to be a dedicated listenership that takes to heart many of the messages of the programme. Not all the radio programmes have avid followings however and further consideration needs to occur as to the strategic purpose these shows make. 3. Programming Initiated a Multiplier Effect: The results of CL programming went beyond those directly engaged participants. Independent initiatives resulting from engagement in a CL activity or project were clearly visible." (Executive summary)
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