"BBC Media Action has been involved in media development since it was founded in 1999. Over the years, we have designed and deployed a broad range of evaluation approaches and methodologies to assess the impact of and learn from our work. This has generated much internal discussion: Are we measuring
...
the right things? Where can we realistically expect to see change? How much should we spend on evaluation? How can we tell whether that change is sustainable? This paper is our attempt to bring that discussion to the wider media development community. In it, we set out our working evaluation framework and methodology alongside the findings generated by applying this framework to five different capacity-strengthening interventions." (Executive summary)
more
"[...] The briefing looks at the everyday experience of people living in the world’s most populous continent: Asia. It draws on data from BBC Media Action’s Climate Asia project, which interviewed more than 33,000 people in seven countries – Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan
...
and Vietnam – and compiled the results into the region’s largest ever study of public knowledge of and attitudes towards climate change. In documenting the stories of people and communities in Asia and the larger regional trends they represent, this policy briefing seeks to unleash new insights and new solutions in tackling the enduring challenge of climate change. In particular, this briefing highlights the role that media and communication can play in the adaptation process. For when we listen to those who sit metaphorically “where the earth meets the sky”, we find that many of the obstacles to climate change adaptation are informational and attitudinal in nature and would thus benefit from media and communication interventions." (Introduction, page 2)
more
"Climate Asia will be the largest ever research study into public understanding of climate change in Asia with more than 33,000 interviews conducted across seven countries: Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam. This working paper explains the distinctive research approach
...
BBC Media Action has taken in these seven focus countries, which have a combined population of more than three billion people. Utilising a multi-country, multi-method replicable research design, BBC Media Action aims to provide an evidence base for public understanding of climate change in Asia. BBC Media Action has taken a standard approach to research across all seven countries to enable the exploration and analysis of similarities and differences across and within these countries. Drawing insights from literature, qualitative research and a series of communications strategy development workshops, BBC Media Action’s research examines people’s understanding of the effects and impacts of climate change and their responses. This approach differs markedly from much existing research in that it does not focus primarily on the concept of climate change. Instead, BBC Media Action used insights from formative work to ask people questions using language and concepts that are more likely to relate to their day-to-day lives. Questions in the Climate Asia survey focus on tangible issues including food, water, energy and extreme weather events. This research is designed to inform the development of communications strategies that support and enable responses to impacts associated with climate change." (Executive summary)
more
"In 2006 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST), funded by the UK Department for International Development, conducted research into media in 17 countries across sub-Saharan Africa in order to identify priorities for future media development initiatives. A series of African Media Development Initiativ
...
e (AMDI) reports were produced, and this Media Sector Analysis builds on the Somalia component of that work. This analysis has been produced in consultation with media stakeholders and is grounded in a review of previously published material. The report is just one component of a larger media development project being delivered by the BBC WST entitled ‘Strengthening Radio Stations in Somalia to Promote Human Rights, Peace and Governance’ - a two-year project which aims to enhance the reach, levels of audience participation and professional capacity of Somali media. The media, and specifically, radio, is seen as a key local institution well placed to promote individual human and civil rights, freedom of expression and democratic dialogue. The project is informed by a rights perspective, ensuring that actions separately and collectively empower marginalised citizens, in particular, women and young people, to engage in direct dialogue with local authorities and thus have improved access to their civil and political rights. The project comprises two other strands in addition to the Media Sector Analysis: Capacity-building in six Somali radio stations [...]; media-related training for civil society rganisations [...] this report will inform the above project strands, as well as providing a basis for the development of media policy in the Somali region." (Foreword)
more
"The findings from this research reveal the complexity of delivering journalism training and the challenges involved in capturing evidence of impact. Content analysis is a useful tool for measuring change in media output. It can both inform training delivery and provide evidence of improvements to o
...
utput after training has taken place. The detailed and systematic collection and analysis of data can detect subtle changes in content, presentation of output and production elements that might not be captured by other research techniques. Although content analysis provides evidence that the output has changed it may not necessarily be a direct result of the intervention. Content analysis records media output - it does not measure the situation under which the news is produced. For example, during the training period managers might have introduced editorial guidelines or style guides to the organisation independently of the training intervention. Changes in output might be attributable to the actions of management rather than the training experience. Content analysis is also limited to measuring changes to output only – not to the skills acquired by particular trainees. For example, a trainer worked with the news room team to produce a radio package - at the last minute the management refused to broadcast the piece due to editorial policy. Although the improved content was not broadcast, and therefore not included in the content analysis, journalists acquired skills in the production process." (Research learnings, page 8)
more